1972 Chevelle
Jake Dykstra
1972 Malibu 400
In 1972, Joseph Kardis ordered a 1972 Malibu from:
Bill Becker Chevrolet at
4530 Archer Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60632.
The car was ordered with a “400” big block (402), TH400 automatic transmission, power steering, power disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/8-Track stereo radio, rear window defogger, gauge package, 3.31 positraction rear axle (12 bolt), and a vinyl top. Joseph ordered car the way it was because he wanted a bench seat and the salesman said that a bench seat was not available on a SS car (not true). Probably an unknown in the early 70’s these cars are now referred to as Malibu 400’s.
The car was manufactured in the Kansas (Leeds) plant on March 21, 1972. The car had the small baby moon style hubcaps with blue painted wheels from the factory. Joseph changed rear end to 3.73 and Ziebarted (undercoated) the car. He also cut off the factory resonators, cut off smog tubes and installed pipe plugs. He also installed a GM
high lift camshaft (from the How to Hot Rod your Big Block Chevy book) and did a 3 angle valve job, a 780 Holley with a tarantula intake. Later Joseph would admit that combination did not run very well and the car ran best with a 650 spread bore and the stock intake.
Jake Dykstra
1972 Malibu 400
In 1972, Joseph Kardis ordered a 1972 Malibu from:
Bill Becker Chevrolet at
4530 Archer Avenue,
Chicago, IL 60632.
The car was ordered with a “400” big block (402), TH400 automatic transmission, power steering, power disc brakes, air conditioning, AM/8-Track stereo radio, rear window defogger, gauge package, 3.31 positraction rear axle (12 bolt), and a vinyl top. Joseph ordered car the way it was because he wanted a bench seat and the salesman said that a bench seat was not available on a SS car (not true). Probably an unknown in the early 70’s these cars are now referred to as Malibu 400’s.
The car was manufactured in the Kansas (Leeds) plant on March 21, 1972. The car had the small baby moon style hubcaps with blue painted wheels from the factory. Joseph changed rear end to 3.73 and Ziebarted (undercoated) the car. He also cut off the factory resonators, cut off smog tubes and installed pipe plugs. He also installed a GM
high lift camshaft (from the How to Hot Rod your Big Block Chevy book) and did a 3 angle valve job, a 780 Holley with a tarantula intake. Later Joseph would admit that combination did not run very well and the car ran best with a 650 spread bore and the stock intake.
In July of 1974 Mr. Kardis sold the car to Vladimir Dudak of Chicago who owned it for approx. 9 years and 3 months. Then in October of 1983 Mr. Dudak sold the car to Robert Bramen of Park Ridge. At this time the car had 32,885 miles on it per the title paperwork. Mr. Bramen owned for approx. 7 months and in May of 1984 he sold it to Bruce Garside in Downers Grove, IL. Bruce took out 3.73 gear and installed a 3.08. Bruce had car re-Ziebarted and drove the car everyday all year long.
In 1987 I was working at a Corvette restoration shop in Lisle, IL (Strictly Stingray) and Bruce was friends with a couple of the guys that worked there. Bruce also owned a 1970 SS396 Chevelle and frequently stopped by with one of his Chevelles. I was 17 at the time and my dream car was (still is) a 1970 LS6 Chevelle, but those cars were out of my budget. Bruce had mentioned that this 72 could be for sale and after talking to my parents about the car they agreed to float me a loan and I bought my first car in July of 1987. My Dad is a pretty hard core car guy and I grew up around car repair and restoration so that was not a very hard sell.
In 1987 I was working at a Corvette restoration shop in Lisle, IL (Strictly Stingray) and Bruce was friends with a couple of the guys that worked there. Bruce also owned a 1970 SS396 Chevelle and frequently stopped by with one of his Chevelles. I was 17 at the time and my dream car was (still is) a 1970 LS6 Chevelle, but those cars were out of my budget. Bruce had mentioned that this 72 could be for sale and after talking to my parents about the car they agreed to float me a loan and I bought my first car in July of 1987. My Dad is a pretty hard core car guy and I grew up around car repair and restoration so that was not a very hard sell.
I installed a tilt steering column, rear sway bar and a factory AM/FM-8-track. I drove the car every day in the summer months in high school and college. In 1991 I had the car repainted in what started out as a trip to the body shop for some touch up work on the bottoms of the fenders and ended up as a full blown exterior restoration. The car had been re-painted once previously and had some small rust issues in the bottoms of the front fenders and rear quarters. Other than the front fenders the rest of the sheet metal is original to the car. At the time all of the exterior parts were still available from GM so 2 new front fenders, bumpers, wheel opening
moldings, sill plates, sill panels, etc were bought new from GM. The sad thing is in looking back none of it was in terrible shape it just did not look perfect against the new paint job. I believe the carpeting, seat belts, dash, and
rear seat covers and maybe the headliner to be original to the car. I believe the front bench seat cover has been either partially or completely replaced. When it was repainted we did not paint the underside of the trunk lid or
the door side of the jambs so they are original paint.
moldings, sill plates, sill panels, etc were bought new from GM. The sad thing is in looking back none of it was in terrible shape it just did not look perfect against the new paint job. I believe the carpeting, seat belts, dash, and
rear seat covers and maybe the headliner to be original to the car. I believe the front bench seat cover has been either partially or completely replaced. When it was repainted we did not paint the underside of the trunk lid or
the door side of the jambs so they are original paint.
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During the disassembly process I found several build sheets for the car, one in each front fender well, coated with Ziebart. The car came with 2 build sheets that were discovered by previous owners in the back seat and dash areas I believe. I also found one above the gas tank when working on a small leak repair, so I have 5 build sheets for the car found in various places. I was able to obtain the above owner history via a title search that was competed after I bought the car. I spoke with the original owner’s son and he provided me with the information noted above. I have not spoken to the other owners.
The car has its original engine, transmission and rear end. All of the components such as heads, intake, exhaust
manifolds, carb, alternator, and distributor are correct with the exception of the starter, smog pump, and water
pump.
manifolds, carb, alternator, and distributor are correct with the exception of the starter, smog pump, and water
pump.
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Throughout the time that I owned the car I always wanted to go faster. I installed a couple of different cams, messed with the quadrajet and timing but it was still a low compression, low performance 402. In 2001 I decided
to pull the 402 and put it in the corner of the garage all wrapped up for storage and I installed a GM Performance
Parts 454HO crate motor. I swapped over my painted steel valve covers, installed the smog manifolds with the
complete smog system, and painted the nice aluminum intake orange in an attempt to disguise the swap. The only variation was a reproduction open element air cleaner to fit the Holley. I installed a set of 3.73 gears in
lieu of the 3.08 that Bruce had put in and I finally had something that ran pretty good, and about as close as I could get to that LS6 I wanted as a kid.
to pull the 402 and put it in the corner of the garage all wrapped up for storage and I installed a GM Performance
Parts 454HO crate motor. I swapped over my painted steel valve covers, installed the smog manifolds with the
complete smog system, and painted the nice aluminum intake orange in an attempt to disguise the swap. The only variation was a reproduction open element air cleaner to fit the Holley. I installed a set of 3.73 gears in
lieu of the 3.08 that Bruce had put in and I finally had something that ran pretty good, and about as close as I could get to that LS6 I wanted as a kid.