changing Lemans into Malibu

Chipper Chapman · 12-26-2007, 07:18 PM

Thinking of changing my 1981 lemans into a malibu for stock eliminator, my question is this, am i going to have to change the entire dash? Other than the cluster having an extra gauge and being labled pontiac, it looks the same as a malibu dash. Thanks, Chris

Mark Yacavone · 12-26-2007, 10:15 PM

I hate to break it to you, but the rear quarters are different on the LeMans. Maybe I shouldn't have told anybody that, huh? Sorry.

Chipper Chapman · 12-27-2007, 10:52 PM

Thought the quarter extensions were interchangable, but i didn't look real close at any malibus lately. If it can't be done, no biggy. Still runs same class, and the lemans look is startin to grow on me lol.

Mark Yacavone · 12-27-2007, 11:43 PM

Chipper, It's not just the extensions, it's the actual quarters . The Malibu has a crease or body line on the quarter that matches the front fender.
I always thought the Lemans was better looking anyway. Chevrolet doesn't pay for older cars and neither does Pontiac ,so it doesn't matter which one you use.
Search Auto Imagery for Larry Munk. V/SA LeMans

Larry Munk · 12-28-2007, 09:00 AM

Quarters are different, deck lid is longer too to match the quarter extensions. It's a bear of a Job to pull the dash but it is much too different from the malibu to pass. Good engine selection with the pontiac why change?

Chipper Chapman · 12-30-2007, 06:21 PM

Yeah I think we'll be leaving it a poncho now. The car is growing on us lol. We're going to be running a 350/330hp vortec crate engine, should fit G/CM. Most affordable way for us to go stock eliminator racing. Thanks to you all for your input!

12-26-2007, 07:18 PM	#1
Chipper Chapman Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Belmont N.S. Canada Posts: 452 Likes: 211 Liked 142 Times in 64 Posts	changing Lemans into Malibu Thinking of changing my 1981 lemans into a malibu for stock eliminator, my question is this, am i going to have to change the entire dash? Other than the cluster having an extra gauge and being labled pontiac, it looks the same as a malibu dash. Thanks, Chris

12-26-2007, 10:15 PM	#2
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,416 Likes: 2,582 Liked 4,453 Times in 1,694 Posts	Re: changing Lemans into Malibu I hate to break it to you, but the rear quarters are different on the LeMans. Maybe I shouldn't have told anybody that, huh? Sorry. __________________ We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for..... Will Rogers

12-27-2007, 10:52 PM	#3
Chipper Chapman Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Belmont N.S. Canada Posts: 452 Likes: 211 Liked 142 Times in 64 Posts	Re: changing Lemans into Malibu Thought the quarter extensions were interchangable, but i didn't look real close at any malibus lately. If it can't be done, no biggy. Still runs same class, and the lemans look is startin to grow on me lol.

12-27-2007, 11:43 PM	#4
Mark Yacavone Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Miles From Nowhere Posts: 7,416 Likes: 2,582 Liked 4,453 Times in 1,694 Posts	Re: changing Lemans into Malibu Chipper, It's not just the extensions, it's the actual quarters . The Malibu has a crease or body line on the quarter that matches the front fender. I always thought the Lemans was better looking anyway. Chevrolet doesn't pay for older cars and neither does Pontiac ,so it doesn't matter which one you use. Search Auto Imagery for Larry Munk. V/SA LeMans __________________ We are lucky we don't get as much Government as we pay for..... Will Rogers

12-28-2007, 09:00 AM	#5
Larry Munk Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 135 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: changing Lemans into Malibu Quarters are different, deck lid is longer too to match the quarter extensions. It's a bear of a Job to pull the dash but it is much too different from the malibu to pass. Good engine selection with the pontiac why change?

12-30-2007, 06:21 PM	#6
Chipper Chapman Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Belmont N.S. Canada Posts: 452 Likes: 211 Liked 142 Times in 64 Posts	Re: changing Lemans into Malibu Yeah I think we'll be leaving it a poncho now. The car is growing on us lol. We're going to be running a 350/330hp vortec crate engine, should fit G/CM. Most affordable way for us to go stock eliminator racing. Thanks to you all for your input!