The 1981-to-1979 malibu rebuild

[t01blaze]

Re: 1981 malibu rebuild

if i was going to fix this car all i would have to do is unbolt the motor mounts and pull the engine/trans together, then take the body off the frame.



the firewall on the current car is rotted through in a few spots, this is one.

some of the body mount points on the body are really badly rusted.

this is the driver side corner where the wheel well, quarter panel and trunk floor come together. you can see a rubber body mount puck on the frame, and the body has collapsed in that area where the body mount goes. there is nothing left there. if i was to poke it with a screwdriver there would be a massive hole in this area after i was done.

this is the same spot as above from inside the trunk.

quarter glass window channels

part of the door post is rotted above the vent

its too much work for me, plus just the $$$ i spend on a floor, doors, and quarters I can have another complete car, that is RUST FREE! there is a lot more rust to this car. the rocker panels are rotted inside and out. this car is not worth saving.


I have found another car and i am going to try again, hopefully. If all goes right, I will have a new car in January.




goodbye old friend 🙁 we had some good times together.

I will update the thread after I get a new car that is in better shape.

 

[81_2dr_bu]

Re: 1981 malibu rebuild

i remember those days im on my 4th bu my current one is the best but its from tenesse a granmas car that was converted into a drag car and i returned back to a street car ,,,,, my 1st bu i cut up with a sawzall and stored as much good metal ,,,, its hard to find nice rides as you know ,,,,take your time gl

 

[t01blaze]

Re: 1981 malibu rebuild

81 Malibu rebuild /end
79 Malibu rebuild /start




picked up a clean 79 Malibu that I found locally. It came from the New Mexico desert and had spent only 2 months in Pennsylvania. The car has some surface rust on the hood and rear window filler panel. It is going to get stripped and then sent to the body shop for paint.

Leaving Pennsylvania...

Now in New Jersey

305 ..... junk

clean as a whistle

 

[t01blaze]

Re: 1981 malibu rebuild

Trunk

Interior

and the hanging seat belt buckle from the roof? :?:

 

[t01blaze]

Re: 1981 malibu rebuild

The 81 cost me nothing since I already owned it. The 79 I stole for $1400.

 

[lildudefl]

Much Better 8)

 

[-83MONTESS-]

No sh*t you stole it for $1400! That looks really clean. Nice find and that just eliminated SOOOOO much work for ya

 

[t01blaze]

Thanks guys. I'm getting really excited to tear into this car. It needs very minimal body work. I hope to have it painted early in the spring. 😀

 

[t01blaze]

:shock:

 

[383S10]

On that belt hanging from the roof it looks like belt extender given buy dealership if you had extra girth like Santa......but the usually hooked up at the console side of the seat belt..............without seeing the other end of it I cant be for sure.....weird.........