82 Malibu Wagon in New Zealand

[Davenz]

Well found the issue with the headlights, she has a 2A1 headlight & all we could get here was a 2A1X which for some reason makes the four headlights work on full & dip. So took those back & bought some H4's & tried those with some different bulbs but same issue, you cant run the left hand drive headlights here because of the pattern so got a curly one here that i might have to get a sparky to figure out unless anyone's got some suggestions Cheers

 

[pagrunt]

Well found the issue with the headlights, she has a 2A1 headlight & all we could get here was a 2A1X which for some reason makes the four headlights work on full & dip. So took those back & bought some H4's & tried those with some different bulbs but same issue, you cant run the left hand drive headlights here because of the pattern so got a curly one here that i might have to get a sparky to figure out unless anyone's got some suggestions Cheers

To be honest going from the original 2A1 light to H4 conversion lights would be better. My '81 Monte has a set of Hella H4 high/low beam conversion bulbs & H1 high beam conversion bulbs as even here in the states H4's are easier to find. Even converting my son's '79 Monte to Hella conversion H4 bulbs.

 

[Davenz]

To be honest going from the original 2A1 light to H4 conversion lights would be better. My '81 Monte has a set of Hella H4 high/low beam conversion bulbs & H1 high beam conversion bulbs as even here in the states H4's are easier to find. Even converting my son's '79 Monte to Hella conversion H4 bulbs.

Yeah im pleased we got those in her, my parts guy told me to try something to which solved the problem. Just had to switch the two side headlight wires round on the main headlight plugs & that fixed it, something so simple that sorted it. Onto the power steering box next that's my last big job to sort 👌

 

[Davenz]

She's getting there now, up on ramps last couple of days so i could button everything up. Tightened down the new suspension & swapped out the power steering box, new one in & working sweet so rapt about that. Windscreen washer pumps dead so bought a universal motor & that worked out sweet, wired in to the factory wiring so works as per factory. Even screwed the new unit into factory holes so that was a bonus to, so that was another off the list. Scrubbed up the interior so it doesn't look like a storage shed no more haha, came up pretty sweet in there.. Brakes to bleed today then got a wheel alignment booked at 2.30. Only thing I'm waiting on now is the new high beam headlights which should be here today, booked in for a warrant of fitness check Friday so big fingers crossed there.
Been a busy 3 odd weeks on the old girl but has sure been worth the effort but boy she tried my patience

 

[Davenz]

Put 18 miles on this today, wheel alignments done just need to tighten the steering box up & she’ll be mint. Seems to go well that’s for sure

 

[Davenz]

Well as of today this old girl is road legal, long ways to go yet but at least she can now be driven.
Going to take the old power steering box in next week to get rebuilt, the parts wagons one is a sloppy old dog. Even adjusting it didn't really help but $600 to get her original fully rebuilt will solve that problem, id say apart from that there will be a lot of sanding in my future haha. A question to? Can you get new rear cargo glass seals for these, ones in the back of this are hard & pretty crusty. Cheers all 👌 😎

 

[ssn696]

Trunk weatherstrip from a G-body sedan or coupe will work. It lacks the flared ends that the wagon used, but that's not needed. Just cut to fit.

 

[Davenz]

Trunk weatherstrip from a G-body sedan or coupe will work. It lacks the flared ends that the wagon used, but that's not needed. Just cut to fit.
View attachment 248763

Cheers bud much appreciated 👌

 

[Davenz]

Took the Malibu on one of our Holden club runs last night, probably a good 30 mile trip. Old girl went well & with the long drive i can tell what we need to sort next, dropping the power steering box off to be rebuilt this morning. That's the number one job needing done - sure needs the timing done & carby tuned she's holding back on power bigtime & the other is the exhaust hitting the crossmember which wont be hard to sort. Apart from that all the rest seems pretty good, even looks like the fuel gauge may have started working on the bumpy road we were on so touch wood that stays working. Need to let the bank balance come right for a bit haha so will sort those 3 things & apart from starting the sanding & panel work that will be her for a bit, need to get back onto another project i'm half way through & least we can drive this & enjoy it now at last 👌 😎
Green one is the one i'm half way through, now got about an inch of dust on her so better get onto that 😆

 

[Davenz]

New plates arrived this morning, stoked with those. Have been daily driving this the last week & she's going better & better, not to bad on fuel either which surprised me. Fuel gauge is working so don't have to sort that, new harmonic balancer should be here today so that will be another off the list. Going to do the steering box in the new year it's to close to Xmas. So yeah just enjoying the old girl at pres & dialing everything in before the panel & paint side starts sometime next year 👌 😎