front clip ID help please

[hotrodelrod]

I would like to know what front end was grafted onto my 54 by a previous owner. It is a front steer GM product. The engine is a mid 80's 305 HO and rear is a 7.5 inch 10 bolt. Maybe they all came from same donor? I will attempt to post some pics. Thanks in advance for any input.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...1&d=1418250914

[mr48chev]

I'm thinking Mid 70's Camaro, Firebird or Nova type rig. It could be a front clip cut off a Chevelle size car too but most of the parts interchange between them as far as bushings, balljoints, wheel bearings and brake parts.

[dwcsr]

I'd venture a guess at early Camaro

[hotrodelrod]

What is the tell tale to make you guys think 70s Camaro? Thanks for your input!

[Speedbumpauto]

late 60's Camaro etc. clips were rear steer and in 71, I think, they switched to front steer.

[hotrodelrod]

Is there any way of finding out for sure what it is? Track width, #s, etc. Did the earlier Camaros have a sway bar? Maybe the bar diameter?

[hotrodelrod]

Anyone have any more thoughts on this? I could post different picks if needed. Would really like to know what ive got here. Thanks

[OrrieG]

Google is your friend, looks like 67-69

http://www.camaros.org/suspen.shtml#aarms

[dwcsr]

The last camaro clip I rebuilt the owner didn't know the year so we pulled out the a frame and looked up the numbers on the ends of the rubber bushings. We were able to find the year range that way. This is a very helpful chart

[ChuckDriver]

It's not a 67-69, they were all "rear steer".

And I don't believe its a later one either. Haven't seen one with the long oval slot behind the 3 bolts for the steering box.

Also, the "bulk" of the upper control arm and the amount of drop doesn't look like a Camaro one either.

Just my 2 cents.

[figure843]

Possibly S-10 Those are not camaro/nova upper A frames.

[joedoh]

its not s10 but it has the same control arm geometry, so I will say unequivocally it is a g body clip. the steering box bolts and upper arms are the giveaway.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by joedoh

its not s10 but it has the same control arm geometry, so I will say unequivocally it is a g body clip. the steering box bolts and upper arms are the giveaway.

This would make sense given the HO 305 and 7.5 10 bolt that came in the truck.
Thanks Joedoh and others for your thoughts!

[ChuckDriver]

Winner Winner, Joedoh!!!!!

[mr48chev]

I'm not too familiar with the G body stuff but it could well be.

I was looking at :
Front steer= Not early Camaro or Nova
Large nuts on the upper A arm shafts that usually indicate early 70's and up as the older ones had a 3/8 bolt with lock washer and cupped washer on the A arms.
Caliper brackets cast into the spindles. 67/69 Camaro and Chevelles and Monte Carlos to 1972 had bolt on Caliper brackets and steering arms. 73 and up Chevelle size had one piece disk brake spindles.

Maybe someone with a G body clip can post some photos:

They aren't some of my greatest photos but here is a mid 70's Trans Am subframe on a TF frame.




No side shots of the steering box but I need to go visit my friend who has that anyhow and can take photos of it and another one he has.

[mr48chev]

Sorry about those huge photos. I'd say that they show that the Hotrodelrod doesn't have a mullet Camaro/Trans Am clip though.

Hotrodelrod, have you ever checked the suffix on the engine number on the front pad on the block to see if you could figure out what the engine started life in?

The good thing is that you don't have to be exact if you figure out what body style it came out of as parts interchange for a lot of years and a lot of models.

The diameter of the sway bar might be an indicator that it may be out of a performance model as it appears to be a bit thicker than what you would see in an entry level rig.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Sorry about those huge photos. I'd say that they show that the Hotrodelrod doesn't have a mullet Camaro/Trans Am clip though.

Hotrodelrod, have you ever checked the suffix on the engine number on the front pad on the block to see if you could figure out what the engine started life in?

The good thing is that you don't have to be exact if you figure out what body style it came out of as parts interchange for a lot of years and a lot of models.

The diameter of the sway bar might be an indicator that it may be out of a performance model as it appears to be a bit thicker than what you would see in an entry level rig.

Mr48chevy, From memory the engine checked out to be a early to mid 80's 305 HO. I can certainly check again. Also the rear is a 7.5 inch 10bolt if that helps?

Thanks for your help!

[mr48chev]

Mid 80's 305 jives with a mid 80's G. body.

The rear axle should have a number stamped somewhere on the front side of the passenger side of the axle tube that tells it's application. If the axle was originally a G body axle it should show signs were the brackets were cut off and ground down but it may have come out of a Nova or Camaro leaf spring car. A lot of guys would rather buy a Nova or Camaro axle rather than clean up the brackets off the axle they have.

[Spblack]

whats the part number on the spindles? look on the inside. measure the length of the sway bar too as well, from eye to eye where it hooks to control arm.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Mid 80's 305 jives with a mid 80's G. body.

The rear axle should have a number stamped somewhere on the front side of the passenger side of the axle tube that tells it's application. If the axle was originally a G body axle it should show signs were the brackets were cut off and ground down but it may have come out of a Nova or Camaro leaf spring car. A lot of guys would rather buy a Nova or Camaro axle rather than clean up the brackets off the axle they have.

Axle is stamped PAC 6127 1

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by Spblack

whats the part number on the spindles? look on the inside. measure the length of the sway bar too as well, from eye to eye where it hooks to control arm.

swaybar eye to eye is 43.75inches

spindles say 459756

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Mid 80's 305 jives with a mid 80's G. body.

The rear axle should have a number stamped somewhere on the front side of the passenger side of the axle tube that tells it's application. If the axle was originally a G body axle it should show signs were the brackets were cut off and ground down but it may have come out of a Nova or Camaro leaf spring car. A lot of guys would rather buy a Nova or Camaro axle rather than clean up the brackets off the axle they have.

engine pad reads - V0313fsd
TES521315

[hotrodelrod]

Responded to all ?s. Thanks again guys!

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by hotrodelrod

spindles say 459756

GM metric G-body.


but you knew that 12 posts ago.

[hotrodelrod]

Originally Posted by joedoh

GM metric G-body.


but you knew that 12 posts ago.

Thanks joedoh! Nice to finally know what I am dealing with.