[Chevelle-List] 64 Malibu SS

[Travelback4u]

Hello

   I wrote to you sometime ago about my 64 Malibu SS which I owned back in 1972,  which the gal pulled out in front of me in her MG.  Well, ever since July 6, 1972, when my 64 Malibu SS went away...I've looked thru out the Central Illinois area for one like it.   A dark blue, light blue interior, hard top with the 283 4bbl.  I know all you hot rodders don't find that impressive, but that was my first car, back when no money was available to do much else.

   Well, I'll be 48 this May 9th, and thanks to a lot of great people on this list, I'm told I may have the 64 Malibu SS Hardtop delivered to my door by that date if scheduels  hold, baring anything unforseen.   The car is a solid Arizona car which compared to all the restoration projects I have looked at, has an extremely little amount of rust and being bought from a great guy. Lots of communication and well, somewhere around 28 photos. He even lifted the car on a hoist and took a bunch of photos of the undercarriage for me.

   So in just a couple of weeks, I'll have the car sitting here in my "recently cleaned out garage"....which included telling the wife her car will have to sit outside for sometime. LOL  I didn't happen to mention how long ..... or how long it will take to restore.

    I don't know who is more excited, me or my 14 year old son Jeff.  It's going to be a great year... 

    Wondering if some of you might take the time to look over the following and tell me what your opinion.

re: Paint
     Restoration Questions/Items needed below
    
    I got a lot of questions, "a nervous novice"  LOL  ...
   
    Needed:  Set of Mint/near Mint 64 Malibu SS Mag Hub Caps. Have 65 SS Hub Caps I won't need. 
                  Rear Antenna and installation kit.
                  Possibly a hood. (The hood on the 64 SS has hood pins that were added to the hood, that I'm not sure if I want to keep, since not original). "Any Opinions".
                  Factory Air Cleaner for a 64 SS with a 283 4bbl.
                  Pair of 64 SS rear quarter panel emblems. 65's are a bit different.
                  Source for: Delco Tar Top Repro Battery
                 
Question:  Anyone ever do a change over from front fender to rear quarter panel mount installation for the antenna on a 64 SS???  I like the rear mounted better, but car has it on front fender. Since this was an "option" in 64, "from what I have been told" I didn't think that this would hurt keeping original.  Any opinions?

Question:  Anyone know what brand and size of tire was factory original? Does anyone know what tires looks and fits the car best?

Question:  What parts on the engine operation should remain original "Delco"  manufacturer? Dist. Cap, Starter, Water Pump, Coil, Battery, Plug Wires, Carb, Plugs, ect.

Question:  If Chrome kit added on engine, Changing out Air Cleaner, Valve Covers,  Oil Cap, ect., does this help or hurt the value of the car when bringing back to factory original?  As long as those parts changed out are kept with the car, wouldn't the value be improved?

      I told ya, I'm a novice with alot of questions.....

Ok, here goes. I'm really undecided about which way I should paint the 64 Malibu SS. On one hand, Laquer is original.... but expensive. The base coat/clear coat is cheaper, but not original.

    I know the Laquer would look better, and if money was there, that is how I would do it. Mainly because it is what was originally on the car.  However, I'm afraid if I paint the car with base coat/clear coat, the overall value of the restoration will be greatly decreased if I "ever" resold it.  I'm going to be keeping the car a long time, but I'd hate to think about not restoring it as "original". 

     So I'm in a pickle. On top of this, I've not painted a car for nearly 20 years, and never Laquer, so I'll have to hire it done. That means spending $4,000.00 on a paint job. And well, I'm on permanent disability, so, well, that means fixed income. So raising that money for paint would take me a long time and well, I don't want to waite that long, while at the same time I don't want to stray from doing a original restoration.

Thomas W. Rogers