knuckle swap question

[topless94style2]

I've read through the write-ups etc, and I have all parts available for the taking to do this. I want to do an overhaul on the 94 vert's suspension using as much as I can from the 98 regal. Given that, how much if any can i swap from the 94 back into the 98? Stupid question i know, except I need to have the buick be able to roll its ass off my property when i'm done with it.

[pshojo]

I didn't know newer knuckles work on cutlass? What all did you have to collect?

[rich17]

Not a single thing is "swapable" from car to car. Theyre totally different

[CSI_MuNkY]

Yeah, I don't know who told you that you could put 98 front suspension parts on a 94, but they were on crack. Not a single part will swap over.

 

In the rear you can get away with using 2nd gen lateral links and trailing arms. Trailing arms are the same length, lateral links are a differnt length, but there are ajustable ones available that you sould adjust to fit.

[topless94style2]

Uh well unless the bob and rob upgrade thread in the faq is misleading me then that would be my source. Nor did i mention front suspension im talking coilovers and brakes in the rear.

[CSI_MuNkY]

I know what swap your talking about... I wouldn't call it a knuckle swap.

The only reason for doing that swap is to get the ever so slightly larger brakes... but considering 70% of braking is done by the front wheels... I fail to see the point. There are plenty of people here that autocross and/or drag race on first gen rear brakes with no problems. It certainly isn't worth the money to do, especially if you bought the parts car for the swap.

 

Bob makes good coil over kits that will work with the first gen suspension set up, and his tubular arms (if he is still making/selling them) are great mods. And his coil over kits are superior to anything the other aftermarket manufactures have come up with. I'm not trying to push Bob's products, it's just the truth. The only other coil over kits I'm aware of are either no longer available, cheap, or downright sketchy. If I were to make my own set up, which I plan to do this summer, it would be extremely similar to Bob's, in fact I already have some of the parts he uses, as I supplied him with laser cut plates for his parts at one point.

 

Not trying to derail, but I see in your sig you have "performance lifters". Are these the light weight ones from WOT tech? what do you think of them? Considering of getting my own set here in the next few days, seeing as OEM replacements are $75 a piece.

[topless94style2]

Well I have owned the donor vehicle for going on 6 years now and this passed winter it's ignition switch faulted out and I popped a tire in the same week. I decided now was the time to finally get the Cutlass back on the road, upgrading where possible as much as possible. L67 swap, the works. Hence the knuckle question, my only concern was having 3000lbs stationary metal afterwards

 

I have most of the parts needed for a rear coilover custom build, would only require a few things that I would contact Bob for, front suspension is not on my radar yet.

 

They were light weight lifters from I believe 60*V6 from back in the day, reportedly they were to decrease time to reach max RPM. They never saw the street past a test start up as I was in the midst of a turbo build when I installed them. Had to sell the turbo to pay for some indescretions so I can't give a good review.

[jman093]

There is not a whole lot of advantage in the swap as far as brakes are concerned if you already have 94+ brakes, which you do. The advantage in the knuckle is aluminum. Less unsprung weight is better for handling. The lateral links will also swap over and are much, much better than Gen 1 pieces. Stronger and one is adjustable. That's all that swaps as trailing arms are the same piece, you'll want to use your stock hubs & bearings because I think the connector is facing the wrong direction, and the sway bar won't swap. If you want to improve handling though, get an addco rear sway bar.

[pshojo]

Does Adco still make sway bars for first gen?

[topless94style2]

I have an addco and kyb set up ready to install i see your point on the brakes costs outweigh the benefits is what the theme seems to be.

[CSI_MuNkY]

Not sure if Addco is still making them. But last I checked they were still available on http://www.p-s-t.com

The only difference is PST sells them with poly bushings, addco sells them with rubber bushings

 

I have the PST bar on my car, it is identical to the addco bar, even comes with the identical instructions.

[topless94style2]

I took an inventory of what I have in the garage:

 

Skip the knuckle swap, 94 brakes sufficient.

KYB at 4 corners

KYB Bellows

Moog Front Links

Moog Control Arm Bushings

Moog front sway bar bushings

Reybestos Ball joints

Addco Bar

Front STB

 

and what I will need:

Tie Rod ends

Coilover sleeves

Coilover springs

Coilover mounts....BXX??

Bearings

New Pads

 

Not going with the rear STB, tried one back in 05, doesn't not work on verts!

 

If I can get mounts from BXX I should have a suspension build in a couple weeks!

[ManicMechanic]

'verts really don't need a rear STB, there's plenty of bracing back there already from C&C.

[rich17]

Just go straight for poly control arm mounts and do the same for the sway bar mounts.

[pshojo]

Would could over be good alternative to help the rear sag issue

[CSI_MuNkY]

The beauty of coil overs is that you can adjust them anyway you want... so yes, it will cure a sag issue.

I wouldn't do a coil over conversion without also beefing up your sway bar.

[topless94style2]

I tried PM'img BXX about coil over mounts, haven't heard back yet so are they requried to do coilovers or can I use stock mounts?

 

I already own the Moog so ill put those on for now, for money's sake. Poly will come later.

[skitchin]

I've been running coilovers for a few thousand miles now with stock mounts. I'll admit it's not an ideal solution, but my coils are centered using a jounce bumper, think it was from a KYB shock boot kit. Here's the thread from when I did my conversion, http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/52819-1995-GP-SE-Rear-suspension - Should be some good info in there for you.

 

Here's a shot of my strut - car is on the ground here btw. Note that there's not much room for the springs to compress with that bumper in there, have been thinking about cutting some off.

 

 

Best advice I have: With my setup, just make sure you lower the car slowly to make sure the coil centers. Also, be mindful of how stiff your springs are - my front susp. is pretty worn, so my rear is stiffer than the front, which makes for a pretty bouncy ride.

[topless94style2]

thanks for the help, the links are helpful. I think i will run 400 spring on the front and 300/350 on the rear.