76/77 Malibu Back Side

by Hawk03 Tue Jun 30, 2015 9:36 am

Does anyone have pictures of a 76/77 rear end without the chrome? surround around the license plate and rear lights? I'm not a big fan of the chrome surround and I'm not sure what to do with it. Mine is all pitted and I don't think painting it would look all that great.

Will a '74 bumper bolt on? I know the bumper filler is different but is there anything else that will prohibit it from mounting on a 76/77?

Pic of Famstyles' car for reference.
76/77 Malibu Back Side <a href=

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by jerry46765 Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:00 pm

I don't have a 'current' digital picture of the back of my '77 but it has the taillight panels blasted and painted. The panels were milled to remove the 'malibu classic' and rough texture in the panel. A light coat of filler went over the machining marks. I also has narrowed a '75 rear bumper and made custom fillers.

Here is a scan of a photo from 'back in the day.'

76/77 Malibu Back Side 1977_2

I may have some close-ups of the bumper and filler panels on another computer.

Thanks -

by jerry46765 Tue Jun 30, 2015 1:11 pm

Here is the edge of bumper and filler panel.

76/77 Malibu Back Side 77_bumper_1

Thanks -

by dynchel Tue Jun 30, 2015 4:22 pm

I've been wanting to section the rear bumper like that except I would go narrower to try to get the sides more flush with the quarter panel.

by jerry46765 Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:11 pm

Let us know when you have it finished.

In theory, what you say sounds plausible, but in practice it would be difficult to execute. When you collapse the shocks to pull the bumper in, it leaves little room bolt the bumper back on. Then the brackets have side to side tolerance in them which is no big deal when the gap in 2 inches on each side, but becomes critical when it's 1/2 inch. It's a three person job to install with everything painted.

It turned out how I wanted it, like it or not.

Thanks -

by Hawk03 Tue Jun 30, 2015 6:22 pm

Thanks Jerry, looks good! I like what you did with the tail panels and bumper but the bumper modifications might be a little over my head so if you didn't compress the bumper shocks would it have a more factory look to it?

Or is it best to try and find a 75 tail panel and use that to have a more factory look? Assuming the 75 tail panel would bolt in.

76/77 Malibu Back Side Hqdefault

76/77 Malibu Back Side 1974ChevroletChevelle_02_1100

by jerry46765 Tue Jun 30, 2015 7:14 pm

The 76/77 body will not interchange with 73, 74 or 75 tail panels.

I messed with a '75 bumper because that was what I had and it was more rounded than '76/77. It was sectioned on the sides, and sectioned again at the bumper jack slot area. The bumper shocks were compressed and a 1" rubber bumper was inserted in the bottom of the shock in case it is compressed from contact and then the shock was bolted together so it cannot be extended.

Honestly, I don't know about the other bumpers and fillers. I carved up the bumper and made some metal filler panels to make it fit without having the bumper sticking out on the sides.

by Hawk03 Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:14 am

Thanks - this gives me a good base to start with.

by 76 Malibu Wed Jul 01, 2015 4:37 pm

Here is a base model '76 without the chrome surronds as done by the factory:

76/77 Malibu Back Side 1976_c10

by dynchel Wed Jul 01, 2015 5:54 pm

Damn tony, your chrome looks nice.

by 76 Malibu Wed Jul 01, 2015 7:19 pm

That's not my car, I found that pic on an eBay auction a while ago. Mine's a Malibu Classic.

by Limey SE Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:38 pm

I hated the way the chrome looked as well this was My old 76, Liked the 77 Tails better also

76/77 Malibu Back Side 38962910

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