The Family Cruiser 1979

[Rattlecan]

Figured I'd post some pictures of my current project. It's a 1979 Malibu wagon purchased for $500.00. The plan is to turn it into a sporty family cruiser. Paint will be silver top and light green metallic lower. Lowered 1-2", The 305 and the TH 350 will get freshened up. Gear change to 3.XX (don't know yet), 5 spoke wheels, Mexican blanket and vinyl seats.

I'm hoping to have this done for vacation next summer. :lol:

I'll post up pictures as things move along.

The start. It may not look it but there is a lot of body work to do. The car had wood grain on the side and had surface rust all down both sides. The guy I bought the car from sandblasted all the rust out and treated it then gave up.

I narrowed the front bumper 4",shortened it 1" and filled where the rubber bump strip went, then deflated the bumper shocks. It tucks up nice.

The left side is almost ready to paint

Just starting the right side

The front bumper was such a pain in the *ss I'm going to buy a fiberglass roll pan for the rear.

 

[Kansas Bu Wagon]

Nice project, can't wait to start doing stuff to mine.

BTW super jealous of your gauge cluster, want one SOOO bad.

 

[O. D. Showtime]

Nice progress on the wagon. Looking good.

 

[Longroof79]

Lookin' good, man. Coming along nicely. After all that work to the front bumper you don't want to tackle the rear?
I found that the rear was easier to do than the front. You did a nice job on the front bumper.

Well, second thought. The rear bumper was just as involved. After cutting the bumper 3"- 3 1/2" out of the center. The reinforcement bar had to be trimmed at both ends, and the holes in back of the taillight assemblies had to be elongated to clear the taillight sockets....and of course I had to deflate the energy absorbers. I also welded the bumper bolts flush....and the center of the bumper had to be tweaked in order to clear the tailgate.

 

[tc1959]

Looks like a fun project,Your pics look like you are in Arizona somewhere. 8)

 

[Blake442]

Cool project.
Keep the rear bumper and push in the shocks if you need to. Roll pans are ugly...

 

[Longroof79]

Cool project.
Keep the rear bumper and push in the shocks if you need to. Roll pans are ugly...

I'd have to agree... :wink: They never looked kosher to me... :?

 

[kolegtp12]

nice wrk so far keep it comin cant wait to tuck my bumpers, but right now im building my 358 so once its done and in i am doin bumpers this winter

 

[Rattlecan]

Lookin' good, man. Coming along nicely. After all that work to the front bumper you don't want to tackle the rear?
I found that the rear was easier to do than the front. You did a nice job on the front bumper.

Well, second thought. The rear bumper was just as involved. After cutting the bumper 3"- 3 1/2" out of the center. The reinforcement bar had to be trimmed at both ends, and the holes in back of the taillight assemblies had to be elongated to clear the taillight sockets....and of course I had to deflate the energy absorbers. I also welded the bumper bolts flush....and the center of the bumper had to be tweaked in order to clear the tailgate.

I like the looks of your bumper. Nice work.

 

[Rattlecan]

Looks like a fun project,Your pics look like you are in Arizona somewhere. 8)

Close to AZ. I'm in Albuquerque, NM.