1979 Malibu

Update your progress on your various car projects.

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TireSmoker
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Took the seat out of the car last night. It was way too far back for me. I found these sliders on Summit, seem to be well reviewed and "NHRA compliant", whatever that means. Sounds good. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-g1153

I need to pick up a fuel cell/fuel pump, a battery relocation kit, and I think I need to figure out some sort of external cut-off switch. There's no real good obvious place for it.

Between the seat, plumbing a fuel system, and re-doing 50% of the electrical, that should keep me busy for a few days.

Lastly, I need to find a trans. Powerglide would be the smart thing to do. Nyerges said I should call Abruzzi. Can't drop the engine in till I have a trans, so I gotta figure out that pretty quick.

-Dave
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TireSmoker
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Well, nothing is ever easy.. So the previous owner installed seat bars are rectangular tube, 1/8" wall, basically 1" outside edge-to-edge. The studs on the new seat slider brackets aren't long enough to reach through. Then on the other side, the holes don't line up with seat holes. Maybe I need to start with a different set of sliders.

-Dave
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Basement Paul
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by Basement Paul »

You could cut those studs off and drill the stud out and put longer hardened bolts in there.

-BP
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

I got a different set of seat brackets, from Amazon this time. I think these are going to work. The spacing on the one side matches up with the seats, although I'll need to ream the holes just a bit with a stepped bit to fit a 3/8 bolt. I ordered hardware from boltdepot.com, as I need 3/8-16 x 1/2" socket cap screw.

There is one issue though with the adjuster bar. I think they assume the brackets will be much further apart.

I also picked up the trunk mount battery kit and a fuel cell + fuel pump. I bought a 12 gallon cell, although I might exchange it for a 20 gallon.

I need some misc welding done -- some angle iron welded into the spare tire well to make a mount for the battery box, some brackets the fuel cell mount, possibly add some mounts to the radiator.

-Dave
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

So I got my new seat brackets and the correct hardware to bolt them up-- almost. The bolts for the bracket-to-car are too short. I think they're gonna work fine, except for the adjuster bar. The mfgr obviously expected the rails to be mount much further apart. Its too far to try and bend it, so I took it over to the saw and really personalized it.

I set the seat+rails in the car with the adjusters set full forward, and using the existing rear holes in the car. It's too far back, so I'll just need to drill 4 new holes, no big deal. I'll also need to figure out how I'm doing the back support.

Good progress tonight.

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Welding list:
L-bracket(s) to fuel cell -- needs TIG (alum) -- DONE
attachment brackets for radiator (alum, optional)
Angle iron in spare wheel well for battery box mount (steel) -- DONE
Seat bar extension -- DONE**, will prob add a piece of angle steel attaching both front extensions
Seat adjust handle -- maybe small plate with 1/4-20 hole to attach a knob. (steel) -- DONE
Seat back support setup

-Dave
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Kurt showed up today and we made a bunch of progress.

The battery box mount is done. The front seat bars are mostly done. I forgot to have him do the seat adjuster bar.

He will come back with the TIG to do the fuel cell (alum) and the tops of the seat bars. He gave me a good piece of angle aluminum to cut for mounts.

And thanks to BP for the new UPS for Tiresmoke. It's a monster.

-Dave
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

I've managed to get out to the garage a couple times this week and the engine is basically ready to come out of the Chevelle, so that it can go in the Malibooost. With a little luck, Kurt will be back next week to finish welding the seat bars, seat adjuster bar, and fuel cell mounts.

And a bonus pic of the dogs because they're cute :-)
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by Blue_69_malibu »

You should have taken that first picture when there was still a pizza box on the roof of the mali boost!! :D
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Got the engine out tonight.

Next up, heater core on the Chevelle.

I also gotta call Abruzzi on Monday and see if my trans is ready.

-Dave
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by Blue_69_malibu »

Your flex plate still has the "new car smell" on it!! :)
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Picked up my trans and converter today after breakfast. I'm 90% certain the shop is walking distance from where I bought the Chevelle 30+ years ago.

It's light! (no converter, no fluid) Unloaded it out of the truck myself and it wasn't bad at all. Now I can set them in the car and potentially get it over to After Hours for turbo piping. I still have a LOT of wiring and plumbing to do once it's in the car to get it running.

-Dave
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by Blue_69_malibu »

We're allowed to buy new transmissions? :)

What are the two wires leading into? Looks like an electric motor of some kind?
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Transbrake!
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Now that the Chevelle's engine is reinstalled, I'm looking at my Dart400 and Powerglide, thinking they are ready to be mated up and installed. I dont think it'll be too hard, except I'm unfamiliar with this crossmember. I bought a stock rubber trans mount. Still need a trans dipstick. Excitement is starting to build!

I also have the seat mount figured out. I set the adjusters all the way forward and mounted them to the seat. I put the seat in the car and was able to figure out a good fore/aft location. Made it so that all the way is up is even slightly close for me. Marked and drilled the holes. I need to get Kurt to come back out to finalize the welds and to weld together the seat-adjuster rail.

-Dave
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Re: 1979 Malibu

Post by TireSmoker »

Last Saturday, Speece agreed to come out and help me put the engine and trans in. I usually try to be pretty prepared when I have friends come over, but I was totally unprepared this time. We got derailed almost immediately when we went to install the converter on the trans. We put it on and felt the three clicks, but when we first bolted it to the engine, it was clear the converter was not on far enough. Converter mounting flange is .75" behind the bellhousing face, but it needs to be like 1.125" We goofed around with it for a couple hours. The input shaft pulls right out and it felt like we could seat it fully in the converter (ie-- no burrs or anything) and with the input shaft still removed, we mounted the converter on the remaining shaft for the pump, and it would slide in to full depth, which kinda told us we must have the wrong input shaft or wrong converter.

This is where my annoyance starts to kick in.. for background, I ordered this trans 1st week of Jan. When I called 3rd week of Feb to check on it, it was obvious my order has been lost/forgotten/whatever. Ok, it happens. He got it together within a week. When I couldn't get the converter on, I called and left on a VM on Saturday morning. Never got a call back, so I called him again today. After a measurement and a picture, t was confirmed I have the wrong input shaft, and they won't be in till Monday or Tuesday. So, lost my order, doesn't return a call, and I got the wrong parts. Doesn't feel like the best start. When I run back to the shop in Warren, I'll take the trans and converter with me and make sure I left with everything mounted.

-Dave
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