Tuning the Chevrolet Malibu.
"Putting some Malice into the Malibu"
We examine at Malibu tuning and report on the best modifications for Chevrolets flagship model the Malibu. Aimed at families it is practically sized, well equipped and has reasonable performance from the factory. We'll look at the best ways to tune it and squeeze out every last drop of fun it's possible to get from this chassis.
We have seen some awesome Malibu tuning projects and there seems to be quite a loyal fan base of Malibu owners with designs on reaching some pretty high power figures. With the right mods your Malibu can be transformed into a stunning project. Don't waste money, do your homework and follow our unbiased guides to each performance upgrade to avoid disappointment.
Handling modifications are usually your first port of call for the Malibu. We suggest that you fit uprated suspension and lower the car by 30-35mm. Larger drops require arch work - especially on models already equipped with sports suspension.
Our aim in Malibu engine tuning should be to increase peak power and Torque at the top end.
Tuning modifications.
Sadly with smaller engine sizes you are wasting your time spending money on modifications, so if this applies to you get yourself an engine swap then apply the following mods.
This list of the stages and mods that are usually performed by our members, decide how far you wish to go in your tuning project before you get going.
Getting the best mods for your planned usage of the car is essential. Stage 3 motorsport parts just don't work well on the road as it makes the car hard to control in slow traffic.
Stage 1 mods:Panel air filter,alloy wheels,sports exhaust,suspension upgrade (drop 30-40mm),lighter flywheel,Remap.
Stage 2 mods:Fast road cam,power clutch,Ported and polished head,fuel injector & fuel pump upgrades,.
Stage 3 mods:adding or upgrading forced induction (turbo/supercharger),Engine balancing, competition cam,sports gearbox,Internal engine upgrades (pistons/head/valves).
You need to keep as much low end power as possible and aim to achieve a long power band across the rev range rather than a narrow top end power hike. The whole point of this article is to give a limited introduction of car tuning mods and point you in the right direction, our forum is where you can ask for more detailed advice and tips on your project and all aspects of modding cars.
It improves the intake and exhaust durations and pushes up the power if done right. Ideally you'd add other mods and finish up with a remap. TorqueCars would caution you not to go with a motorsport cam as this upsets the engines idling and general town driving characteristics.Don't forget to uprate the fuelling when you are increasing the power - it makes the car more thirsty.
If you find you have flat spots and surges after your mods you should check the fuelling and try a higher octane fuel as well. To get sufficient fuel you may need to uprate the injectors on your engine. A fuel pump will only deliver a finite amount of fuel, so you may need to uprate this if your injectors are demanding more fuel.
Intake and Exhaust Tuning.
Breathing mods are usually next up. Please note that WE DO NOT RECOMMEND INDUCTION KITS, unless you have tuned your car extensively and are finding that the standard air itnake has become a restriction. Induction kits can work well on turbo engines and larger engines (if supplied with a suitable cold air feed or air box), generally though we'd just recommend for Malibu engines you should go with a performance panel air filter prefereble made from cotton.
Sports exhausts can usually air flow out of the engine but avoid an exhaust that is too large or you may end up will reduce the flow rate. Stick to 1.5 to 2.5 inches for best results.
Head work including a head port and polished and 3 or 5 angle valve job will really help to release the potential of the engine. In nearly all cases of Malibu tuning your clutch will start to complain and this needs to be uprated - read our guide on clutches for more information. Turbo engines are just asking to be Upgraded. You will see big power gains on most modern turbo engined cars including diesels making a remap one of the most cost effective and big modifications for your money.Adding forced induction will see significant power gains but this is usually too expensive to be cost effective. Superchargers are often easier to add than a turbo. It is harder to map a turbo as the boost comes on exponentially with engine speed. It is easier to map a supercharger because the boost is proportional to engine speed on a linear curve. Adding forced induction will usually require a lower compression ratio or water injection.
Alloy wheel upgrades.
Because alloy wheels are lighter they improve performance and they help to cool the brake disks. Large Malibu alloy wheels can decrease performance. If you get big alloy wheels you will be changing your final drive ratio. Aim to keep the overall rolling diameter of the wheel the same as supplied from the factory. In all cases we do not recommend going above 18 inches.
For more information on Tuning your car please join us in our friendly forum where you can discuss Malibu options in more detail with our Malibu owners. It would also be worth reading our unbiased Chevrolet tuning articles to get a full grasp of the benefits and drawbacks of each modification.
We need your help improving this article, so please send us your feedback in the comments box below and pass on any tips, points or facts we have wrong or have not covered. We really like hearing from our readers, and hearing about which mods were the most effective for them, it helps us improve our recommendations and articles to reflect current trends in modifications and ensures that our guides and tips are kept up to date.
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