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    1. 01-31-2006 #1
      Shonuff_Chevy
      Shonuff_Chevy is offline New to Pro-Touring
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      Changing G-body to B-body spindles

      I have a 80 Malibu and want to use tublar control arms, but I read I will have to use B-body spindle. Is that a tough conversion? Can I use some off a donor car or do I have to buy a kit?

      Thanks

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    3. 01-31-2006 #2
      white79bu
      white79bu is offline Registered User
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      You need to look for 78-95 (I think) caprice wagon or cop car spindles and calipers. They will have a 12" rotor. Then buy a set of 91 Camaro 1LE rotors. Along with the right upper control arm and thats it. It's very straight forward.
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    4. 01-31-2006 #3
      CRCRFT78's Avatar
      CRCRFT78
      CRCRFT78 is offline Registered User
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      What about 96 spindle?

      Can you use the spindles off of the 94-96 Impala/Caprice. I noticed you went up to 95 and that was it. Aren't they the same for 94-96.
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    5. 01-31-2006 #4
      Shonuff_Chevy
      Shonuff_Chevy is offline New to Pro-Touring
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      Thanks again fellow Malibuer. lol
      Is it a take off/put on deal or will I have to fab.
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    6. 01-31-2006 #5
      white79bu
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      94-96 are the same. Aslong as you buy a set off of a cop car or wagon. Everything is very straight forward. You will not have to fabricate anything. I had that set up on my malibu for 3 years. This winter I steped up to the C5 brakes. Andy
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    7. 01-31-2006 #6
      Shonuff_Chevy
      Shonuff_Chevy is offline New to Pro-Touring
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      Cool very helpful. What about changing the rears to disc. would I be better off buying kit or is there a donor year? What kind of fabs.
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    8. 01-31-2006 #7
      white79bu
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      I just installed a rear disc set up off of an 95 trans am. You can use a set from a 93-97 f-body. Or there are some guys are using a set from a 98-2002 f-body. My set up seems like it will work ok once I get all of the bugs worked out. I think I have $180 in the whole thing. Andy
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    9. 01-31-2006 #8
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      79_GBody
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      Here's an old article from car craft where they used camaro/firebird 1LE rotors and b-body spindles with the hotchkis tubular arms, you might want to check it out... http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/57098/
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    10. 01-31-2006 #9
      Shonuff_Chevy
      Shonuff_Chevy is offline New to Pro-Touring
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      I printed that article I will read it 3 or 4 times to let it soak in.
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    11. 01-31-2006 #10
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      CRCRFT78
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      What about other G-bodies????

      Does the same apply for an 86 Monte Carlo SS. I have the same setup on my 78 Malibu and would like to put it on an 86MCSS. Does it interchange with "ALL" G-bodies as long as you go with the same parts?
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    12. 01-31-2006 #11
      white79bu
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      Carcraft78 isn't that your car in the car craft article? Andy yes the b-body swap will work on all g-bodys. Andy
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    13. 01-31-2006 #12
      Shonuff_Chevy
      Shonuff_Chevy is offline New to Pro-Touring
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      I read that article it is very very helpful. Now I just have to figure out doing the rear!!!
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    14. 01-31-2006 #13
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      CRCRFT78
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      Yes thats my car. Or should I say, their car that I now own. I wasn't sure whether or not the swap worked on all G-bodies or not. Cousin has 86MCSS and her brother has a 78 Cutlass. wasn't sure if there were minor differences or not. Thanks, Joe.
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    15. 01-31-2006 #14
      sinned
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      Why in the world would anyone want to ruin the geometry of the G body (not that it’s great) by bolting on "B" spindles so you can run tubular arms which offer no performance advantage. You will completely ruin the handling of the car for no reason.
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    16. 01-31-2006 #15
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      CRCRFT78
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      Why in the world would anyone want to ruin the geometry of the G body (not that it’s great) by bolting on "B" spindles so you can run tubular arms which offer no performance advantage. You will completely ruin the handling of the car for no reason.
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      Denny

      I beg to differ with your comment, its almost as if you were to ask why any of us add bolt-ons to our stock vehicles. There is obviously some advantage in doing so otherwise we wouldn't have any of these companies supplying us with parts to enjoy this hobby. Not only are the braking capabilites of my car greatly enhanced over stock. But it also handles alot better than my other "STOCK" 78 Malibu with "STOCK" suspension. I'm no suspension expert but I don't believe these parts would exist if there wasn't some sort of an advantage over stock components. I have a modified 78 Malibu and a stock 78 Malibu to compare each other with. And I would almost guarantee that you would not go with my stock Malibu after riding in the two and seeing the difference for yourself. I don't mean to sound a little heated, just giving my opinion after experiencing both stock & modified for myself.
      Joe
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    17. 01-31-2006 #16
      sinned
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      Well I'll tell from a suspension experts POV that the ""B" spindles do ruin the geometry. The only advantage to running tall spindles on that platform is the negative camber gain....of course the side effect is increased steering radius, big time increase in bump steer, and slower steering response. Not too mention RC disadvantages and RC migration issues.



      Adding performance enhancing products is one thing but adding a donor part that hurts performance is totally different. The logic that lots of manufactures supply support, well....by that logic the "Tornado" air filter device is probably a good idea too. There are lots of parts that don't work, that doesn't people won't buy them.



      I’m sure your modified “G” body runs good, I’m also sure it is all nice and fresh. I guarantee I can take your stocker and with very limited parts run circles around your modified one in under a week’s time. It’s not about how much or how many parts you can throw at it, it’s about maximizing the vehicles performance capabilities.
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    18. 01-31-2006 #17
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      McssGmachine
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      I have the b-body spindle swap, and yes it does handle better than stock, but it has alot of bumpsteer. If I were to do it over again I would go with Marcus's G5 setup. Maybe Marus will Chime in here and tell you about it.
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    19. 01-31-2006 #18
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      CRCRFT78
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      Once again, I'm NO expert and I'm not trying to turn this into a pissing match. I can only make my opinion based on what I know and what I have to compare it to. After driving my stock Malibu the other one feels like a dream. Maybe I should just wakeup now. One reason I joined this site was to gain the knowledge I lack by communicating with other members who are willing to share it with me. Being the "SUSPENSION EXPERT", you probably could do alot more with my car in a weeks time than I could at this point. Thats why I'm the novice builder and your the expert, and that is also why I joined this site. Please feel free to educate me and correct me when I'm wrong. Thats why I'm here.
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    20. 02-01-2006 #19
      sinned
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      The SC&C G5 set-up is obviously a nice kit but it comes with a nice price tag. You could accomplish silmiliar results just running the extened length upper and lower ball joints, the upper control arm, a set of Teflon lower bushings, and some nice springs/shocks.
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    21. 02-01-2006 #20
      2turbo71
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      If you are looking to just upgrade to a tubular style a-arm and save a little weight this company (a sponsor) offers a direct replacemnt upper and lower a-arm set and are priced very reasonable. Here is the link http://www.bmrfabrication.com/A-arms/G-body.jpg
      The guy I talked to was Lee.
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