To begin with, I haven’t a clue why I took no pictures during this entire process, like I did when rebuilding my trailer, and I had one to use… The story would have been fantastic, as I really did have every single part of this car apart at one point or another. I guess I had other things on my mind, the least of which was writing a blog I had yet to even think of, to tell the story of a trip which was then only a far off dream.
Rest assured though, that there a plenty of pictures to be found in the pages ahead, for without them the tale wouldn’t be complete.
In 2003 I was rolling around my neighbourhood on a 10 speed, killing time. I used to have a lot more of that on my hands, so it seemed, but what I found was that there was all kinds of interesting stuff up and down the back alleys, so I’d branch out farther each time I’d go to see what I could come across.
This one particular day, I saw this vehicle sitting in a driveway. It was in really good shape as far as I could tell, but had a back seat full of parts. This usually means that someone already has plans for it. There were other half done cars in the same spot, so I chalked it up to “the next project” on this guys list, and went about my day.
For whatever reason, I didn’t forget about it, and thinking “What the hell, why not?” I went back there a few days later and rang the door bell. The guy was there and when I asked about the car and what he wanted for it, he said “You’re a God-send! Give me 500… no 400 buks for it, and it’s yours.”
Apparently, he had planed to gift it to his daughter, had spent hours at the local wreckers gathering the parts that were needed, but when he showed it to his daughter she took one look at it and turned up her nose. “I’m not driving that!”
So there it was, sitting in his driveway taunting him every time he looked at it, and along came me. Nice! I drove it away that day.
Y’see, I had been looking for a vehicle like that. Something tough, easy to work on, with common, easy to find parts, not bad looking, but not a piece of shit either. Something middle of the road, that would last 10 years at least, and wouldn’t attract a lot of attention for this imaginary trip I was going to take in my not too distant amazing future.
In my mind, at the time, this seemed like the perfect car. Only later would I find out how many would offer to buy it from me, but I didn’t know that then, and proceeded to get it road ready.
It came with a 305 originally, so obviously that had to go. I had a ’79 Malibu station wagon with a 350 in it, so I pulled it, tore it down and sent it out for hot-tanking while I pulled the 305 from this one.
I guess that was the start, and the rebuild just progressed from there. If I was going to drive it all the way down south, I might as well have the transmission rebuilt, and while that was out of the car, I may as well swap out the rear end for some highway gears…
As luck would have it, the wrecker I found in pick-your-part – with 2:41 highway gears in it – was JUST the same. Exactly. Same year, same interior and body colour, and while the body was trashed, the interior was mint! So, along with the rear end, I made a deal with the owner of the place, and over the next few days I took everything from carpet to steering column out of that car.
By the end of it, I had a completely new interior. Along the way I discovered that Cadillacs were built on the exact same frame only with more options, and for every option that was found in a Cadillac, the punch-outs, clip holes, etc… were already there in every Malibu, just unused. The wiring harnesses and hardware found on the Cadillacs clipped right in, and so I used them to ‘factory’ install every single option I could find. Power windows, power trunk release and light, intermittent wipers, under-hood light. All but A/C (which I now greatly regret).
I also found and installed every body brace made for that car. Radiator, K-member, engine bay, traction bar front and rear. I also modified the transmission support to run true dual exhaust, changed all the ball joints and finished with new shocks. Even the gas tank got a paint job… ’cause now I was just having fun.
Then came the stereo… lol.
What started out as “getting it road worthy” turned into much much more, and I can honestly say that there’s is not one screw, bolt, or nut on that car that I have not touched. While this laundry list of changes paints a broad picture of what I got up to, it really only scratches the surface, as I had a few years left to wait before I could finally make the trip. That, and a final season back and forth to Ft.MacMurray to fill my pockets.
This car isn’t worth much, I know. I don’t care. It has more value to me telling the tale than anything else, and by the way, it really does go like a raped ape! That’s something you can never describe.
And so, what follows here is a tale of great successes and perseverance, punctuated with stretches of woe and torture, candid descriptions of exploration and discovery, and life changing experiences in perception, understanding and wonder, with the ultimate caveat…. don’t leave your car to strangers!!!
Next –> Oxidosis