SS Malibu

[IanSzgatti]

I've ordered these badges off e-bay,

perhaps too soon... but none-the-less... i'm wondering where i should put them... theres 2, so maybe one each side. or, if they are too masive (never thought about how big they might be) maybe just one on the back.. dunno... would these look fucked. There was never an SS malibu for 99... i just figure hell, im pretty much building one...so what the hell.

[IsaacHayes]

Back quarter. In fact I think that's how the impala SS had them.

[IanSzgatti]

the Impala isnt in the same class as this though... and most newer medium SS model cars have them on the doors...

these are the badges that came in the mail today... they are really sweet looking! I've seen people actually paint SS on the car, but I havent seen customed Malibu's with authentic GM badges!
I really think I need to have the word Malibu before the badge though... placement is so important top me. I want it to appear as if the factory planned out precisely where to put them to flow with the body...

[IsaacHayes]

Yeah but I don't care for some of the newer badge placements. Or the square GM badges either.

Get some sticky-tac and use that to place them and take pics and then figure out which place you like the best.

[IanSzgatti]

are you talking about the GM "badge of excellence"? that little square one?

[LeftVentricle]

are you talking about the GM "badge of excellence"? that little square one?

Probably, as it's on every '06+ car.

[IanSzgatti]

so thats that



it's missing something though.. i've always liked the Chevy flags.... they are little emblems, one red flag and one checkered... hmmm?

[IsaacHayes]

Looking good with the wheels and badges. Whats the next mod?

[IanSzgatti]

Looking good with the wheels and badges. Whats the next mod?

Concider this; the larger port intakes are a good idea for the small port v6 as a means to get more air in, however, when I put the 3400 gaskets on my heads, I noticed how much of a difference in port size there was.

Now i'm no rocket scientist, but I have a feeling that I have achieved nothing more than create hella turbulence. I see it as this; the air comes in the 56mm TB, down the 3400 intake runners, and then deflects off the ridge of the smaller intake ports... ultimately slowing it down some.
Between that, and the larger/heavier wheels, I'm not noticing shit, and i'm really kinda disappointed.

The only thing now I can think of is replacing my cat. In my last Malibu the converter was partially plugged. I put in a high-flow and a magnaflow muffler, and at the time I sold that car, it was super responsive. I guess my next mod then would be in the exhaust area. I have enough experiance to know something is holding the motor back! My Mali with 265k screamed like a raped ape.

I'd love to do the heads, but it's a big job for one week-end, and come moday, i have to drive the car. I do work in a shop... but I have never done a head gasket job on these motors! If I knew what else was involved beyond the LIM, I'd plan for it, and I would use 2000+ cylinder heads and port them a little.

Aside from mechanical shit, the cars looks ok on the outside, so for once I can take a crack at modifing the looks. I like subtle though, I'm not a body kit and rice kinda guy.

[pocket-rocket]

I started on swapping heads on my 92 DOHC after I got home from work on a Friday and letting the car sit for an hour to cool off. Saturday afternoon I was starting it back up. I didn't use any air tools either because I didn't have any. I have done heads on the DOHC a couple times before, so maybe that helped me out as to know what to do, but still. Have faith man.


YOU CAN DO EEEET!!!!

[Superdave]

just 3500 swap it.. with a mild cam and good exhaust it will exceed your expectations.

[IanSzgatti]

The only thing now I can think of is replacing my cat. In my last Malibu the converter was partially plugged. I put in a high-flow and a magnaflow muffler, and at the time I sold that car, it was super responsive. I guess my next mod then would be in the exhaust area. I have enough experiance to know something is holding the motor back! My Mali with 265k screamed like a raped ape.

Today, another Magnaflow... problem solved, I knew as soon as I accelerated. It didnt feel like it fell off between 3 and 4k. My stock catalytic converter passed my emmisions test too. I can only imagine what the right exhaust manifolds and heads would do.

Superdave... I'm looking at around 1800 by the time im done a swap like that. besides that, I don't have the experiance with the computers and stuff yet... but you know, it sounds good in theory.

[IsaacHayes]

Wow you felt something from a muffler change? I felt a little low end increase when I did mine but nothing much. My ultraflo is the same construction as the magnaflow.

It may be too that the ECM is finally adjusting the fuel trims for your new intake manifolds. It took a while before my car felt any faster after I did mine.

Exhaust is my next big mod. I need (well I need headers first! LOL) 2.5" exhaust and a new cat. My factory cat has as many miles as the car does lol!

[IanSzgatti]

Wow you felt something from a muffler change? I felt a little low end increase when I did mine but nothing much. My ultraflo is the same construction as the magnaflow.

Issac, I did the muffler a while ago... so just to be crystal, I'm talking about tonight... changing a big whooping catalytic converter! the cat i took off is nearly twice as long as an aftermarket igh-flow, and the neck into the converter opens up sharpely, and reduces sharpley...also has many-a-mile on it!
Now the aftermarket "high-flow" unit is WAY shorter, and from the down-pipe diameter tapers nicely up and down at each end... so already you can tell how much of a restriction the stock converter is/was. Do yours POST HASTE!!! it's such a HUGE improvement! especially with your top-end!
LOL!!! I like mufflers for sound...
UP north of here people dont have to get e-tests (emmisions). Only in the more densly populated areas where there are tonnes of cars. We have really gay standards up here... but whatever...
So yeah... big and aged catalytic converters are fucking bad for horsepower m-kay! So thats why when I accelerated I noticed right away that increase in power! I'm happy... for now

[IsaacHayes]

Today, another Magnaflow... problem solved, I knew as soon as I accelerated. It didnt feel like it fell off between 3 and 4k. My stock catalytic converter passed my emmisions test too.

<-- that confused me. I read that as a new magnaflow muffler and kept the stock cat since it passed emissions...

I will do mine when I do full exhaust. The downpipe is double walled and like 1.5" inside. Big restriction there. So I plan to have manifolds back done. Actually I'd like to get headers and then I would do exhaust then. So I'm trying to see what my options are so I don't end up having to do exhaust twice.