1978 Chevrolet Impala Reviews

The doors on the bottom of both sides rusted out due to all of the rain over the years.

The car is in excellent condition. It starts when most cars don't. I really don't have too many negative things to say about the car.

Sad to say that I have to sell it in order to get a truck, because I have a baby on the way and I need a suitable vehicle for the family.

The worst thing with the 350 engine was the thin wall heads. They started cracking around 50/60K miles and joined millions of their buddies stacked out behind automotive machine shops. Easy fix, tho, I used some earlier 882 (thick wall) heads and they ran until the valves and guides got tired. Cheaply rebuilt them. (Several times)

Rear axle 8.5in ring & pinion finally started to howl at around 300,000 miles even tho I was using synthetic lube. Shouldn't blame it because the car towed a lot. By this time, it wasn't what you'd really call a "Chick Magnet".

The worst interior item was the daggummed fuzzy headliner. Good for a couple of years and then the cheap foam behind the cloth would deterioate letting the cloth fall down. I've gotten pretty good at scraping and gluing in new headliners.

Since I can cheaply rebuild just about every system in the car, I still drive it around. Call it my old "Rat Wagon" It'll eventually devolve into a parts car since I recently picked up a really nice '79 Caprice Wagon. I'll fix up the Caprice, toughen up the drive line (coolers, shift kit, heavy U joints, etc, metallic brake pads. Already got a class 3 hitch mounted.

The 79's life with me is just beginning. I'm seriously considering buying a good "takeout" 5.3 litre from a wrecked late Chevy or GMC pickup or Suburban and sticking it in with a custom wiring harness along with an overdrive tranny. This will give much better mileage and power than the old 350.

Camshaft replaced at 193000km.

Gas tank rusted out at 254000km.

Alternator replaced 449000km.

Headliner began falling off after 25 years of ownership.

Needed to overhaul rear brake cylinders at 440000Km.

Air conditioner compressor (A4) replaced at 392000Km.

The car still rides well after 30 salty Canadian winters.

No bodywork required when repainted in 1998. Still no rusting as of Feb/2008.

Pinging was removed in 1992 with the installation of an adjustable distributor vacuum modulator.

Original 4 barrel carb is still running well, with only a replacement power piston installed in 1991.

I need a new carb, and the upholstery is falling apart.

A lot of under carriage body rot.

I blew my water pump on the way to work one morning, but still made it!

This is one of the very best cars I have had the pleasure to own!