Been working on the wider + raised wheel tubs for my Malibu @ least 1-2hrs daily during each work week. Still sorting through the needs for fitting the drivers side tub. It's definitely messing w/my brain trying to determine where relief cuts need to be made for a clean appearing install. I think I've made over a dozen templates so far for this side w/each one getting a slight refinement or adjustment.
What did you do to your G-Body today 2024
- Thread starter 64nailhead
- Start date
Pictures! We need pictures!!
In all seriousness, I am extremely interested in this as I will be taking mental notes for when I get to mine. So any details you can provide with pictures would help immensely.
I will when I have things further along.
The basic fit/install of the pass side tub is completed (well.... it's held in place w/two fasteners). Templates are made & material is in-house to finish-out the flanges. It's enough to get my visual wheels turning to finish it out but the aftermarket fenders & different core support (vs. the original/OE unit) were wreaking havoc on aligning things. So much so I bought the '81 more-door parts car for OE Malibu parts. Definitely made the difference I needed to ensure I was ok to more forward on the drivers side.
The drivers side gets a wee bit complicated w/all of the functionally required stuff (brake hardware; WW motor; firewall wiring bulkhead; etc...). I wanted the pass side visually acceptable to have a model that helps in my approach of getting a similar visually acceptable driver side tub vs. something that looks 'too hacked-up'. Not going full-custom is the issue. I know guys will remote mount brake set-ups, hide/re-route wiring, & ditch wipers for minimalistic (sanitary) engine compartments but I'm hoping for a slightly tweaked OE look as that's the goal w/the car (something GM could have built).
OE tubs would work if I stuck w/a slightly smaller (shorter) wheel/tire combo & raised it some or quit driving it like a daily ride w/o worrying about road surface quality. But it rubbed enough @ the top that it wore through the plastic on both sides w/a 15x6"/25" tall front tire in <5k miles (being carefully driven more often than not).
Hoping to get input on the manual brake set-ups others have used in another thread I posted this week. That definitely would help my goal of under hood symmetry.
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