Looking for Suspension and Steering upgrades

[Highwood Malibu]

So I am looking to stiffen the ride and was thinking of adding some sway bars and a steering shaft upgrade. At first I was wondering if I could use s10 sway bars on my 80 Malibu? And I have heard lots about the jeep shafts for steering can any one tell bout them?

 

[oldsofb]

Not sure about the Jeep Steering upgrade on your year car. Check these links out for sus mods and etc:

http://www.fatherley.com/category/1980-malibu-coupe/

http://www.maliburacing.com/tech.html

http://gbodyforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=272714

Good luck,

Hutch

 

[dogsht]

I thought the jeep shaft just made more room for engine engine swaps. I didn't know you could put S-10 sway bars on a Gbody.

I do know the "F41" suspension package was an option on Gbodys and came on GN/Ttype/442/MCSS which primarily were a thicker stiffer front sway bar plus a rear sway bar plus stiffer springs plus a faster ratio steering box. Often you can pick these up here or at a salvage yard for cheap. The sway bars simply bolt up and put with new inexpensive poly end links (available at any autoparts store) would be the simplest cheapest bang for the buck place to start. Moog has much better springs for cheap but the labor and install is much more involved. I have never done the faster steering box as my GN & 442 already had them. Good new shocks would be next after or with the sway bar & end links. Edelbrock ISAs or Bilesteins both get the most votes for best shocks. After you experience these good shocks you will never waist your money on cheap shocks again. Find a better place to cut a corner. Unless you find a major problem wheels & tires upgrades would be next.

Edit Cool I checked out your pics nice Mali. Looks like you already have the wheels covered. Just the cheap easy upgrades I mentioned will make a very noticeable difference. After that might be brakes transmission or rear.