Gen 1 Frame and Rocker Interchangeability

[Jon89le]

Does anyone know whether the rocker panels and rear frame rails are interchangeable among all the Gen1 W-Bodies? I'm getting started on the teardown for rebuild #2 on my grand prix and noticed, so far, that the right rocker panel will need to be replaced. The rear frame rails are also in rough shape, especially in the area around where the trailing arms attach. Before I go down the fabrication route, I'd like to explore what are my donor options. TIA.

[Imp558]

I just went the fabrication route with exactly the same thing, inner rocker panels and rocker panels. I chose the wrong fabrication shop but it's really not a bad job for somebody that knows how to do it. For that matter if you have a shop fabricate and install the inner rockers doing the rocker panels themselves in a weekend is within the grasp of an amateur body man.

Edited December 4, 2016 by Imp558

[95GS]

Imp, one mechanic who oil sprayed my car accessed the rocker panels from the vent (one phillips screw) at the bottom of the C-pillar - rear seat level - visible when the door is open.

He used a 12-20" metal wand with an omni-directional jet which he easily pushed into the vent & along the rockers to the front with the hydraulic hose. Also went rearwards over the wheel arches.

 

With a creeping-type oil this should protect many hidden crevasses.

 

That was a few years back.

[turbograndprix]

You can buy the rocker panels, outside ones. The inners are around but harder to find. I bought the rockers off eBay, iam working on making the gen 2 trailing arm bracket work on my 92

[Imp558]

iam working on making the gen 2 trailing arm bracket work on my 92

Awesomeness

[Jon89le]

Turbo, Good to know. I'll need to check out eBay for the rockers. From what I can my inners look ok, just the outers are bad on the bottom half. The sheet metal looks fairly easy to fab up (simple bends from what I can tell) so I'll need to price the work compared to whatever eBay has to offer. Interesting that you mentioned the Gen 2 trailing arm support. I was just at a yard today pulling a whole Gen 2 rear suspension and noticed the trailing arm support plates which looked much sturdier than the Gen1s.

[Imp558]

I have a second gen trailing arm mount welded into one side.

[l67ss]

Wonder who came up with that idea?

[Imp558]

I gave you credit for it when I posted pics. As far as I know it hasn't been done by anyone else.

[95GS]

Wonder who came up with that idea?

 

more awsomeness.

[Imp558]

L67SS conceived of this so long ago I can't even remember, we kicked the idea around on here for a long time and I finally had it done to one side in August. I'm going to have the other side done this spring. My welder is just a little Lincoln 100 MIG so I farm big stuff like this out. They charged me $150 to have this done, theres a "Before" pic on the first page. 

When the car goes in for exhaust and inspection this week I'll get some more pics of it on the lift.

 

http://www.w-body.com/topic/53308-trailing-arm-mounts-2nd-gen/page-2?hl=+trailing%20+arm%20+mount

[Jon89le]

Imp, thanks for posting that link! Prior to ripping the Gen 2 rear out, I was unaware of the mount differences. Im going to be pulling the frame rails out of the car (trailing arm section) due to rust so I'll need to keep these in mind for the repair work.

[l67ss]

I gave you credit for it when I posted pics. As far as I know it hasn't been done by anyone else.

oh I know. I was just being silly

[BrianG]

Good luck with the work Jon!  Glad to see you're still around!