[elky] 1978-1988 A & G-Body Chassis Information

From: John Christensen <johncgg@xxxxxxxxx>
To: El Camino List <elky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:20:59 -0500
*I found this while looking on an old backup drive a few minutes ago, and
thought the list may benefit from it, so here it is, pasted in all it's
glory:*


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*JC
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*1978-1988 A & G-Body Chassis Information*

The purpose of this page is to try and document some of the FAQs about the
'78-'88 A& G body cars. The majority of the cars produced were the Buick
Regal, Chevy Monte Carlo, Oldsmobile Cutlass, and Pontiac Grand Prix. The
earlier cars include the Chevy Malibu ('78-'83) and El Camino ('78-'87),
Pontiac Bonneville ('78-'87 4-door), and Pontiac Grand Am and Le Mans
('78-'80 2-door). GMC also had their own version of the El Camino known as
the Caballero.

This information was compiled from members of the Monte Carlo Mailing
List<http://www.monte-list.nu/>,
OldsG-Mail <http://www.oldsgmail.com/>, and the Chassis List. Thanks to all
who gave info.

- Body Mount Bolt Information (1982-88)

There are three different size bolts.

Position 1 uses GM P/N 10049638 (sold ea., 2 needed). Bolt is 12 X 1.75 X
95mm long.
95mm is not common so you have to use 100mm.

Position 3 uses GM P/N 14085301 (sold by pkgs. of 5, 2 needed). Bolt is 10 X
1.5 X 55mm long. Also need two nuts.

Position 2, 4, 6, 7 uses GM P/N 3524497 (sold by pkgs. of 5, 8 needed).
Bolts are 10 X 1.5 X 80mm long.

- Interchangeable Parts Between the G-bodies - Mechanical

   - Complete front suspensions (Upper/lower front A-arms, spindles,
   calipers, steering linkage, steering boxes)
   - All Brake Parts (lines, hoses, calipers, pads, rotors, bearings, etc.)
   - Dual-diaphragm brake boosters can (and should) be swapped for the
   single-diaphragm boosters
   - Complete Rearends (ex. an '87 Monte SS posi 3.73 rear will fit in an
   '81 Olds Cutlass)
   - F41 Sway Bars into non-F41-equipped cars
   - Grand Prix triangulating frame brace (ties the lower F-41 engine
   cradle-to-frame bars together)
   - '78-'80 4-door Bonneville fender braces or '81-'87 Grand Prix fender
   braces (from fenders to upper radiator support)
   - Entire Engine-bay HVAC assembly (where A/C and heater core mount to
   firewall)

- Interchangeable Parts Between the G-bodies - Interior/Exterior

   - '81-'88 Olds Cutlass coupe doors fit '81-'87 Buick Regals, and
   vice-versa
   - '81-'88 G-body interior wiring to add or repair power windows/ locks/
   trunk
   - Steering columns between similar years
   - All weatherstripping (coupes)
   - Outer windshield trim and wiper arms (coupes)
   - Drip-rails above the windows (coupes)
   - Lower door panels, along with most upper door panels
   - Most interior trim (A and B-pillars, factory T-top trim, lighted vanity
   mirrors, and headliner boards)
   - Seat belts and actuators
   - Carpet
   - Stainless-steel "Body by Fisher" door sills
   - Front seats (bench or buckets. To install buckets in a solid-bench car,
   get the bucket seats, tracks, and mounting plates with studs from the floor
   of the donor vehicle, and weld the plates in.)
   - Rear seats
   - Rear package shelf (and CHMSL for '86-up vehicles, fed. mandated)

- Additional Parts from Donor Vehicles

   - '82-'02 S-10 upper/lower A-arms and spindles
   - '82-'92 F-body lower front A-arms - steering stops need to be ground
   down, but fit perfectly
   - '82-'92 F-body lower rear control arms
   - '82-'92 F-body front sway bar (34 or 36mm bars)
   - '82-'84 F-body aluminum rear brake drums
   - '87-'92 F-body aluminum radiator (5.7/auto application - Modine 951)
   - '87-'92 F-body XH steering box for 16" wheel upgrade
   - '88-'92 F-body serpentine belt setup for SBCs - use F-body alternator,
   p/s pump, A/C compressor, condensor, and lines
   - '78-'96 B & D-body front spindles for 12" brake conversion

Note: The big-brake upgrade with factory parts requires aftermarket tubular
upper control arms. '78-'90 is trial-and-error; most cars got 11" brakes,
while wagons and 9C1s recieved the 12" brakes. A sure-fire winner for 12"
brake spindles is any B-body from '91-'95. 1996 B-body taxi/police cars and
& D-body limos have larger lower ball joints, so these spindles should be
avoided. Regular '96 B-body spindles are fine.

   - '84 S-10 manual brake drum rear wheel cylinders (Raybestos WC37644)
   - 1990 B-body master cylinder (Wagner 104660)- for use with 12" brake
   conversion

- 1LE Bushing Part Numbers

   - Rear trailing arms - 10164152

- Moog Problem Solver Part Numbers

   - Upper Control Arm Bushing/Kit - K6411
   Cad-plated shells with higher durometer rubber (kit includes 4 bushings)
   - Lower Control Arm Bushing/Kit - K6421
   Cad-plated shells with higher durometer rubber (kit includes 4 bushings)
   - Sway Bar Endlinks - K8988
   Cad-plated bolts, nuts, sleeves, and washers with polyurethane bushings
   - Front Sway Bar Bushing Kit -Thermoplastic - 'without tabs on mounting
   clamp' - one req'd
   K6451 - 1"
   K6453 - 1 1/8"
   K6455 - 1 1/4"
   K6457 - 1 5/16"
   K6459 - 1 7/16"
   - Idler Arm - K6187T
   Bolt-in heavy-duty idler (same as '91-'96 B-body)
   - Lower Balljoints - K6145T
   Heavy-duty lower balljoint
   - Outer Tie Rod Ends - ES2033RLT
   - Inner Tie Rod Ends - ES2034RLT
   - Tie Rod Sleeves - ES2032S
   - Center Link - DS909
[elky] 1978-1988 A & G-Body Chassis Information

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