1978 Chevy Malibu
Dan Millholland, Maryville, TN
Best E.T.: 7.55/93 (eighth-mile)
It's somewhat ironic that this Malibu wears a coat of Torch Red paint since it was originally a Chattanooga Fire Department car. After its service days were through, it eventually ended up in the hands of Dan Millholland's brother, who built it into a big-block-powered street machine. After retiring from powerplant operations four years ago, Dan began looking for a new toy, since he had time on his hands and his stable was currently empty. His brother offered the Malibu, and a deal was struck for $8,000.01-one penny over what it cost to build the car.
After losing a lifter, wiping a lobe on the cam, and damaging the crank with the debris, Dan pulled the basically stock 454, and decided to keep it street friendly, but make it a more fun ride at the local eighth-mile strip. Working in his garage with his friend, Todd Huffstetler, Dan rebuilt the big-block with oval-port heads, 9.5:1 Sealed Power pistons, and a Lunati cam. Behind that went a Turbo 400 upgraded with ATI internals and a set of 4.56 cogs in the 9-inch Ford rear. Since less rotational mass equals speed, Dan also upgraded to a lighter set of wheels.
All in all, the upgrades weren't expensive or extensive, but they served to both make the car his own creation, while making the Malibu much more fun to drive on the street, and capable of ripping off mid 7s in the eighth-mile.
During his rebuild, Dan put...
During his rebuild, Dan put his money where it would reap the most benefit and opted to leave the stock GM crank and rods in place. The heads are also untouched, making it all the more impressive that it cranks out 435 hp and pushes the Malibu down the track so effectively.
While he was reinventing the...
While he was reinventing the driveline, Dan also upgraded to lighter-weight race seats and carbon-fiber dash inserts. The rear seat was also deleted for more weight savings.
| WHERE THE MONEY WENT |
| '78 Chevy Malibu: |
$8,000 |
| Wheels: |
$800 |
| Tires: |
$620 |
| Pistons and rings: |
$425 |
| Valves, guides, seals: |
$250 |
| Bearings and gaskets: |
$175 |
| Machine shop labor: |
$480 |
| Cam and lifters: |
$175 |
| Pushrods: |
$100 |
| Rockers: |
$180 |
| Springs, retainers, locks: |
$155 |
| Valve covers: |
$300 |
| Timing set: |
$50 |
| Intake: |
$195 |
| Carb: |
$325 |
| Air cleaner: |
$65 |
| Distributor and ignition box: |
$300 |
| Plug wires: |
$60 |
| Mufflers: |
$120 |
| Trans: |
$500 |
| Torque converter: |
$200 |
| Shifter: |
$175 |
| Ring and pinion: |
$155 |
| Seats: |
$270 |
| Gauges: |
$600 |
| Total: |
$14,675 |
| BY THE NUMBERS |
| '78 CHEVY MALIBU |
| Dan Millholland, 54 • Maryville, TN |
| Total cost to build: $14,675 |
| ENGINE |
| Type: |
Chevy 454 big-block |
| Block: |
stock GM |
| Oiling: |
stock GM pan, Melling pump |
| Rotating assembly: |
GM cast crank and rods, |
|
Sealed Power forged 9.5:1 pistons |
| Cylinder heads: |
GM cast-iron oval-ports (049s) |
| Camshaft: |
Lunati 235/235-at-.050; .550/.550-inch lift |
| Valvetrain: |
Crane 1.7 roller rockers, |
|
COMP Cams pushrods, Lunati springs |
| Induction: |
Edelbrock Performer RPM intake manifold, |
|
Holley 750-cfm DP carb with Proform body |
| Ignition: |
MSD 6AL box, distributor, Blaster coil, and plug wires |
| Exhaust: |
Hooker Super Comp 2-inch headers, |
|
dual 3-inch with Flowmaster mufflers |
| Output: |
453 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Built by: |
owner and Todd Huffstetler |
| DRIVETRAIN |
| Transmission: |
GM Turbo 400 with 10-inch 3,000-stall Daaco converter; |
|
Hurst V-matic shifter |
| Rear axle: |
narrowed Ford 9-inch rearend, |
|
4.56:1 gears, 31-spline axles, |
|
Eaton limited-slip differential |
| CHASSIS |
| Front suspension: |
stock with Moog springs and Monroe shocks |
| Rear suspension: |
Competition Engineering 150 lb/in coilovers |
| Brakes: |
stock GM disc, front; Wilwood Pro disc series, rear |
| Rolling Stock |
| Wheels: |
Billet Specialties Street Lites, 15x4, front; 15x12, rear |
| Tires: |
M/T Sportsman S/R radials 26x6.00R15LT, front; 315/60R15, rear |