[novadude]

Saw this on the local Craigslist (I live fairly close too - Shippensburg). I would agree that he managed to ruin the car. From pictures, it looks like the V8 install is a real hack job. The craigslist asking price of $18k seems way high. If he is offering it to you minus engine and trans, I am thinking it's only worth $6-8k. I suspect that you'll find a bit of a mess under that vinyl top and rear window trim.

Still looks like a good project though... it would just take a lot of time and money to make it nice, and when you are done, you still have a Malibu that you could probably only sell for $20-30k. Drivetrain, body / paint work, and other mechanical repair (assume it needs suspension / brake work) would cost quite a bit. Assuming you could even buy it for $6-8k, you might be able to break even when done if you count your labor as free. Just my $0.02.