Ok so the wife got her fill of Fieros,so I traded the automatic car for a '78 Malibu. I've always liked these cars, and this ones a keeper. It has a knocking v-sik in it now, but I'm going to rebuild/install the original 350 from paps '70 pickup. I grew up with this truck, it's very rusty(Cleveland,OH does that to one)but was well maintained mechanically. So well that it has over 200k on it and has never had the valves adjusted, no cam wear problems and still has good oil pressure. But it's sat since around '88 or so, I've started it about every year or so up until a couple years ago. I figure a ring/bearing/gasket freshen up with a little cam/headers/intake/carb will make a nice cruiser. The car only has 61k on it. It's an Ill. car that was garage kept so the dashpad is nice as is the rest of the interior. It has NO RUST, and the paint is decent. Right now it's got a set of '85-86 Monte Carlo SS wheels on it(the aluminum ones),got a set of 7" rallies/disc brake centers located.Try & get some pics tomorrow.
My good buddy Tony has a few of those Mailbus he just loves them even has a wagon done up.Heres a couple of pics.
Man, those cars look killer. I'd like to find a little wagon to putt around in, give me an excuse to make the 2dr a bit quicker.
Malibus rock! They're great cars, versatile, mid-size, good lines, full frame, an engine compartment and chassis that'll take nearly any engine/trans combo you could think of, from 6's to the wildest big block, (G-bodies are popular candidates for 500 ci Caddy engine swaps) and a good, solid suspension base that can easily be modded for for anything from drag racing to road racing/canyon carving, alot of parts interchangability with it's fellow G-bodies (Regal, Grand Prix, El Camino, etc.) and great aftermarket supply/support available. I've got a 79 small block Malibu wagon I'm "rejuvinating" with my youngest son for his first car, one of my beater/cruizers that served me well in the lean years and is a blast to drive (he calls it an "SSUV"), and a 79 Malibu 2-door with a 454, Muncie 4-speed and 12 bolt posi rear for myself (sort of an SS 454 "Chevelle"/Malibu Chevrolet should have made) plus, a black 79 wagon project/parts car, a 78 Classic 2-door body I'm thinking of using for a bare-bones budget street/strip car, and a rather rare 83 Buick Regal wagon (most Buick G-body wagons were the Century) that I'd love to make a Grand National/GNX wagon out of. I wish our Maverick/Comets were as versatile (especially with engine choices and suspension) This is me and Jr's wagon project and this is an idea of what we're shooting for...
I found a complete 455/400 Olds combo, pulled from a running car... for $200. I've had a 455 Olds before, really liked it. I think it would turn the 'bu into a pretty decent driver for cheap.
It'll work. A local guy wrecked his 74 455 SD Trans-Am a few years ago, for lack of any other car (and lack of money to buy one) he stuck the T/A's engine/trans in his wife's 80 'Bu...the car is a killer, the only drawback being his wife was pissed at losing her car.
I drove a Fiero GT once that was scary quick. I've seen them with Caddy Northstars in them and they are Corvette killers.
Yea, they're kinda like driving a quiet go-kart. Fun, but nobody around here likes 'em and most shops around here don't want to work on 'em. And I'm just a shadetree tinker-er and those cars aren't too easy to mess with.
