'66 Malibu N/SA

[Dave Muller]

Hi All.

I started this project last year but I'm finally building up enough momentum to have some pictures to post. I've been bracket racing off and on for a long time but this is my first venture into class racing. For 30 years I've wanted to race in Stock, but really never thought I would. Last summer I decided it was now or never, and now won out.

I was originally looking to buy a complete car, but I had this '66 Malibu partially built that was intended to be a Saturday night cruise car with a big block and a four speed. Pure nostalgia. But then I realized that with my limited amount of room bringing in another race car would probably mean selling the Malibu. I guess I just couldn't quite bring myself to do that, plus I like building things anyway. Though at 62 years old I don't put in the long hours like I used to, so it's going to take quite a while to finish this.

The car was a basket case when I got it, but the body was pretty straight and solid with very little rust. I had already re-done pretty much all the suspension, steering and brakes already.

So here's a few pictures, starting with how the car looked when I got it. I can't show much about the engine, as most of it I've never seen myself. Mark Yacavone is building that, and he also built the transmission and torque converter.




Yeah, not pretty!



Here's the reworked front end suspension and such. Sadly, those big block springs will have to come out.



The dash is done, including welding up the holes for the A/C vents. What looks like scratches on the dash pad is really just some dirt.



I have epoxy primer on everything that needs it now. It's also been 30 years since I've done any painting, but I'm getting the hang of it and I'm hopeful the paint will not be so stripey by the time I get to the base coat. If it's still an issue I may have to give up on the idea of using metallic paint.



The car already had a 12 bolt in it, but for a variety of reasons I elected to pull that and replace it with a new Moser.