Would if i had one, those motors get snapped up real quick. Dont get them very often in stock the real popular here
82 Malibu Wagon in New Zealand
- Thread starter Davenz
- Start date
I'll correct the 2.8 mistake as it being a Cali wagon it would of came with the 3.8 (231) Buick V6, elsewhere inthe states that 3.8 would of been the Chevy 229 V6. But as for that driveshaft it'll be the same. All transmissions manuals & automatics) used the same driveshaft lenth except GN/GNX & 442 with the 8.5 rear. Monte Carlo SS's had a larger diameter one but is the same lenth. An issue that would cause headaches is if that transmission you're importing has a long tailhousing. Our cars need the 6" short tailhousing TH350 to use the stock driveshaft. I bring this up since you are thinking it came out of a van.
Thought that was wrong the ownership papers state 2.8 but i've never heard of one so cheers that clarify's that cheers. I ended up changing my mind on the trans & broke the piggy bank & bought a recond turbo 350 short housing with shift kit, picked up the mounts etc so that's the basics sorted. I'll get that in in a couple of weeks hopefully
And cheers for all the info so appreciated Cheers
There was a 2.8, just not in that car. It was a 60 degree Chevy V6 that went in the Camaro, if you can imagine. At least they were shamed into bumping the displacement up a little, first to 3.1 and then to 3.4. For a couple of years in the mid-90's they also put a RWD 3800 in the F-body, but it was NA only, no supercharger. GM "thinking" over quite a long period here is a real study.
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Slowly collecting parts for this, hope to pick the engine up weekend after next. Got a front end rebuild kit on the way from the states at pres & just bought some new wheels and tyres today - 17x8's with 245 & 235 45 tyres. Those are on order so be waiting there arrival - slowly but surely getting everything in order to get her back together 😉
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Easiest way to tell if it’s the Buick 231 or the Chevy 229 V-6 is if the distributor is at the front (Buick) or back (Chevy).
Why did you decide to get another set of wheels? I'm just curious.
Personally I really like those Trans Am wheels, looking for a set of 4 front ones actually. Those came on Trans Am GTA's and Buick GNX's. The GNX ones are unique offset and backspacing but using four front GTA wheels is very close to the wheels that came on the GNX.
Cool car... Love wagons. Doesn't it get hot in New Zealand? I know it gets crazy hot in parts of Australia, I'd think you'd want working air conditioning. I'd love to have an old Holden wagon like the bright orange custom one from the first Mad Max film with the crazy science fiction spaceship themed mural on the side. Unfortunately I've never seen an old Australian Ford or a Holden in the US, not counting the rebadged Holden's sold here as Pontiacs 10-15 years ago.
Personally I really like those Trans Am wheels, looking for a set of 4 front ones actually. Those came on Trans Am GTA's and Buick GNX's. The GNX ones are unique offset and backspacing but using four front GTA wheels is very close to the wheels that came on the GNX.
Cool car... Love wagons. Doesn't it get hot in New Zealand? I know it gets crazy hot in parts of Australia, I'd think you'd want working air conditioning. I'd love to have an old Holden wagon like the bright orange custom one from the first Mad Max film with the crazy science fiction spaceship themed mural on the side. Unfortunately I've never seen an old Australian Ford or a Holden in the US, not counting the rebadged Holden's sold here as Pontiacs 10-15 years ago.
I liked the trans am wheels but couldnt get the fronts on the offset was way off, fronts were hitting the top wishbone & the tierod end even with spacers. Tried to get them on but wasnt going to happen, over here getting wheels for chevys isnt the easiest. Went to the local tyre shop today & looked at a few options but liked these, thought theyd sort of be period correct. Will see what they look like when they arrive.
As for the aircon yeah it is a pain theyve cut all the lines & wiring out as summers here to get pretty hot, i'll get a dark tint on the windows when we get her on the road that'll keep a bit of heat out.
Love the wagons to ive got 2 others - a factory Ls1 Holden wagon thats high spec, thats had maffless tune otr etc done to it & the others a 91 Holden wagon thats factory bench seat column change which isnt that common over here. The laters in primer at the moment getting a bit of work done, i've fitted a later model front & body kit & more to her. Shes in storage for the winter, i'll chuck up a couple of pics.....
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I like that 91... I like both of them actually but I like the lines and headlights on the older one better. What's the other one got for an engine? One of those cool inline sixes from Australia that the US never got? Was always jealous of the RB30 Nissan engines, and the old Chrysler Hemi 6, and the Australian Ford 351 Cleveland engines. People here (not many but enough) used to have the Australian Cleveland cylinder heads shipped over years ago, they were referred to as 3V heads, as they were somewhere between the US spec 2V (two Venturi/two barrel carb) and 4V (4 barrel) heads that came on US market Ford 351 Cleveland's. Supposedly gave best of both worlds, good bottom end torque and lots of high rpm horsepower. The US heads the 2V's were torquey and the 4V's were screamers. The Ford Cleveland engine was short lived here though, pretty sure they made them for much longer in Australia.
The older one runs the holden version of the buick 3.8 v6 & turbo 700, they go quite well shes a good old cruiser that one
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