G-body Roll Call

[killermalibu]

My current project. 1981 Malibu. Currently powered by a 454 with a TH350 trans, swapping it out for a 5.3 and 4l60e within a year or two as well as some new wheels and suspension.

[Boldfacecar]

1979 Malibu ..

[archertsi]

Bumping this back to the top!
83 cutlass t-top (insanely clean) hoping to ls swap this one

86 cutlass to swap some parts from (mainly interior)

[DarthRegal]

Soon to be owner of 1984 Buick Grand National - 3.8L SMPFI Turbocharged V6 - Factory Astroroof, Lear-Siegler Leather Seats, Power Windows and Door Locks



Planning a frame-on pro-tour restomod - ridetech Level 2 Adjustable Coilovers - Willwood Big Brake Kit - Hotwire and Walbro fuel pump - 42# Injectors - '87 ECM with Turbotweak Emission and Power Chips - Modern 2DIN GPS Navi Stereo with SiriusXM, New Vintage gauge package

No intentions to dragrace but would enjoy a good trackday or autocross, will be a driver not a show car.

Target is to look somewhat like this


JK

[dennydotco]

Did you see the build thread for that GN? Crazy... custom frame work, 6 speed 4L80e... incredible car.

[focused313]

^^ X2 on the well said.
Some aftermarket parts I would like to see are:
- aluminum cowl hood(s) 2", 4"
- deep front inner fender tubs for big tires
- rack & pinion kit
- trunk/seat reinforcement bars
- replacement dash cluster pod, that can fit some gauges AND keep the A/C
- rear frame bolt-in crossmembers
- interior door panels / rear seat panels
- billet hood / trunk hinges
- electric window motor/harness upgrade kits

6 YEARS LATER AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE MOST OF THIS STUFF.

At the very least, G-Bodies should have some aftermarket "design" for hood/decklid hinges. Rack and pinion would be huge. TMI Interiors should add G-Bodies to their line as well.

I think plenty of people have G-Bodies, but I'm not sure how many that do own them, want to put the parts into them...with the associated cost to do it.

[86Regal]

86 Buick Regal and 86 Cutlass Supreme

[Canon_Mutant]

Well, mine is completely scattered at the moment with the entire suspension and brake swap. Here is when I was just getting started.



On the parts front, I am thrilled to even have what we have. The reason I haven't done anything to date is quality adjustable control arms and certainly "better" anti-sway designs compared to even the factory F41, add on bracing, steering components, and much better brakes have only become available at all in recent years. Now, I won't be turning my G-body into a C5 or 6 but even thinking that is nuts. I am purely looking for the . . . holy crap, that's an Oldsmobile out there? And, just the fun of doing it all before going to the great salvage yard in the sky . . .

[mc84_zz4]

6 YEARS LATER AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE MOST OF THIS STUFF.

At the very least, G-Bodies should have some aftermarket "design" for hood/decklid hinges. Rack and pinion would be huge. TMI Interiors should add G-Bodies to their line as well.

I think plenty of people have G-Bodies, but I'm not sure how many that do own them, want to put the parts into them...with the associated cost to do it.

Wow, that's a flashback to 2011...
From the original post:

Some aftermarket parts I would like to see are:
- deep front inner fender tubs for big tires
- interior door panels / rear seat panels
- billet hood / trunk hinges
- electric window motor/harness upgrade kits


A few updates or alternatives to this partial list:

- replacement dash cluster pod, that can fit some gauges AND keep the A/C
Several panels available for gauges fitting into dash cluster
Also Dakota Digital has new panels with the latest features as a drop-in replacement

- aluminum cowl hood(s) 2", 4"
Still no aluminum hood, I bought a 70+ pound Goodmark 2" cowl hood to replace the stock 70+ pound stock hood.

- rack & pinion kit
still no known Rack & Pinion bolt-in solution, although several full frame replacements are available, and have it: Schwartz, Roadster Shop
A definite upgrade from the stock close-ratio units:
Performance re-valved/benchmarked Delco 670 steering box from Lee Performance, as Lee is back in business (may have delays due to finding decent cores)
Performance re-valved/benchmarked Saginaw 800 series boxes, also from Lee Performance http://scandc.com/new/node/848

- trunk/seat reinforcement bars
Make your own still is available... I used some 2" flat steel, one X in each seat 5 bolts per side, also one horizontal bar across the rear deck bolted in.
http://www.motortopia.com/files/cars...Thumbnail1.jpg

- rear frame bolt-in crossmembers
1- UMI Performance has a rear shock tower brace:
http://umiperformance.com/catalog/in...ex&cPath=8_404


2- U-Haul class2 hitch works great to tie together the loose frame ends, and add some needed structure. It evens works with the stock SS exhaust hangers, just need to swap L/R hanger brackets and reverse clamps.
Part number: 36104
www.uhaul.com
Not-as-sexy pic: http://www.motortopia.com/files/1246...08d7/image.jpg

GNS makes brackets that bolt to the rear bumper mounts, make your own cross-bar to size..
http://www.gnsperformance.com/bodyframe-g-body




Additional frame bracing / mods:

- Front end frame braces:
You can find front-end frame braces from:
www.scandc.com
www.umiperformance.com
www.speedtechperformance.com


- Hellwig G body frame bracing

Available thru SC&C http://scandc.com/new/node/977
Full picture: http://scandc.com/new/system/files/i...20G%20body.jpg

Frame-Notch Kits (in no particular order):
- Gbodyparts Frame notch kit
http://www.gbodyparts.com/product_in...oducts_id=1560
- UMI also offers a Frame Notch kit:
http://umiperformance.com/catalog/in...oducts_id=1068

[84TXGN]

I've seen this kit:

http://www.unisteer.com/new-products...inion-kit.html

But I don't know of anyone that has it.

[87Aerocoupe]

Hello PT Friends,

Quick intro:

I have a 1987 Monte Carlo SS that I bought when I was 16yrs old back in 1993.

Recently, I removed the H.O. 305 and replaced with a BPE 383, Built 700R4, and my most recent addition is a Full ridetech Upper/Lower StrongArms, Front and Rear MuscleBar SwayBars, and of course Adjustable Coil Overs.

Today the AeroCoupe is on the alignment rack getting dialed in....

[cutlass1979]

1979 cutlass in the house, I will be looking for info on a LS swap....

[Turbo6inKY]

6 YEARS LATER AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE MOST OF THIS STUFF.

At the very least, G-Bodies should have some aftermarket "design" for hood/decklid hinges. Rack and pinion would be huge. TMI Interiors should add G-Bodies to their line as well.

I think plenty of people have G-Bodies, but I'm not sure how many that do own them, want to put the parts into them...with the associated cost to do it.

G-Body owners are hilariously cheap as a group. And the platform is limited. There is only so far you can take it with bolt-on parts. You can easily make it wonderful on the street, but running at the pointy end with modern equipment can't be done without fabrication, and that's beyond the skill and resource limits of your typical G-Body owner right now.

[vintageracer]

G-Body owners are hilariously cheap as a group.

You most certainly are being POLITE in your description of your fellow G Body Owners!

The ONLY cheaper bunch that I know of are Foxbody Mustang owners. It takes 4 of em to raise $1,000 to buy an $800 car!

[200kss]

See my signature!

[USAZR1]

You most certainly are being POLITE in your description of your fellow G Body Owners!

The ONLY cheaper bunch that I know of are Foxbody Mustang owners. It takes 4 of em to raise $1,000 to buy an $800 car!

I don't know,Mike, the G-body El Camino guys are as cheap as they come. lol

[BMR Sales]

Here's BMR's Monte SS



we just came out with a rear Coilover Conversion Kit

[malibulvr]

A few pics of my junk:

Untitled by malibu_lvr, on Flickr

bu3 by malibu_lvr, on Flickr

bu4 by malibu_lvr, on Flickr

bu6 by malibu_lvr, on Flickr

Untitled by malibu_lvr, on Flickr

[Ben@SpeedTech]

I see a lot of G-body guys being chea...er...thrifty and cost conscious for whatever reason, some of us just have to. Sometimes I wish though as a group we'd pull our heads out. There's no such thing as cheap performance unless generally you replace the word cheap with garbage. No matter what we build there's some cost involved and many of our G family just needs to accept that. That doesn't mean you have to either build a $60K+ car or go home, you just have to spend a little time to know where to put the money to get the results you want. Much better than jumping on FB and the first question you ask is "where can I get cheap suspension for a pro touring build?"

Because my wallet dictates it sometimes I'm pretty cheap...uh...thrifty too, but for prolly less than 15K I have over 500 n/a SBC horsepower, an incredible suspension which is all bolt-in (besides a small bracket welded in to swap to coilovers up front), brakes that stop the car well and a gnarly wide stance. Most importantly it's an absolute blast to drive and so much fun to play with the import boys at SCCA events. It's got a cool name too, but that was free. ;)

[Ben@SpeedTech]

Hey Malibulvr- who'd you get your front air dam from and is there any chance you could measure your ground clearance below it and below the frame rail just behind the front wheel for me? Thanks!!