jongrappin Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I recently ran over a pile of huge rocks going over 60mph. the result of this is that the the rear suspension on the passanger side I damaged the front arm. where the front arm connect the the knuckle the bar ripped.... So i need to replace the front arm. Questions? is this possible to replace without dropping the gas tank?? if so how? also anything i should know about this, i was gonna that this part off of a donor car (95 GP SE) would this work? also i was thinking how much of a pain that maybe. should i replace this part new? what else should be done in there. my big concerns are if the gas tank is actually in the way of removing the bolt. also is this under pressure? is there a need for special tools. I good with most things mechanical i just have replace one of these before.. and lol yes i can attached pictures tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Lets see if I can get all your questions here, lol Yes you can do it without dropping the gas tank, but you have to drop the rear sub frame instead. How much gas is in the tank? I have done this both ways, dropping the tank is easier. How broken is broken? if its snapped in half, chances are you don't have to worry about any tension being left in it. Unless you are going to buy an aftermarket piece you will be hard pressed to find these new. You didn't say what your car is, but odds are any lateral link (that's what it is called) off a 1st gen w-body will work. If you want to go aftermarket, visit the How to Lower a W-body thread and there should be a link to west shore fabricators (held motor sports) and BMR, both companies make lateral links for our cars. Can you post any pics of the broken parts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 RELAX... I can BARELY read what you are writing. You luck to not have totally obliterated the complete car with what it sounds like... to clarify, you are talking about a lateral link, going side to side, not a trailing arm? I'm kinda thinking that finding a total assembly for a complete swap in might be easiest... but yes, the gas tank is in the way of unbolting hte arm while the axle assembly is attached to the car. OR... remove the 4 bolts holding the assembly and lower it out of the car... AND PICS = A MUST Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 P.S. its a 1990 grand prix turbo. it is the front lateral link, not trailing arm..... can i drop a complete 95 rear suspension in my TGP and Crazy K i pry did pretty much ruin the whole car. front rim annihilated, front sub frame bent bad as well as oil pan :mad::mad::mad: I would like to fix this rear suspension so that i can at least drive the car and see how far gone the front suspension is.... i may have to drop the whole front suspension as well but i am all to familiar with this already.... Please help me, at this point should i consider aftermarket??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Might as well consider aftermarket. What kind of shape is the rest of the car in? sounds like your suspension is pretty much mangled, I wouldn't risk driving the car at this point. The rear suspension from the 95 will bolt in. But what is that going to cost you? How are the struts? how is the monoleaf? with a broken lateral link that monoleaf would take on lateral forces it is not designed to take on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 heres the kicker. I have two TGPs. the one needs a front bumper cover/headlight assembly and a front quarter panel also the frame is bent in the front so it needs to be pulled, Estimated $300 frame work. the car runs and drives perfect also alignment seems excellent, drives straight at 70mph+ the second tgp is the daily driver, which was as descibed above... My thoughts, I found a black 95 se for $500. I was good put the 95 front end and possibly rear bumper to fix that car, and then use the remaining suspension, oil pan and possibly sub frame to fix the second one. This is a theory/strategy i though of but have not decided to pull the trigger as its a huge time comitment but now it seems i have little choice to do other than cutting my loses and parting with my tgps. other thought was to drop the tgp engine in a clean 96 se or gtp and then fix the other one. so looking into buying a parts car. any other ideas?? Pontiacs are super common where i live so parts or deals on nice doner cars come about often... anyone maybe wanna buy one or both or these projects before i fix them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I vote make one car out of the 2, get the least damaged from straightened. At $500 that donor might not be a bad bet either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I vote get a donor the subframes are so plentiful that i would pitch any bad frame and get another... if you can find a 91-93 b4u car it would have more in common with the TGPs. I would just switch the total axle assembly for a better one. and the front subframe too......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 I vote get a donor the subframes are so plentiful that i would pitch any bad frame and get another... if you can find a 91-93 b4u car it would have more in common with the TGPs. I would just switch the total axle assembly for a better one. and the front subframe too......... Whats compatible with a 90 TGP? PS any issues dropping the 90 TGP engine and cradle into a 93 or 94? when does it change over to ODB1.5 ?? this 1995 has the number interior. I was hoping to drop the complete from suspension and engine and tranny and putting it in a newer body. where do i run into problems with differnt transmission or computer, i dont want to rewire interior..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 So the only thing i need as a trailing arm. I noticed this article: http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/25369-Rear-Trailing-Arms...-and-year-fit.?highlight=rear+suspension I looked up the part number and they did not show up on gmparts direct. I guess my big question, is would should i replace/upgrade suspension without braking the bank. I'm willing to drop a few hundred or more, but cant justify spending like a grand on it. can some people respond with the best places to get aftermarket parts. which are most important? i assume trailing arms, lateral links and struts. would i be safe with just these? also how to drop the suspension. I am a capible mechanic i just dont know the cross reference of parts, where to get them and whats recomended? Guidance need with going aftermarket on the suspension otherwise im just gonna drop a 96 GPSE suspension in there. soneone else mentioned i can use 2nd gen GP parts on my 1st gen, is there a benifit to doing this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Do you need a trailing arm or a lateral link? The lateral links go from the center of the car to the spindle. Trailing arms go from the spindle, forward, under the back door in a 4 door Like I said before, pictures are a huge help, even if its a crappy cell phone pic Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Ride Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 GM discontinued their performance trailing arms... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I need the lateral link bar. rear passanger side. new developements, found a 1996 GP GTP black with driver door damage, 74K, 3.4l engine, crome 5 spokes, thinking.. whats that engine worth? the guy wants 800 because the engine and low miles. i dont care about the miles, idk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 p.s. the front lateral link, pass rear side.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I think it would just be cheaper to go to the wreckers and get what you need for $25 (if they even charge you that) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Ride Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I think it would just be cheaper to go to the wreckers and get what you need for $25 (if they even charge you that) X2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 X2 X3. I decided to go the route of dropping the gas tank and replacing just the lateral bar, most likely from the junk yard, i will get this tomorrow. I still have this second TGP to fix, i am dropping that off at the frame shop tomorrow to get an estimate. either i will fix that one, or pull the engine and drop it in a donor car, or possible part out or sell as a whole. (run-on-sentence noticed) I will post some pictures within the next few hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2010 Dropped the gas tank and replaced the lateral link bar, that took only 3 hours surprisingly. today was fun, I decided to drop the front sub frame, suspension, engine and transmission, with success, everything is now out of the car. i will now replace the oil pan,some gaskets and most likely the whole subframe and suspension components. I am in need of 1 3/4 x 3 inch flex section for the crossover repair. can anyone help me with this? pictures are after I fixed the rear suspension. i will and some pictures of the other work soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkworks_Zed Posted November 16, 2010 Report Share Posted November 16, 2010 My thoughts, I found a black 95 se for $500. I was good put the 95 front end and possibly rear bumper to fix that car, and then use the remaining suspension, oil pan and possibly sub frame to fix the second one. I don't know if you bought this car or not, but a '95 3100 oil pan wil not fit on a 3.1L. Since you have a turbo 3.1L, even one from an N/A engine will need to be modified since it won't have the oil drain for the turbo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 I don't know if you bought this car or not, but a '95 3100 oil pan wil not fit on a 3.1L. Since you have a turbo 3.1L, even one from an N/A engine will need to be modified since it won't have the oil drain for the turbo. I was not thinking about this, I am hoping i can just push it out a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 I don't know if you bought this car or not, but a '95 3100 oil pan wil not fit on a 3.1L. Since you have a turbo 3.1L, even one from an N/A engine will need to be modified since it won't have the oil drain for the turbo. I was not thinking about this, I am hoping i can just push it out a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongrappin Posted November 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 update: I completely dropped the front supension drivetrain engine and trans. I plan to fist the oil pan, the suspension and the cross-over leak...... does anyone know where i can get 1.75 x 3 inch flex pipe, i need this to have my exhaust fixed locally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSI_MuNkY Posted November 18, 2010 Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 update: I completely dropped the front supension drivetrain engine and trans. I plan to fist the oil pan, the suspension and the cross-over leak...... does anyone know where i can get 1.75 x 3 inch flex pipe, i need this to have my exhaust fixed locally Man, its the first post in your other thread... Close? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/JEX-FLX1344B/ Pay attention... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted November 18, 2010 Report Share Posted November 18, 2010 Yeah the closest I've seen is 4" long x 1.75" ID Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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