79 Malibu frame swap for 52 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

davidh · 03-01-2006, 02:42 PM

I"m itching to do the rat-rod on my 52 that I've yet to pickup. Its been sitting for 15+yrs. I also have a 79 4dr malibu I got running for $80. I saw in street rod where someone used a 84 montecarlo frame on 48=54 and I know the Malibu is basically the same. I can't get to the cars right now to take dimensions(I'm working out of town) but I thought I 'd ask on this site if anyone knows or has done this swap and how they like or disliked it. Any cutting or adding they did..
I know there's a lot of talk with the S10 frames but seeing I have this one already and it's coiled spring all the way around I thought about giving it a shot.

Kid · 03-02-2006, 02:19 PM

I used a 84 G-body (malibu) on my 51 GMC. The track width seems to be same as factory, much better than the S-10 that is narrower.
There is cutting/ fabbing/ welding involved. I enjoy doing that type of stuff, but if money is not an issue I would suggest a Mustang-2 kit, instead of cutting the frame.
If you do a search, there are others on here that have done it also.

Kid · 03-02-2006, 02:24 PM

there are some pics of installing teh G-body front end here.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951

davidh · 03-02-2006, 05:31 PM

Or we talking clipping the frame? I'd like to just put the hole body on the G car frame, then I'd have the gas tank out back as well.

Kid · 03-02-2006, 09:29 PM

cant help ya there. sorry

milehightoyz · 03-03-2006, 02:04 AM

gonna probably be a little tough because of how wide the frames are on the g bodies

speed · 03-04-2006, 02:14 PM

If you need some measurements I have a 2 door frame out back. The two and 4 door frames are the same width, just different wheelbase.

davidh · 03-06-2006, 10:51 AM

I measured the wheel base of the 79 Malibu and found it at 108.5 give or take a little. I haven't been able to take the measurements of the 52' SWB truck. Anyone know right off?

Phat · 03-08-2006, 10:23 AM

Wont work its too wide. Having raced that frame 10+ years in oval track cars it pretty weak. You can actually twist it by hand. You can use the clip but its a lot of cutting and does not look all that good. Most guys make cover plates...yep cover plates for the graft. They dont make it sturdy just make it pretty on cover up the porly grafted frame because the 2 frames dont match up at all.

03-01-2006, 02:42 PM	#1
davidh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ponca city now kingfisher Oklahoma Posts: 1,220	79 Malibu frame swap for 52 I"m itching to do the rat-rod on my 52 that I've yet to pickup. Its been sitting for 15+yrs. I also have a 79 4dr malibu I got running for $80. I saw in street rod where someone used a 84 montecarlo frame on 48=54 and I know the Malibu is basically the same. I can't get to the cars right now to take dimensions(I'm working out of town) but I thought I 'd ask on this site if anyone knows or has done this swap and how they like or disliked it. Any cutting or adding they did.. I know there's a lot of talk with the S10 frames but seeing I have this one already and it's coiled spring all the way around I thought about giving it a shot.

03-02-2006, 02:19 PM	#2
Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 702	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 I used a 84 G-body (malibu) on my 51 GMC. The track width seems to be same as factory, much better than the S-10 that is narrower. There is cutting/ fabbing/ welding involved. I enjoy doing that type of stuff, but if money is not an issue I would suggest a Mustang-2 kit, instead of cutting the frame. If you do a search, there are others on here that have done it also. __________________ The kid Build threads: 51 Jimmy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=219902 http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 68 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=50348

03-02-2006, 02:24 PM	#3
Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 702	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 there are some pics of installing teh G-body front end here. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951 __________________ The kid Build threads: 51 Jimmy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=219902 http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 68 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=50348

03-02-2006, 05:31 PM	#4
davidh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ponca city now kingfisher Oklahoma Posts: 1,220	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 Or we talking clipping the frame? I'd like to just put the hole body on the G car frame, then I'd have the gas tank out back as well.

03-02-2006, 09:29 PM	#5
Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 702	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 cant help ya there. sorry __________________ The kid Build threads: 51 Jimmy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=154951 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=219902 http://www.classictrucks.com/feature...uck/index.html 68 C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=50348

03-03-2006, 02:04 AM	#6
milehightoyz AttentionDeficitDisorder Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: COLORADO Posts: 600	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 gonna probably be a little tough because of how wide the frames are on the g bodies

03-04-2006, 02:14 PM	#7
speed Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Iowa Posts: 258	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 If you need some measurements I have a 2 door frame out back. The two and 4 door frames are the same width, just different wheelbase. __________________ Jeff J ---------- 86 El Camino 81 Monte Carlo 81 Regal 04 Colorado

03-06-2006, 10:51 AM	#8
davidh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ponca city now kingfisher Oklahoma Posts: 1,220	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 I measured the wheel base of the 79 Malibu and found it at 108.5 give or take a little. I haven't been able to take the measurements of the 52' SWB truck. Anyone know right off?

03-08-2006, 10:23 AM	#9
Phat Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 105	Re: 79 Malibu frame swap for 52 Wont work its too wide. Having raced that frame 10+ years in oval track cars it pretty weak. You can actually twist it by hand. You can use the clip but its a lot of cutting and does not look all that good. Most guys make cover plates...yep cover plates for the graft. They dont make it sturdy just make it pretty on cover up the porly grafted frame because the 2 frames dont match up at all. __________________ The original PHAT!



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