The interchangability thread

[The Dude]

I know that some of this has been discussed in a few separate threads, but maybe having one thread with all of the info on it will help people doing the junkyard crawl find everything in one spot. (hint hint)

I'm actually thinking about getting an early to mid 90s cop car & jacking the sway bars, spindles, calipers & rotors, & rear differential if it all swaps over (9C1 Chevelle anyone?), but I have a feeling you guys are talking about box Caprices. I might be cutting a deal with a buddy that owns a salvage yard, so anyone with advice let me know. Also wondering if there are any RPO codes to check for as far as gearing options go. He has quite a few G-bodies out there also, if any of those have 8.5 rears with desirable gearing or limited slip (RPO G80). I know he has a few Monte SS's.

So what I'm wanting to know from you guys that have actually done swapping is this.

Which years & models can you use suspension parts from & what modifications, if any, are needed for that particular part?

How close in dimensions are the rear axles?

Most importantly, what stuff would be a waste of time swapping over &/or what other parts should people be scrounging for while in the junkyard?

OK enough of my ranting for now, let's get the definitive suspension swap thread going.

[novaderrik]

the only G bodies that came with an 8.5 rear axle were the 84-87 Turbocharged Buicks (GN , T Type) and 84-87 Olds 442/Hurst Olds.
the best place to look for decent gears and posi units for an 8.5 rear are in 80's 1/2 ton trucks and 70's Trans Ams and Z/28's, along with Caprice wagons and cop cars from 77-93. the 90 and newer Caprices have 30 spline axles in them, along with a matching differential.
the 77-96 B body (Caprice, etc) was essentially the 73-77 A body (Chevelle, Monte Carlo, etc) chassis with a few changes and refinements over the years.
most stuff interchanges, but some stuff like transmission crossmembers and front sway bars aren't a direct swap. i have a 92 Caprice 9C1 front sway bar in my 74 Monte, and it doesn't fit quite right. the arms on the Caprice bar are longer than the Monte bar was, so the end links are tipped back a bit. but it's been on for 2 years with no problems.
i also have the rear springs out of the 92 9C1 in my Monte- perfect fit, but it did jack it up some (which is what i wanted to clear the slots).
control arms and spindles swap over, but later B bodies used a bigger lower balljoint. the 94-96 spindles are stronger and lighter than the 73-93 units.
80's Caprice station wagon axle shafts are an easy way to get a 5X5 bolt pattern on the rear of a 73-77 A or G body.
of course the steering box is a direct swap, with different lines or line fitting adapters.

[The Dude]

Got some more news.......

The Chevy Astro/GMC Safari also used the same front suspension as the B-body, but they came with the larger ball joints! Note that the rear is different, but here is one more option when you go junkyard huntin'.

[The Dude]

70-81 F-Body front 1-1/4" sway bars are a direct bolt in.

[The Dude]

I'm still researching parts, gonna get a Hollander Exchange manual to help out.

[Limey SE]

I came across some chromed parts online but they're from a Monte. I don't have pics to compare yet, but it is the center support behind the grill and the whole hood latch/catch assembly.

the hood latch assembly is most likey different because of the style of the hoods but thats just a guess..

I believe it's the same. Don't quote me on that. Nearly positive the hood latch assembly is the same. Not 100% on the support behind the grille.

[Limey SE]

I think the core support brace will be the same the actual header panels of the malibu and monte are not very different monte comes more to a point but like always I could be wrong and probally am LOL

[alleyball4]

this is awesome information....i gotta spend some time going back over it....

I could have saved hundreds going to my 3.42 posi from my 3.08 non posi.

I doubt there are, but do any of those cars have a 3.73 posi? (cop cars, etc)

[The Dude]

I might be wrong on this, but I believe the options were 2.93, 3.08, 3.23, & 3.42 gears if you find an 8.5 rear.

[pila]

I have an extra 8.5, '75, with 2.73 gears (El Camino) which likely fits many A bodies of the '73-'77 era.
I'm using a 9" Ford in place of that one.

[TWBouska AKA Wooderson]

i need a driver side spindle for my el camino, is the b body direct swap on? or does it require some mods?

[Jedediah]

Rago thanks for starting this thread up.

[pila]

At the local airport we had an ex-cop car for a courtesy car, like a '91 or '92 Caprice, with an LT1 engine. The front brakes on that car, which was some police option, were big bucks to replace the parts, as I remember.

[The Dude]

No problem Jed. I wanted everyone to know what to look for when scouring the junkyards & knew there were members on here that could help out in finishing this thread.

i need a driver side spindle for my el camino, is the b body direct swap on? or does it require some mods?

TW, I quoted your answer from the first reply on this thread. Derrik deserves some SC for sharing his knowledge on the subject:

control arms and spindles swap over, but later B bodies used a bigger lower balljoint. the 94-96 spindles are stronger and lighter than the 73-93 units.

[TWBouska AKA Wooderson]

I see, basically the upper caliper bolt on my drivers side spindle is stripped, i had in basically glued in until i found a replacement, forgot about it, was driving to work yesterday morning when I heard a grinding noise, got there, put the car on the rack, and saw that the bolt had fallen out and the caliper was then grinding on the rotor (not the contact surface the hub part) I found a bolt and nut in my tool box that fit and put that in for now but its back to grinding so im about to head out and see if i figure something out, was hoping to hit the bone yard today but its actually raining out here for a change. (just my luck)

so anyways, what you guys are saying then is that i basically want the 94-96 spindles then off a caprice/impala? are the 9c1's any different than the regular ones?