Chris' 65' Malibu 300 " Track Car " Build

Chris' 65' Malibu 300 " Track Car " Build Follow my build of a 1965 Chevrolet Malibu 300 Deluxe 2dr post. Powered by a 02' LS engine backed by a T56 6spd transmission and performance suspension...

4/26/25: After 5yrs, I finally thrashed on the sedan in my very first autocross event.
05/10/2025

4/26/25: After 5yrs, I finally thrashed on the sedan in my very first autocross event.

A group of friends decided to get the old cars out yesterday and go for a day cruise around southern Indiana. A ‘68 RS C...
10/19/2020

A group of friends decided to get the old cars out yesterday and go for a day cruise around southern Indiana. A ‘68 RS Camaro, ‘66 Chevelle convertible and my ‘65 Malibu 300 - all of them LS powered.

Got the 300 out today for the Quarantine Cruise 2020. It was a great day to get the old cars out and hit the back roads ...
05/03/2020

Got the 300 out today for the Quarantine Cruise 2020. It was a great day to get the old cars out and hit the back roads of southern Indiana.

6/6/19 Update: It was fun while it lasted!!!Well, I set out early this morning to take the Malibu for some tuning at Mik...
06/10/2019

6/6/19 Update: It was fun while it lasted!!!

Well, I set out early this morning to take the Malibu for some tuning at Mike Norris Motorsports in Plainfield. About 30 outside Plainfield, one of the tires on the trailer decided to disintegrate. Luckily there was a spare tire and that a buddy recommended bringing a floor jack and lug wrench. I want to thank the Indiana state trooper that pulled over and assisted.
I finally made it to Plainfield and to Norris Motorsports. I got the car unloaded and Mike proceeded to strap the Malibu down on the rollers. With this being a fairly fresh build, It had only been on two one hour trips and no faster than 65mph. Mike let me know that he’d eventually take it to at least 120mph. The first run he quickly took it to 90mph and and let it coast on the rollers, this was to let the rearend warm up. Then it was time to start seeing what this stock LS engine could do. It didn’t take him long to get it up to 120mph and everything sounded great, but as soon as he hit 122mph, the driveshaft came apart. Luckily everything stayed in the car and the damage was minimal (driveshaft of course, small dent in the floorboard and exhaust pipe) most importantly, no one got hurt. It could’ve been a whole lot worse. It’s hard to say what exactly caused the driveshaft to come apart (too much RPM for that shaft or possibly the inner seatbelt bolts that go through the transmission tunnel were maybe a little too long and the torque of the car caused the driveshaft to come in contact with the end of the bolt, cutting the shaft). Unfortunately, no backup driveshaft, the tuning cession was quickly over and Mike could only take the data from that run to set a conservative tune. Mike and his guys then helped load the car back on the trailer, so I could look go look for a tire store (trailer spare tire) and start heading back home. Once I got home I made a quick call to have another driveshaft made, so I could try and make it to an event Friday evening.

First and only run: 338 hp and 357 torque

The day could’ve went a whole lot better, but the Malibu will live to to go play another day!

Friday 6/7/19 Update: Don’t call it a comeback!!!
I got up Friday morning and made a trip down to Chandler In. to pick up the new driveshaft from Perfection Driveline. Got back in time to install the driveshaft, go for a quick road test and then wipe down both the sedan and the vert before heading down to an art/wine/cruise-in event on our Main Street. Even though it rained an hour before the event, we still had a great crowd. I always get tons of compliments on both cars.

5/20/19 Update: Blowing the dust off!This past Saturday was a great day to take the 65 300 sedan to Terre Haute. I went ...
06/10/2019

5/20/19 Update: Blowing the dust off!

This past Saturday was a great day to take the 65 300 sedan to Terre Haute. I went to watch some friends run the autocross portion of the Midwest Musclecar Challenge at the Terre Haute Regional Airport (to run in this event is goal of mine). Then I visited with my parents and brother for a little bit, before heading back to Vincennes. I got home in time to take the wife, niece and nephew out for supper, ice cream and some cruising in the vert.

Yesterday was the annual Vincennes University Automotive Technology Auto Club car show. My cousin and I went through the...
11/05/2018

Yesterday was the annual Vincennes University Automotive Technology Auto Club car show. My cousin and I went through the program together 27 yrs ago and now he’s been one of the professors for the past 20+yrs. He has done amazing things with the program and it has grown so much over the years.

Being a alumni of the program, this is one show that I have always tried my best to attend. Over the years I’ve been able to bring several of cars that I’ve built to this show. My 1970 Pontiac LeMans convertible, 1955 Chevy Bel-air, the past 12+ yrs my 1965 Malibu Super Sport convertible and now my recently built (3 weeks old) 1965 300 Deluxe. It was awesome to have both the 65’s sitting beside each other and the 300 got a ton of attention and positive feedback. I spent most of the day talking to people about the project and answering all their questions. I even had a long chat with one of my old professors that taught the program 27 yrs ago. He was very impressed with the latest build and said that I do amazing work. This meant a lot coming from the man that gave me a hard time for spending time in a Auto lab spray painting the engine that I had just rebuilt for my 70’ LeMans and told me that a employer don't pay you to make an engine look good, they pay you to make it run good... - Thanks for the chat, George!

The weather cooperated and they had a great turnout with over 120 vehicles of all types. I ended up bring home top 20 in the “Stock Class” with the convertible and Top 20 in the “Modified Class” with the 300.

All-in-all and great day!

Build update 10/5/18: Maiden voyage today!!! Had a great turnout this evening for “Autumn on Main”. Four miles on my lat...
10/06/2018

Build update 10/5/18: Maiden voyage today!!!
Had a great turnout this evening for “Autumn on Main”.
Four miles on my latest build. Four years of locating parts, all the metal replacement and the past year and a half of thrashing on it every available second, seeing it sitting next to my convertible this evening made it all worth it. Thanks to everyone that helped make this day possible, for all everyone that stopped be this evening and had nothing but great thing to say about it. I greatly appreciate it!

Hello, my name is Chris and I have a 65 Chevelle addiction!

Build update 9/28/18:I’ve spent the past couple of weeks thrashing on the car and tackling items on the never ending to-...
09/29/2018

Build update 9/28/18:

I’ve spent the past couple of weeks thrashing on the car and tackling items on the never ending to-do-list. Thanks to Andy Wasem in Ohio for the rear glass and all the sides and Auto Glass Express here in town for installing the front and rear glass. I pretty much everything is buttoned up under the hood by adding a Wilwood master cylinder from Kore3, FSR radiator and Spectre cold air intake. I’ve been struggling with the rear of the car sitting too high, so I took a lot of measurements and called Josh at Ridetech. I had 12” 300 # springs and they wouldn’t allow the shock to be in the sweet spot of the shock’s travel. Josh said that if this was going to be a full time race car, I could run a 10” 300 # spring and get the right height, but a stiff ride or he could send me a pair of 12” 250 # springs which should get it down where it needs to be. Just waiting on them to get here, to put them in. I also had to order longer wheel studs for the rear wheels, as well. Those should be here Saturday and I’ll get them installed. I’ll be pretty well down to finishing up the wiring, so I can install the drivers seat, bleed the brakes and try and find someone that can put a tune in the engine. I can see the light at the end of this very long tunnel...

Just had to take a quick picture, since I had both cars under the same roof. What a difference! I can’t believe it’s bee...
09/21/2018

Just had to take a quick picture, since I had both cars under the same roof. What a difference! I can’t believe it’s been four years...

08/24/2018

Build Update 8/24/18:

My "To Do" list is still pretty long, but my "Parts to find/buy" list is slowly shrinking...

Parts to find/buy:
- Radiator and fans
- Rear Glass (have 3 and all are scratched)
- All side glass (mine are all scratched up)
- Cold Air Intake
- Brakelines from MC down to Prop. Valve
- Steering wheel
- Set of 5pt harnesses

To do list:
- install all the above
- Finish wiring car
- Install interior
- Nut and Bolt Check entire car
- Fine tune the suspension
- Detail
- Finally enjoy it before the snow falls!!!

It looked worst once I typed it out! As my wife tells me " you're getting there and it will be so worth it!"

08/24/2018

Build Update 8/23:

Once I started getting everything together, I found that my rear wheels were too close to the quarter wheel openings and had to make a quick decision. Either re-hoop my brand new wheels or narrow the Currie 9". Well since Aaron frame was already notched and I mini tubbed the inner wheel wells, I had plenty of room on the inside to go in. I contacted Jeff @ Maranatha Car Crafting in Spencer In. and had him take an inch off each end of each axle. He did a great job and I highly recommend services.

Address

Vincennes, IN

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