I need the experts in here please!!!

[SLAMDIT]

Hey guys, as you probably know, I have a bagged 94 cutlass. It was a totally custom setup that was done winter 04-05. I drove it all last summer but it still had some issues, mainly in the front. The car is getting painted right now and when it is back next week, I want to fix the front before I start cruisin it. So with that said, here is the issue.....

As you know, the front struts in the cutlass are a one piece setup, not a traditional style where the upper strut unbolts from the lower control arm. This is the reason that a conventional air ride kit will not bolt up to the front of these cars. With most strut bag kits, you would unbolt the upper strut by the 2 bolts that hold it to the lower control arm, remove the strut, and bolt in the strut bag. That isn't possible on the cutlass because it is all one piece.

So my buddy and I were talkin tonite about different ideas and out of nowhere, I mentioned taking a traditional 2 piece strut and putting it in my car. So now comes the question where i need the experts to chime in...........

Would a strut assembly and lower control arm from a Grand Am or Grand Prix or some car with the 2 piece setup fit into a Cutlass? My biggest concern would be the splines on the halfshafts matching the splines on the spindle. We can fab up the lower control arm mounts, I am just wondering if there is a car out there that would have similar dimensions to the front suspension in our car.

I know this isn't the best explanation of what I am trying to do, but I hope it makes enough sense that someone can shed some light on it that knows more than I.

 

Thanx a ton!!!

 

Later,

 

Sean

[digitaloutsider]

Grand Am stuff wouldn't fit in a million years, and there's no advantage to using Grand Prix parts since it's the exact same car..

[SLAMDIT]

Well, never mind this post. I spent some time tonite on the phone with a tech support guy from an air ride supplier and I have figured out how to fix all the issues with the front. I also have figured out how to bag the back of these cars much easier than the way I did it. The guy was impressed with my methods though. Now I can't wait to bag another one of these cars. I now know how to do it cheaper, make it more reliable, and it will be a TON easier. I am baggin a cutlass drop for my wife next fall and it will be tons better than my car.

Thanx for lookin and for ure help.

 

Sean

[GnatGoSplat]

I don't know what kind of solution you came up with, but here's a pic I had in my flash drive from a few years back.

 

[SLAMDIT]

Hey man, thanx alot. The solution I got is exactly the same as you show there. Basically, I need a bearing for the steering and to remake the upper strut mount. That is the exact same bag I am using.

 

thanx

 

Sean

[GnatGoSplat]

Would you have to pull the entire assembly out to change the strut cartridge?

 

Also in that pic, it looks like the upper mount isn't attached to the bag assembly. Will yours be attached? I would think you'd want the upper mount attached to the bag. I really don't know why it's not attached in that pic, I don't know anything about it, I only saved the pic because I thought it might be cool to bag my car someday. I might have to in order to get as low as I want.

[SLAMDIT]

Well,when you are ready to bag it, lemme know. I have one under my belt and am doing one for my wife and possibly another guy this fall/winter. As for your questions, the strut in that pic is fully extended, past the max lift of the bag. In the car, the upper bag plate would sit against the bearing in between the strut mount and the bag and that would be how the car raises and lowers. It isn't attatched so when you turn the whole assembly can turn. Basically, the upper bag plate rotates on the bearing for your steering.

My problem was I didn't have the bearing. The strut mounts on my car are flipped upside down and the passenger side is on the drivers, and vice versa. The are also mounted from the top instead of from underneath. On my car the bag plate spins on a metal lip inside the strut mount which works, but as you turn the wheel harder the steering gets very tight.

I am putting in the bearings on mine and now that I have seen your picture, I am gonna replace the upper strut mount with more of a plate like they did in that pic. Then if I mount it from the top I can shim it up which will lower the car. I am trying to get the frame on the groun and with what I have learned this week, it just might happen.

My car comes back from paint next weekend and when I pull it apart, I am gonna take some pics of my front setup and post them. Then when I get it done the new way I will take pics with everything powdercoated and ready to bolt up.

anyways, sorry for the long post. Lemme know if you ever wana bag your ride. Not only have I learned alot of stuff to make the front easier, but I also learned alot about a better and easier way to do the back too.

Hopefully my car will lay frame here in the next few months.

 

later

 

Sean