My 80' Chevrolet Malibu Classic SW

[ZeblodS]

Here are some pictures of the 80' Chevrolet Malibu Classic SW I bought last month, here in France.

This car was an European Export version, with some specific features from factory (dial in Km/h, specific lights...)

It is (was) well equipped, with:
- 305ci with 2GC carburetor,
- th350 with positract and 2.56:1 ratio,
- 50/50 front seat with electric driver seat,
- Air conditioning (not working, because partly removed from under the hood, I have all parts in a box...),
- Cruise control (not working, because partly removed from under the hood, I have all parts in a box...),
- Power windows, power central locking, power trunk window opening,
- Remote sides mirrors (not working, because removed and replaced by ugly manual sides mirrors, I have all parts in a box...),
- Assisted braking and stearing Confort Tilt,
- "Heavy Duty" battery, alternator (63A) and front radiator,
- Dashboard with gauge pack, km/h dial and buzzer,
- "Deluxe" interrior with extra sound proofing,
- Rear window electric defrost, intermittent windshield washer,
- etc.

It's not the original engine. The car came with a 267ci from factory, but was swapped with an older 305ci from 78'.
That engine was totally rebuilt 10 years ago: I have all invoices from Summit, and French professionals that worked on the engine. The last owner drove less than 20k miles since.
There is no emission control unit whatsoever, and the catalytic converter was removed.

The interrior is in pretty well shape, I already mended almost all electrical issues

The exterior is in poor condition: it suffers from hail, and there's some rust on door bottoms mostly. I will take the car to the body shop when i'll have enough money...

I have some work to do on the car with some parts I currently have in boxes, that the previous owner gave me, to put back inside the car when I have the time.

 

[motorheadmike]

Neat! You have to fix that A/C.

 

[Longroof79]

Looks like a cool wagon overall. Do you know Sebastian305 ? He's also a Malibu wagon owner in France.... his car is an '83.
What are your plans for it?

 

[Texas82GP]

Cool car! I love the aluminum slot wheels on it.

 

[ZeblodS]

Neat! You have to fix that A/C.

Yeah, it's 35°C (95°F) here... I really need this A/C!

Looks like a cool wagon overall. Do you know Sebastian305 ? He's also a Malibu wagon owner in France.... his car is an '83.
What are your plans for it?

Don't know him (yet).

Right now, I planned to do:
- Make the A/C and cruise control working again. I might have to buy new parts for the A/C though... (the compressor is still on the engine, but without hose plugged... the clutch is off but I'm afraid humidity might went inside).
- Repair the parking break that doesn't work (cable's sheath are damaged, I ordered new cables).
- Look into a rattle noise I hear coming from the rear left, only when I turn left and apply some throttle (turning right or going forward no sound at all, turning left without touching the accelerator no sound either...)
- I might have a little exhaust leak near the front: I feel some vibrations under my feet when I push the accelerator, mostly when engine/exhaust is cold.
- Repair a sporadic electric bad connection with the light switch (after 10ish minutes, the front light start blinking at night... not cool)
- Some minor repair in the doors: change locks (passenger and trunk don't work), unjam electric rear door lock (the lock gizmo just slightly move on rear doors when using electric door lock, but works fine for both front doors), repair a slightly electrical issue with the passenger electric window (only when car parked in hot weather all day)...

I have already done some things since I bought the car:
- Add a thermostat (there was no thermostat in the housing...) and change thermostat housing (was damaged),
- Replace 2GC carburetor with new one, put electric choke instead of hot air (gaskets were dry, accelerator pump wasn't working, etc.),
- Replace accelerator cable (was jammed, hard to move the cable in the sheath),
- Replace speedo cable (speedo needle was boucing really hard),
- Replace tachometer (found one used on eBay, works like a charm),
- Replace rear window defog button (was missing),
- Mend electrical connection with dashboard (fuel gauge wasn't working, and half gauge stopped working once I put the light on... works fine now)

Cool car! I love the aluminum slot wheels on it.

I love it too, part of the reason I bought the car (and the V8's sound of course!)

 

[Longroof79]

It's good to see another wagon guy on board...especially from across the pond. You have quite a "to-do" list there... little by little, I'm sure you'll correct what needs to be repaired, etc.
I'm glad you're able to work on it yourself.
I'll have to introduce you to Sebastien. He also loves his Malibu wagon. Thanks to him, I got my Euro taillights that I've been looking for for over 10 yrs.

Here's a link to his thread. https://gbodyforum.com/threads/new-from-france.35846/

 

[Texas82GP]

Yeah, it's 35°C (95°F) here... I really need this A/C!


Don't know him (yet).

Right now, I planned to do:
- Make the A/C and cruise control working again. I might have to buy new parts for the A/C though... (the compressor is still on the engine, but without hose plugged... the clutch is off but I'm afraid humidity might went inside).
- Repair the parking break that doesn't work (cable's sheath are damaged, I ordered new cables).
- Look into a rattle noise I hear coming from the rear left, only when I turn left and apply some throttle (turning right or going forward no sound at all, turning left without touching the accelerator no sound either...)
- I might have a little exhaust leak near the front: I feel some vibrations under my feet when I push the accelerator, mostly when engine/exhaust is cold.
- Repair a sporadic electric bad connection with the light switch (after 10ish minutes, the front light start blinking at night... not cool)
- Some minor repair in the doors: change locks (passenger and trunk don't work), unjam electric rear door lock (the lock gizmo just slightly move on rear doors when using electric door lock, but works fine for both front doors), repair a slightly electrical issue with the passenger electric window (only when car parked in hot weather all day)...

I have already done some things since I bought the car:
- Add a thermostat (there was no thermostat in the housing...) and change thermostat housing (was damaged),
- Replace 2GC carburetor with new one, put electric choke instead of hot air (gaskets were dry, accelerator pump wasn't working, etc.),
- Replace accelerator cable (was jammed, hard to move the cable in the sheath),
- Replace speedo cable (speedo needle was boucing really hard),
- Replace tachometer (found one used on eBay, works like a charm),
- Replace rear window defog button (was missing),
- Mend electrical connection with dashboard (fuel gauge wasn't working, and half gauge stopped working once I put the light on... works fine now)


I love it too, part of the reason I bought the car (and the V8's sound of course!)

There is a circuit breaker in the headlight switch. If it overloaded or defective, it will trip and cut the power to the headlights. It is possible this is your problem with your headlights blinking at night since it starts after about 10 minutes. If there are no wiring issues causing the headlights to pull too many amps, then you may have to replace the headlight switch. I hope this helps.

 

[ZeblodS]

It's good to see another wagon guy on board...especially from across the pond. You have quite a "to-do" list there... little by little, I'm sure you'll correct what needs to be repaired, etc.
I'm glad you're able to work on it yourself.
I'll have to introduce you to Sebastien. He also loves his Malibu wagon. Thanks to him, I got my Euro taillights that I've been looking for for over 10 yrs.

Here's a link to his thread. https://gbodyforum.com/threads/new-from-france.35846/

It's funny, but ever since I was a little boy I wanted one of those big wagon I could see in "old" movies and TV series...
The years have passed, now I'm a grown up and I still wanted one of these, that's why I bought it. And man I love my wagon!

The "to-do" list is quite long you're right, and it's only for the foreseeable future to mend what's not working properly. Besides that I will also have a complete body work to do at some point.
But as you say, little by little, and depending on my limited financial resources, I will do it all.
To be honest I don't enjoy particularly doing all the work myself, but bringing the car to a specialist would cost too much for me. So I do what I need to do in order to have a car in good working condition.

I'll look Sebastien's thread, thanks.

There is a circuit breaker in the headlight switch. If it overloaded or defective, it will trip and cut the power to the headlights. It is possible this is your problem with your headlights blinking at night since it starts after about 10 minutes. If there are no wiring issues causing the headlights to pull too many amps, then you may have to replace the headlight switch. I hope this helps.

That's what I thought. I have the Haynes for this car, and according to the electrical schematics I had reached the same conclusion.
Both low and high beam blinks after a while (switch in position 2), but sidelights and rear lights are perfectly fine (switch in position 1).
I already ordered a new headlight switch a few days back, waiting for delivery.

Thanks for your advice.

 

[ZeblodS]

I'll have to introduce you to Sebastien. He also loves his Malibu wagon. Thanks to him, I got my Euro taillights that I've been looking for for over 10 yrs.

Here's a link to his thread. https://gbodyforum.com/threads/new-from-france.35846/

I've just read the thread, really interesting. I didn't know there were so much differences between US and Euro lights.

I also have Euro taillights on mine, and all sidelights were disabled (front and rear).

And in the front I have:
- Both position (side) lamps and turning signals wired in the narrow lenses.
- Both low and high beam wired in the larger lenses.
All bulbs are white, but to be completly compliant with French regulation, turning signals should be orange, which is not the case.
I'll try to wire the front orange sidelights with the turning signals in addition to the current wirering.

 

[Longroof79]

I've noticed some different front light configurations on export model Malibu wagons.
Besides the amber/ red taillight lenses, I've seen different style front running lights on '80-'81 models. The lens bulges out and it has a white and amber lens. I'll have to find a pic of it to show you. Also, a Norwegian member with an '80 Malibu wagon has blanked out corner turn signal lights, but uses a smaller amber turn signal lamp on the fender...again, I'll have to find pics. Perhaps it varies from country to country.
The picture attached above is actually from a '79 Malibu, but the '80-'81 models use a similar lens.

I've also attached a picture of the Malibu wagon from Norway. You'll notice the difference in the lenses.
No corner lenses on this '80.