Hey Cap'n.

I thought I should quit hijacking that other thread and make a new one in the correct section.

Anyway, this is relating to the 1972 Chevelle Malibu you have.

For 500 or less, I have a 402 cubic inch big block. It has been disassembled for inspection but is complete - less distributor exhaust manifolds, and carb of course.

Also, I have a metric butt-ton of interior parts for a '72.
Just ask and i'll see if I have or can get one.

I may have some transmission parts, spare smallblock parts if you are really going that route, smallblock ceramic coated headers, a 600 CFM edelbrock carb, etc etc etc.

Just let me know what ya need.

 

You are the man! When I start buying parts I'll contact you. The engine is very tempting! I am going to bring the car home this week and probably get started tearing it apart next month. One thing I know I have to do is change the dash gages. Seeing as how it's not an SS I have the big needle and idiot light dash. I either want to put in the SS one, a custom one, or the Covans Classic one. Did you do a ground up restoration or was your project car in pretty good shape to start with? Also is it a true SS or a really nice clone?

 

My car is a clone. It was done from ground up. Frame off.



Here is a picture of how it looked when I got it.
There was significant rust around the rear wheels that you can see in the picture.


I



'll give you a heads up on an SS dash swap.

72's have different wiring than any other year.

The reproduction dash housings have the wrong grain pattern and are easily identified as reproductions. Gauges are the same. They scream reproduction. [b]72 SS cars ONLY[/b has a seatbelt warning light. The reproductions don't have this - keep that in mind.

Here's where it starts to suck. To get the correct gauges alone, they are about $800 reproduction and sometimes more than that if you can find the correct originals. An dash housing will go from $250-$1,000 depending on condition (I have a spare one if you are serious about the swap.)

Is your car a 4 speed, 3 speed on the column, or an automatic? If your car is an auto, it is going to affect what gauges you need for an SS dash swap.

Please be aware that smallblock round gauges clusters are different than big block round gauge clusters. When you know which one you're going to do let me know and I'll help you identify the correct gauges.
Also, idiot light round gauge clusters are all over the place. But they are retarded - you want the good ones (but ya pay for it!.)

If you need sheetmetal, don't buy anything other than original steel or reproduction parts made by Goodmark.

If you are going to work on your interior, don't buy anything reproduction except parts made by PUI. I've tried them all and these are the closest to the look and fit of the originals as you can get.

 

It an auto, I love the shifter. Unfortunately I have to replace a lot of the sheet metal, mostly in the rear and trunk area. The car is solid but has lots of cancer. The good thing is seeing as how my mom used it as a daily drive she kept the drivetrain and suspension in good shape. She also has added a front disc brake conversion and factory original cowl induction hood. The interior isn't too bad but just not my taste, I want it all black. That's my vision of the car all black everything. I'm still a long way off from painting but I'm thinking I might even powdercoat the chrome black. It has a vinyl top with a few cracks in it so I'm kind of afraid of what might be beneath. Your car is truly beautiful! I'm still undecided if I'm going to add stripes when I am done.

 

Swapping to an manual if you want one is easy.
So don't let that stop you.

You can get new vinyl tops, or remove that one (this is a huge pain in the ass. There are a bunch of little hold down that need bodywork) More information on that can be found with a quick search on team chevelle.

 

I think I am going to keep the vinyl top but put a new one on. I think a black vinyl top on a black paint job would look cool. Right now the car is brown with a beige top. The interior is two tone black and beige.

 

Interiors are easy except for the headliner.

Bench or buckets?

 

buckets with the center arm rest. I'm thinking of ditching the seats in favor of something more supportive and bolstered that can hold a five point belt. Also I'll probably get rid of the back seat and add a roll cage. I kind of want a bad a** pro-touring look to it. Modern rims and so forth.

 

If you ditch the buckets and console, I'll buy them from you.

 

Awesome. The seats are in pretty good shape. Definitely not the best but but no means the worst. I'll probably keep the console becase I kind of like it. Same with the auto because I like the U handle shifter. It's cool knowing another '72 Malibu owner.