RW>  MH> I loved my 1980 Malibu V-6.   
   RW>    
   RW> They're a previously undiscovered great value. Not to mention a light   
   RW> vehicle that is readily modified to go racing.   
      
   I really liked my Malibu.  We had plans for it at one point when I had it, but   
   decided to keep everything stock (minus the replaced transmission).  We had to   
   replace that since the original one was burnt up.  My brother and I bought the   
   car when I was around 20 years old for $300.     
      
   It took along time to drive it home as first gear was the only thing that   
   worked and reverse wasn't that great either.  The body and car itself was in   
   great shape - except for the sagging ceiling.  All those cars had the sagging   
   ceiling as the glue would separate.   
      
   RW> A 200R4, 3spd +/overdrive and a lock up torque converter? Or was it a 200   
   RW> metric?   
      
   Are you speaking of the stock transmission?  Not sure which one it was.  I do   
   remember that we put a 350 turbo transmission in it.   
      
   I drove the Malibu for at least 6-7 years.  Up until the brake line snapped at   
   a red light one day.  They were rusting and needed to be replaced.  I had   
   young kids at the time and was worried about it for safety reasons, so I sold   
   it.     
      
   RW> The wife had an 86 Monte SS...It was a nice car but had intermittant   
   RW> electrical problems. On the way out of town, about 20miles east of San   
   RW> Diego it threw a Check Engine light and rather than mess with it, I   
   RW> turned   
   RW> around and took it home. We eneded up taking the 88 Iroc to Illinois that   
   RW> trip.   
      
   They were nice cars, but mine was a money pit.  I have some good pictures of   
   it that I found recently.  I can put them on my webserver if you are   
   interested. You can also see part of the 85 Camaro.   
      
   RW> When we got back, I found that the plug on the distributor that feeds   
   RW> info   
   RW> to the CPU was loose and wet with oil. I used some electrical connector   
   RW> cleaner (spray can) and cleaned it up and that problem went away.   
      
   Good old electrical problems.   
      
   That reminds me of something that happened in my Malibu.  I was driving around   
   for months with my brake lights not working (I didn't know they were not   
   working until a friend pointed it out).     
      
   Long story short, the problem was some wires for the brakes that were running   
   next to my car radio were frayed and came in contact with the stereo and was   
   shorting out.   
      
   RW> I knew those would be a problem, so when we were shopping for her car, I   
   RW> avoided T-tops. When I met my wife in 1980, I was driving a 79 Olds   
   RW> Cutlass w/T-tops. Didn't like them then and still don't.   
      
   Yes, T-tops are a pain.  Would much rather have a moon roof.   
      
   RW> My 1972 Cheyenne was the longest owned car (pickup) I've had...bought it   
   RW> used in 1977, and kept it until 2005 and wish I still had it...   
      
   That is a good run.  My current Monte Carlo is my longest in the running   
   (which was previously held by the Malibu).  2002-2011 and still going..    
      
   - Mark   
      
   --- WWIVToss v.1.50    
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