Get Some Ideas for Your Chevelle from Detroit Muscle's Barn Find 1972 Chevy Malibu Project

Back in 2018 PowerNation TV’s Detroit Muscle got themselves a true barn find—a 1972 Chevelle Malibu that was sitting in an old Tennessee hay barn for 20 years. They dragged the car back to the shop, tore it down to the bare frame, then rebuilt it into a cool resto-mod packing a 1,000 horsepower small block. You can see the entire build on PowerNation TV's YouTube channel. 

If you like what you see, we have a list of parts used to build the Malibu that will provide a great place to start on your own A-body project.

Engine
The guys at Engine Power were kind enough to donate a ProCharger-equipped 406 cubic inch small block Chevy, that made 993 horsepower and 917 lbs.-ft. of torque on the dyno.

Detroit Muscle did modify the engine with a blow-through carburetor fed by a Holley VR Series electric fuel pump, Pertronix ignition upgrades, and a Canton Racing oil pan. The 406 is cooled by a PWR Racing radiator module, and exhaust is scavenged by Hedman headers and a Hooker Blackheart dual exhaust system.

Brakes
Detroit Muscle bolted Baer SS4 disc brakes on all four corners of the Malibu, plus a Baer Remaster master cylinder and proportioning valve. We added a Classic Tube stainless steel brake line kit to plumb the brake system.

Suspension
Detroit Muscle chose QA1 Level 3 suspension components—front and rear tubular control arms, adjustable coil-over shocks, and a sway bar kit—plus a pair of Summit Racing front spindles. Other parts include an Borgeson power steering box and Mickey Thompson ET Street and Street Comp rubber.

Sheetmetal
The Malibu had obvious rust in the rear quarters, and the floor was pretty well shot too. Detroit Muscle replaced the floor, quarter panels, front fenders, and hood with Auto Metal Direct sheetmetal. The body was sprayed with a custom mix paint dubbed ‘Bowtie Blue’ before it was fitted to the completed chassis using RESTOPARTS body bushings. The combo also includes a Soffseal weatherstripping kit to seal the body good and tight.

Exterior Trim
Once the sheetmetal work was complete and the Malibu painted, it was time for the shiny stuff like Auto Metal Direct bumpers and a slew of RESTOPARTS items—windshield and rocker molding, door handles, side view mirror, and emblems, including cool ‘Cowl Induction’ emblems for the hood.

Interior Combo
The Malibu’s interior came in big brown boxes full of RESTOPARTS items including an SS dash and gauge conversion kit, a wood rim steering wheel, and sail panel boards. We included an ididit tilt steering column and a Vintage Air Sure-Fit climate control system.

Intercooler
Nobody makes a kit to plumb an intercooler in a 1972 Chevelle. Detroit Muscle mounted a Summit Racing intercooler and fabricated the plumbing using Vibrant Performance aluminum tubing and couplers, Summit Racing and Turbonetics T-bolt clamps, and a Spectre Performance carburetor plenum. 

Parts to Finish
This combo has major parts like a RESTOPARTS fuel tank, Lizardskin heat and sound insulation, and Lokar throttle and transmission cables.

CHECK OUT THE PARTS LIST FOR DETROIT MUSCLE'S BARN FIND 1972 MALIBU