Anybody else have this problem

[Bonnewagon]

I used my '81 Malibu wagon for a daily driver over 15 years. While using it I swapped several motors around, transmissions, all kinds of stuff. What saved me was using my mountain bike to get to work. BUT- winter was rough when something broke. Being a mailman I ignored the weather. But with ice and snow it was taking the bus or nothing. I don't advise a G body as your only vehicle.

 

[Ribbedroof]

I don't advise a G body as your only vehicle.

I dunno, in the 18 years I've been DDing them, I haven't had any more issues than the people I know with newer stuff. Only "gotcha!"s have been 1 pickup coil and a couple trannies, one V6 TH200 behind a 350, one TH350C with 145K on it.

I do have other vehicles here, but prefer G bodies to them

I think upkeep is an important factor, no car is going to be reliable if it isn't given proper care

 

[Bonnewagon]

I confess, I did that too, all my life. Maybe I went and got old but I would rather depend on a 10 year old computer car to run all the time than a 30 year old time bomb. When I was younger I thought nothing of coming home from work, grabbing a bite, and starting an all night transmission swap just because I needed the car for work. Worst ever was driving the Malibu wagon from NYC to Wilkes-Barre PA on a beer run. I had swapped in a Buick 231 as a mileage miser. It ran smooth like a sewing machine but halfway across Jersey- the crankshaft snapped in half. Flatbedded it home, l had to borrow a Cherokee to go get the beer, and then do an emergency motor swap. Not fun.

 

[pontiacgp]

My GP is my DD in the summer, it's easier and cheaper to fix than my Jeep is if something goes wrong ...oh and my GP is more fun to drive...😎

 

[Bar50]

But, as for the problem... I just bought a 468 to freshen up and add a cam intake and headers to. As opposed to pulling one out of my '78 to do all that stuff to...

So, yeah....I have a problem. First step, right...!!?!

 

[pontiacgp]

But, as for the problem... I just bought a 468 to freshen up and add a cam intake and headers to. As opposed to pulling one out of my '78 to do all that stuff to...

So, yeah....I have a problem. First step, right...!!?!

I'm in denial and happy.....😕

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

I would not drive a G body or any car you really care about in northern winters. Road salt just eats all cars away. My 04 Ranger has more rust than my 87 Regal because the Regal was hardly ever winter driven, and has not seen salt in 16 years. That is why all its body mount bolts came out clean. It is a good idea to have a beater, new or old to protect the good car. I really want to move to the south and forget about snow and salt, hopefully one day.

 

[pontiacgp]

I would not drive a G body or any car you really care about in northern winters. Road salt just eats all cars away. My 04 Ranger has more rust than my 87 Regal because the Regal was hardly ever winter driven, and has not seen salt in 16 years. That is why all its body mount bolts came out clean. It is a good idea to have a beater, new or old to protect the good car. I really want to move to the south and forget about snow and salt, hopefully one day.

Live near the ocean and the wind will coat your car with salt every day. My uncle lived in Florida on th east coast on the man made canals and his motor home ended up with all the windows facing the ocean welded shut from corrosion. And the winter is worse than the summer because of the salt water dew that gets deposited on the whole car including the frame and brakes. Park a G body on grass for an extended period and the moisture coming from the ground will rot out a frame and under body of a car. The desert is the place to be and you'll get your car sandblasted for free.....🙂

 

[Longroof79]

When I lived in NY, my wagon had been my daily driver for several years until we moved to Florida, and it had continued to be my daily driver down here for many more years.
I feel the move saved the car from a bad fate. No more harsh winters, inconsiderate bonehead drivers, salt, etc.
However, I have had to repair some rust issues years later.. It could have potentially been worse, though.

My dad's '71 2-dr Buick Skylark suffered the ravages of NYC streets. Between rust and getting banged up on the street. Before it got worse, I had intentions of shipping the car down here and replacing sheet metal and bringing it back to it's former glory...oh well...water under the bridge now. I loved that car.

 

[Jeff L]

Live near the ocean and the wind will coat your car with salt every day. My uncle lived in Florida on th east coast on the man made canals and his motor home ended up with all the windows facing the ocean welded shut from corrosion. And the winter is worse than the summer because of the salt water dew that gets deposited on the whole car including the frame and brakes. Park a G body on grass for an extended period and the moisture coming from the ground will rot out a frame and under body of a car. The desert is the place to be and you'll get your car sandblasted for free.....🙂

You are so right.

When I lived in CT I had a 79 Chevette (late 1980's- early 90's) that was my Winter car. Great in the snow. We had some bad snowstorms during that time and a real cold spell for months also and the roads were constantly covered with sand and salt and it took a toll on my Chevette. It was my beater and not washing it just added to the rusting process! lol

Living in Southern AZ we have very dry air but the heat and blowing dirt can destroy your paint job. Many have car ports and not garages and the sun just bakes off the paint if you do not wax it or find shade at work if you can. One time my dad was at a stop light waiting for the green and a dust devil that was pretty large literally sand blasted the passenger side of his 89 Regal. It had these little dots of paint chips all over. The car in front of him got a scratch on the door from some tumbleweeds hitting it. Then add all the rocks on the roads out here that break windshields and beat the hell out of the front ends and cause tons of paint chips.