BUILD THREAD 83 Iraqi taxi 454

[83MalibuSedan454]

Hey everyone, I am starting this thread to keep track of and share my progress on my build. I have been working on it since 2020 on and off and am inching my way twords the first start. Countless hours and $$ and more to go but it should be a pretty neat car when it’s done. Definitely not something you see everyday and not something most people do but hey why not the goal is to fit everything under the hood and keep it original looking as possible, with some personal touches. Enjoy!

 

[Built6spdMCSS]

Can't just make a post like that and not add pics... we've done group floggings for less...

 

[83MalibuSedan454]

For the body I started with taking the whole front suspension off and replacing it with a full diesel suspension from rock auto to handle the weight of the big block. Then I brought it over to a buddy’s place to look at beefing up the frame (he has a hoist) where he graciously let me tear the car down and redo the whole underside and frame. I worked at that everyday for around 2 months to get it complete. Started with the frame which was in rougher shape than I had thought. Pretty much every body mount was weak and pulled through. I replaced them with thick washers to mimic the original hole size. Boxed the sides in with 3/16 steel. When it came to the rear of the frame it needed more love. With the help of a friend (who did the welding thank you) we plated the rear rails and wrapped the whole rear of the frame. I also put a L plates in front of the gas tank. I made custom bumper mounts and it lined up better than it did when I got the car. All in the frame turned out pretty good and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of a few good buddy’s. The under body I did a lot of myself. There was a few spots up front that I cut out and tacked in new peices and put that black sealant around it. The rear was in pretty rough shape and it had a good hole in the floor behind the drivers seat. I custom built a trans cross member too. That still requires some attention as I didn’t have headers at the time and now the exhaust routing is going to be difficult. Even custom did rear wheel wells. Over all the car is in a lot better shape then when I got it. I am no body man by any means. It Will never be perfect as it was hit in the rear a long time ago. Here are some pictures (some are screenshots from videos not the best) scraped all the under coat off the whole car some greasy thing someone did in the past both pics of before I finished them up

 

[83MalibuSedan454]

Can't just make a post like that and not add pics... we've done group floggings for

Can't just make a post like that and not add pics... we've done group floggings for less...

I’m working on it lot of stuff to go though. Will post the motor next just don’t know how to save and edit as I go to make one big post haha little new to this

 

[83MalibuSedan454]

For the engine I got a gen 6 454 out of an rv. Seen it running before I bought it and he brought it right to me. Put Comp Cam thumpr cl11-600-4 specs at 050 lift 227 int/241 exh in it with a double roller timing chain. Bottom end is pretty well left alone. Did the rear main seal that’s about it for that. Weiand 8019 stealth intake 343 783 heads (thought I had a gen 5 with the peanut ports found out after these were built I didn’t :/ oh well) 3/8 chromoly pushrods and roller tip 1.7 rockers. Went with the full Holley sniper set up (yes I’ve seen the problem posts I’m to far into it to go back now) f body headers that just needed a little massaging to get in overall not to bad. The trans is a built 350 built by a local trans shop. Got a few more things to get to finish it up and I’m sure I’m forgetting lots but here are some photos

 

[83MalibuSedan454]

This is what it looks like as of today. I did the fuel system alternator and mounting bracket this week. Also put the distributor in place. Missing the clamp to bolt it down to finish it. My crank pulley and alternator do not line up at all. It is a full belt width off. Seen online there are some pulleys that kick it out one width might try that. Also I am having starter mesh issues with the summit hi torque mini starter. I put the front clip on this week as well and am having issues getting that to sit right. Read on here somewhere that the frame can settle in the front with the engine in it and on jackstands over time. My rad support was around an inch higher than it should have been

 

[maxi426]

Get the car on the ground before trying to align the front clip. These cars flex too much to try doing it on jack stands.

 

[83MalibuSedan454]

Get the car on the ground before trying to align the front clip. These cars flex too much to try doing it on jack stands.

It’s on the ground now, I have a piece of wood and some jack stands under the front bumper mounts just to help it a bit. It’s not off the ground just helping support it. I’ll leave it like that for a few days see if it helps. Thank you!

 

[83MalibuSedan454]

Also unsure of what I will put in for a rear end. I’ve seen all the common options on here and other places. Would like to get it running first. Ideally would like to limp it around for a summer and then put a new rear in the winter but the rear is in rough shape. Leaking fluid from the pinion seal It looks like. Before I touched the car it leaked literally every fluid accept brake and gas 😂

Might be able to get my hands on a rear end from a brand new chev truck that was in an accident. Not sure how it would go putting it in. I know it would require some heavy modifications. I’m guessing it’s around 11” wider from what I seen online. If I could get shorter axles for it though that would be sweet. I don’t mind the man hours if the price is right.

 

[mclellan83]

I hope for your sake with an OG sniper you aren't planning to run any electronics, whenever you attach the pics to your post you can insert them all very easily and will make it a much better viewing experience for the people looking.