Hey all - new to G bodies and new member to this forum. Just picked up an 83 Pontiac Grand prix wagon from a little ol lady w/. 63,000 original miles, 305V8 for $1000.00 to use as my shop parts hauler. My question is I know for the most part all G-bodies share alot in common. I'd like to swap the frontend sheet metal over to either the el camino or malibu frontend with quad horizontal headlights to turn it into a malibu wagon. Do I need to swap the whole frontend sheet metal (hood, fenders,iner fenderwells, header panel, grill, lights, bumper) or can I just change the header panel, bumper?
Grand Prix swap to el camino/malibu nose?
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Welcome and are you sure that you have a Grand Prix wagon?. The GP never came in a wagon. Thee were Lemans and a Bonneville wagons. If it is then someone did some modifications and I'd like to see some pictures
Welcome aboard!
pontiacgp is right, there never was a GP wagon made. It's either a Lemans, Grand Lemans, or Bonneville. As for putting a Malibu nose on your car, it's definitely doable. The door lines will match up with the Chevy fenders. However, Pontiacs would usually have side trim in most cases. You may have to eliminate the trim or add trim to the fenders.
You will have to swap out everything forward of the doors. Hood, fenders, etc.
Post a picture of the car. I'm sure we'd very much like to see it.
pontiacgp is right, there never was a GP wagon made. It's either a Lemans, Grand Lemans, or Bonneville. As for putting a Malibu nose on your car, it's definitely doable. The door lines will match up with the Chevy fenders. However, Pontiacs would usually have side trim in most cases. You may have to eliminate the trim or add trim to the fenders.
You will have to swap out everything forward of the doors. Hood, fenders, etc.
Post a picture of the car. I'm sure we'd very much like to see it.
My bad- yes it's a bonneville wagon - not grand prix. So basically the fenders, hood, entire front sheetmetal from either a el camino or malibu has to be used inorder to transform it over. The bonneville fenders, hood do not match up. There's a few mid 80's el camino's round town at the you - pull it salvage yards & local craigslist that I can get them from. Just wasn't sure what exactly I can or can not use.
My plan is to transform it into a clean "malibu" wagon and use it as a parts chaser for my shop as I'm tearing my Grand Cherokee up which never was intended as being a shop parts runner. I'll post some pix sometime of what I'm starting with and the transformation as I go along.
My plan is to transform it into a clean "malibu" wagon and use it as a parts chaser for my shop as I'm tearing my Grand Cherokee up which never was intended as being a shop parts runner. I'll post some pix sometime of what I'm starting with and the transformation as I go along.
Also how do you post pix on here?? Not the most computer savaay individual - just a dumb fabricator.
if you have the pictures saved on your computer you can just use the upload attachment that you see below the box for your post
Yes, you'll need the whole "dog house", as the bubbas refer it as. The hoods are different. The fenders will only accommodate a Pontiac header panel. If you put a Malibu and Lemans/Bonneville fender side by side, you'll see that there is a subtle difference in the shape between the two as you'll discover.
Good luck! Keep us up to date.
Incidentally, the quad headlight Malibu/ El Camino header panels were from '82 up. The '82 + fenders are basically the same as the '78-'81 only that the later years had a side marker light added.
Good luck! Keep us up to date.
Incidentally, the quad headlight Malibu/ El Camino header panels were from '82 up. The '82 + fenders are basically the same as the '78-'81 only that the later years had a side marker light added.
She ain't pretty but we all gotta start somewhere. Don't think I did too bad for $1000.00. Got 63,000 original miles. The lil' 305v8 runs nice & smooth and will even roast the pass rear wheel for about 4-5ft. Interior is really clean considering the age - I think for now I'll leave the interior alone. My plans are to swap over the nose to el camino/ malibu, get rid of the trim along the side, re-paint two tone (thinking met. silver top/ charcol bottom or met. silver top/ red bottom??) either 17"x8/ 18"x9.5" (front/rear) or 18"x8"/20"x9.5" (front/rear) Boss 338 with charcol grey spokes. Not sure if I'm going to keep roof rack & trim or not?? And sometime next year probably build a nice little small block either a 355, 383, or 406c.i. Nothing radical as this is primarily going to be my shop parts hauler. Think I'll name her - Myrtle...after the old lady that originally owned it.
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