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, OldsG-Mail, 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