"What-if" cars. Building a dream Gbody. Play along!

[speedkills80]

Ok, here is my idea....
A 402 BBC, 4 speed, 12 bolt posi. Factory bucket seats, factory gauges, A/C delete option, F41 suspension, rally wheels, and all of it tucked under a factory hood. Basically a 1980 Z-16.

Something along the lines of this!!!

 

[AnimalGuy]

Speedkills80. That sounds like it would have been a hot seller if it was made.

The 65 z-16 is my holy grail to have. I did have the privilege to put my hands on the real thing for a couple of years.

 

[axisg]

a freind in HS bought an 83 Elco from a customer at the shop he was apprenticing at ( this is around 88 or 89 ). The elco is orig a diesel powered truck from Cali. It had cruise, PW , PL, AC, hydroboost brakes. Customer had tossed the diesel and swapped in a "re-freshed" 454 + th400 donated from a 78 truck. It was a real sleeper with 14" rally wheels and white wall tires. Once my friend bought the elco all he did was swap in a posi-rear and flip the whitewalls in. That was one mean Gbody using all the pieces available from the General in that time frame !!

Fast forward 20 years and the car has now changed hands between a few freinds and has undergone a full frame-on restoration. The 454 & th400 are long gone ( now replaced by a 355 with alum fastburn heads + TKO 6speed manual ). Stopping power comes from upgraded B-body brakes in front and LS1 brakes in the rear, the 7.5 was tossed in favour of an 8.5, Monte SS Buckets, console, guages complete the interior. Its and even meaner gbody now.

 

[speedkills80]

Speedkills80. That sounds like it would have been a hot seller if it was made.

The 65 z-16 is my holy grail to have. I did have the privilege to put my hands on the real thing for a couple of years.

That is one beautiful Malibu!! I love the Red with the goldlines!!!!

 

[AnimalGuy]

Yea, this guy had a lot of quality iron, This was my favorite for what it was.

 

[Clutch_Grabwell]

Ok, here is my idea....
A 402 BBC, 4 speed, 12 bolt posi. Factory bucket seats, factory gauges, A/C delete option, F41 suspension, rally wheels, and all of it tucked under a factory hood. Basically a 1980 Z-16.

Bravo, nicely done.
Your concept and execution are top-notch.

 

[speedkills80]

Yea, this guy had a lot of quality iron, This was my favorite for what it was.

I had a chance to buy a 65 Malibu SS when I was a kid from my parents. Real SS car....dumb me...I didn't think it was cool enough back then. Butternut yellow, black interior, 327, 12 bolt posi. Geez.... If we only knew then what we know now!!!

 

[AnimalGuy]

Speedkills80,This one is an actual Z-16, one of 201 built.

 

[speedkills80]

Speedkills80,This one is an actual Z-16, one of 201 built.

Yeah I saw the big block flags on the fender. It should be the L-78 motor. solid lifter 375hp version. They even had a special trunk trim piece that is different then the regular SS malibus. It is a beautiful car. It's most likely one of 200....LOL My dad's cousin had one and someone stole it, this is back in the late 60's. They only stole it so they could CUT out the bucket seats. Not even smart enough to bring a wrench. They did take a few other things from it but after that when he got it back, I think he just kept the motor and junked it.

 

[DRIVEN]

Malibu wagon "Safari Edition":

This one takes some rule-bending:
-1984 Malibu wagon with roof rack
-6.2 diesel
-700-R4
-NP208 transfer case
-8.5" with limited slip with 4.10 gears
-S10/Blazer front suspension and differential (I know, I know. But they are close cousins and it has been done.)
-15x7 steel wheels with LT tires
-Heavy duty cooling system.
-High output charging system to support aux lighting
-Tow package
-Code 61 Doeskin Tan paint
-Vinyl interior and rubber floor mats. Did GM offer a rear facing 3rd seat for the Gbody like in the Bbody?

I know if I were to just substitute the diesel for a 250-6 it's essentially a Jeep Cherokee :lol: . Who's next?