81 malibu 3.8 v-6

malibu mouse

Amateur Racer
Feb 15, 2009
187
0
0
St louis,Mo
I have a 81 malibu with a 3.8 in it any ideas on mods for this .It was a 1 owner with 51,000 miles . Probally going to have my 16 yr old son driving it. :D
 

DOUG213XRJ

MalibuRacing Junkie
Sep 18, 2006
4,671
1
38
West, MI
I would start with a good tune up and maybe 2 1/4 true daul exhaust.
 

Darwinskeeper

Frequent Racer
Sep 18, 2005
586
1
16
Wichita, Kansas
Which 3.8? The Chevy 229 or the Buick 231?

I have pondered doing something like this with my "new" elco. If I had, it would have made sense to get headers, duals and a low restriction air cleaner. Being more than a little nutty, I was considering a Comp 240H cam, 1.52/1.52 Magnum roller tip rockers and a little head work. The big problem in my mind is finding a decent carb. Stay with the original 2bbl or go with an Edelbrock Performer intake with a 390cfm Holley 4160?
 

80Grand_LeMans

Dragway Regular
Jun 4, 2008
1,249
0
0
Peabody MA
Darwinskeeper said:
Which 3.8? The Chevy 229 or the Buick 231?

Don't mean to thread-jack but, is there a 231 Chevy? That's what I thought I had this whole time, should probably clear it up before I buy more parts.
 

StreetBu

MalibuRacing Junkie
Mar 21, 2004
4,158
3
38
Upstate NY
nope, only a 231 buick v6 and a 229 chevy, distributor in the front for the buick and in the rear by the firewall for the chevy. Both are called 3.8L though :?
 

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