Keith Jessee, Marketing and P.R. Coordinator, not only works in the aftermarket automotive industry for one of the best companies in the business, he lives cars. He has a couple of personal project cars and currently he’s working on getting this one ready to beat on the streets. His idea behind the car is something that isn’t a show winner, but is the ultimate hoon-worthy monster. This car is all function and fun with little attention to form.
“Sometime in 2013 my Canadian roommate (note polar bear front license plate) at UNOH bought this car from a questionable gentleman in Lima, OH. When it was time for him to move back to Canada he couldn’t take the car back with him. I was motivated to buy it off of him.. One thing led to another and now here we are with what may be one of the most polished turds of all time.” – Keith Jessee
He’s going full G-body shuffle on this one with a nasty budget-built LS under the hood, RideTech suspension all around and later model disc brake conversions to make it the ultimate driving machine. You have to applaud Keith’s effort to build a car to drive, not look at. Under the hood is a 6.0L LQ4 with a BTR Stage 4 LS2 cam & spring kit, Holley single-plane EFI intake, Holley 4-barrel throttle body, Holley Dominator EFI system, MSD ProPower Coils, MSD Plug Wires and a Comp Rocker Arm Trunion Upgrade. Keeping the LS fed with fuel is a Buick Grand National EFI tank with a Holley 255LPH pump with Earl’s Plumbing -8 Kevlar braided hose and a Billet Holley fuel filter and pressure regulator. Thankfully Holley has a system to swap these LS powerplants into G-bodies with the Hooker Blackheart LS Swap headers, G-body LS swap engine mounts and more. That power is sent from the engine through a Tremec TKO600 5-speed manual from American Powertrain with a Quick Time bellhousing and Hays clutch. This spins the driveshaft to a built Currie Enterprises bolt-in G-body 9″ rear with 3.25’s and Trac-Lok.
The suspension is handled by the best stuff in the business: RideTech suspension. RideTech makes a full Coilover system for these cars with new upper and lower tubular control arms, sway bars, coilovers, new links for the 4-link, and more. This transforms the sloshy feeling G-body to a true corner-carving machine. For stopping power, Keith used 11″ disc brakes from an Explorer in the back and a C5 Corvette conversion in the front from Lonestar Caliper Co. with 13″ rotors. This made for one killer machine. He nearly has everything together to get the LS under the hood and we can’t wait to see it finished!
SPECS:
Year: 1979
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Malibu
Engine: 6.0 LQ4
Induction: N/A
Transmission: American Powertrain TKO600
Rear End: Currie 9″
Suspension: Ridetech Coilover System
Wheels: US Wheel 17×8 Daytonas