Re: 1974 Malibu project timeline

by Limey SE Wed Mar 30, 2016 11:04 am

Looks great man !!

by bitterfitter Wed Mar 30, 2016 11:28 am

During the painting process, I decided to also shoot clear over the single stage. This would give it a deeper shine and allow me to final sand and buff a little without affecting the metallic in the paint. After the color was done, I went right to wet sanding and buffing.... 1974 Malibu project timeline - Page 2 Img_0513

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by bitterfitter Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:26 pm

Now as winter 2014 rolls in, I started to work on getting the windows back in the car and more wet sanding. I always wanted to tint the windows so I tinted the rear window 20% before I installed it. I went with 80% on the opera windows. I am leaving the windshield and the door glass at factory tint since it is an A/C car.
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by bitterfitter Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:30 pm

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Here I was starting to test fit some of the front body pieces, the skyroof, and the hood

by bitterfitter Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:40 pm

Now into February of 2015, I started to turn my attention to the interior. I used as much of the original parts as possible. Other than recovering the seats and a new carpet, I stuck with what I had. I also had to install a dash cap, as my dash pad was trashed. I cleaned, prepped and dyed every interior piece I could use.
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by bitterfitter Wed Mar 30, 2016 2:46 pm

Next I worked to install the original windshield back into the car and start reassembling the doors. This car has power locks and windows so there was no shortage of work here to be done.
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by bitterfitter Wed Mar 30, 2016 3:20 pm

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Now into late summer of 2015, I started to work on polishing the trim, hooking up some lights in the rear of the car and preparing to install the vinyl top.
The top ended up being one of my largest jobs on the car. The first one I custom ordered because I wanted 2 seams, equidistant from the top of the doors to the skyroof opening. I did not want a seam across the skyroof. It took me a year to find someone to make the top. Once it came to me, I stretched it out over the car to remove wrinkles and check it for issues. I found it was 10" to short, front to back. Mad

I ended up getting my money back and getting a new top besides that. Installation was tricky enough without having a top that stopped 1/2 way down my rear window. 1974 Malibu project timeline - Page 2 Img_3510

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by Roadcaptain S3 Wed Mar 30, 2016 6:28 pm

Loving the colors. Looks really good!

by Hawk03 Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:12 am

Great job on all you work, it looks great!

Where did you purchase your dash cap? It looks like a good fit.

by bitterfitter Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:26 am

I'd have to look back at my receipts. I had bought an A/C one and a non A/C one. One for my 73 and one for my 74. They both came from different places though. I still have the non A/C one that I need to get rid of.

by 73ss Fri Apr 01, 2016 2:01 pm

Gotta hand it to you. You've got some talent. Looks great. The interior pieces look great. It's hard to find ones that are not sun-rotted and brittle. is the hood aftermarket?

by bitterfitter Fri Apr 01, 2016 3:16 pm

Yes. The hood is a VFN 2" fiberglass hood. Also the front fenders are fiberglass from US Body source. These are a few things I forgot to mention.

by 73ss Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:02 pm

bitterfitter wrote:I have had this car for 6 years now. I thought it time I shared a little bit of what I am doing with the car. Many of you have helped get the car to where it is today. A huge thanks for all your advice, tips, and parts !!!

Here is my cars story from what I can tell: I believe the car to be an early built 1974 Malibu Classic that originally came from Colorado. The dealer sticker is still inside the glove box.

I found the car locally here in Buffalo, NY on Craigslist after a tip from my brother. At the time I was working on bringing a 1973 Chevelle back to life. When I went to look at this car, the guy wanted to keep the motor as it was from a "corvette". that was music to my ears as I had a ZZ430 sitting on a stand at home that was slatted for my '73. I bought this car for around $1000.Here is what it looked like in the persons garage as I looked at it.

Anybody know what the " 475 140018" means on the pic of body tag?

by bitterfitter Sat Apr 09, 2016 9:41 pm

I always figured the 140018 was the sequential build order for that factory. So if they started with 140001 for the first 1974 Malibu Classic made in that factory, this would be #18. I always figured this fit in with the 09A date of the first week of September. This would be about when they would start production in 1973 for the 1974 model year.
I just figured this was an early production car because many of the parts are dated '73 like they were left over parts. I also noticed when replacing the quarters and some other sheet metal, that the dates were all '73 dates and matched my vin.
The 475 I don't know. I just thought it was a body sequence number or something. I would love to know for sure what this tag code actually says. Anyone know or have a similar tag?

by 73ss Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:21 pm

I think your right for the 140018. My guess would be the 475 would indicate the skyroof since it is a major option? Or maybe it's the sequence (if compared to the camaro link) I have similar numbers as well trying to figure out. here's a link for camaros. similar but different enough.

http://www.nastyz28.com/decode.php#trimtag

by bitterfitter Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:40 pm

I think the skyroof was CA1 or something like that.

by 73ss Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:48 pm

It would be cool if the gm heritage center had a breakdown for these. Have you checked out the download for you'r 74?

by bitterfitter Sun Apr 10, 2016 12:52 pm

I don't think I have

by 73ss Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:04 pm

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits.html

Click on chevelle, then you'r 74. May take a few to download. Lots of good stuff.

by bitterfitter Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:33 pm

Now that I look at it, I realize I have downloaded this. I still don't think it explains the 475 on the tag though.

by Roadcaptain S3 Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:45 pm

Pretty sure trim tags were a little different depending on plant.
Where was yours built?

by bitterfitter Sun Apr 10, 2016 1:50 pm

The letter Z should be Freemont, California I think.

by 73ss Sun Apr 10, 2016 2:18 pm

Roadcaptain S3 wrote:Pretty sure trim tags were a little different depending on plant.
Where was yours built?

Yes Z is the plant. matches the plant code in the VIN. You'r tag is neat and the numbers are straight. Mine, the numbers are not straight and looks quite crappy. mine is a 73 canadian built. Damn foreign cars.

by bitterfitter Sun Apr 10, 2016 5:48 pm

I did have to use the gm info to figure out that U was the 400 engine.

by 73ss Sun Apr 10, 2016 7:28 pm

AN7 is bucket seat, does the rest of the tag jive as far as original colors? My tag does not have the AN7. It is a factory bucket/console car though. All of the correct mounts are there. no one added them.

Are you close to hitting the road? looking great!!!!

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