demoderby03

Demolition Derby 2003
Getting the Car Ready....

Here we have it! A 1983 Chevy Malibu Station Wagon. It's not the largest of them, but station wagons are preferred in the derby because they hold up so well. Since the hitting is done with the rear of the car, wagons hold up very well back there. Ain't this a beauty :)
Where did I find it? It found me! Last year I parked the trailer and car at my parent's house (they have more space) and someone who lives near them stopped and said he had this car-if I wanted it. It has been sitting a few years and needs some work with the timing.

Look at that mess!! I hate 80's cars, they have enough vacuum hoses to wrap around the earth, maybe twice! So much emissions junk to! Nothing to do with the derby, but agree with me that 80's cars are junk, here is why: Carbureuters are bad enough to tune with out 200 vacuum ports on them! Thank God for fuel injection! And why couldn't GM learn how to seal oil in an engine until the 90's? Another thing I hate-- 3 or 4 belts! Serpentine belts are the best automotive invention since the wheel!
Now that I got that off me, I've already started stripping the engine off. I just need an engine and the few parts that keep it running. Bye Bye to the AC, all the wires and hoses, the air pump, and the exhaust.
Advantage to this V-6: Nearly a foot of space between the radiator and the engine. I can take a lot of hits before it effects the motor. Disadvantage: a V-6, hopefully will be able to move a 3500 pound car. I know it will, but how quick??? It goes in the big car class, mostly v-8's. I'm not to worried about that though.
I've tried to get it running, but I think the starter and solenoid are toast, I retimed the engine, (they had the dist. undone) , charged the battery a bit, but I couldn't even get a click out of it. I have a few starters laying around, so when I get a chance, I'll try it!

I'll post more pictures soon of the progress of this car. This year seems to be the most hopeful. My first two derby cars were to small for the class I was in, this won't be. I have found some great webpages for building a car to, with some great ideas. I'm hoping to bring home some cash this year, as well as have a great time smashing worthless cars together, flinging mud and smelling exhaust fumes all night! Can't wait!

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I apologize to all 5 of my fans, I am not going to make it to the July Derby for the Platte County Fair. This summer has been more busy than I planned and I will have to wait until later to enter.