aluminum body parts

[1Bad4558]

I recently run across a guy that had some aluminum fenders, hood, and core support off a 78 or 79 cutlass fastback. Is he telling me the truth about the fenders being factory? I've never heard of any and couldn't find anything on the web about it.

 

[clean8485]

Some of those cars did come from the factory with aluminum parts. I'm not sure about the aluminum fenders, but the hood and core support were available, and also an aluminum trunk lid on some cars. These parts are generally found on the cars that came with the diesel engine option, but I've heard that they could come on some other models as well. The aluminum core support is a sought after piece by those who are looking to shave some weight off the front of their cars. Are the parts that you saw for sale, or is the owner hanging onto them?

 

[1Bad4558]

He hasn't told me exactly what he was gonna do with them yet. I was hoping to talk I'm outta them if they would fit my 79 cutlass. What kinda price would these things go for?

 

[clean8485]

As with most things, the parts are worth whatever the most motivated buyer is willing to pay for them. Those types of parts have come up for sale on this site from time to time in the past. If you do a search here, you should be able find some pricing info. There's probably similiar info on other A/G body sites as well.

 

[Blake442]

I've never seen an Olds with a factory aluminum core support... Only Buick and Pontiac.
Fenders? Keep dreaming, they don't exist.
The only aluminum parts Oldsmobile's got were hoods and bumper reinforcements...

 

[clean8485]

If it is an aluminum core support, there should be an "A" stamped in the top of the support, just to the side of where the rad would mount, and it will be noticeably lighter than a steel core support. If my memory serves, I think I read somewhere that the aluminum core supprt weighs around 15lbs, as opposed to around 30lbs for a steel core support.

 

[88hurstolds]

There were 3 different aluminum core supports, I have all 3 in my possession.
One with the typical large "A", one that has no "A" anywhere and one with a tiny stamped A by the LH headlight area IIRC.
Some had rivets on top as well...
No G-body had Aluminum fenders, I believe some 78-80 Monte's and Regal's had aluminum deck lids but typically these cars came with aluminum hoods and bumper supports.

 

[autonaut]

There were 3 different aluminum core supports, I have all 3 in my possession.
One with the typical large "A", one that has no "A" anywhere and one with a tiny stamped A by the LH headlight area IIRC.
Some had rivets on top as well...
No G-body had Aluminum fenders, I believe some 78-80 Monte's and Regal's had aluminum deck lids but typically these cars came with aluminum hoods and bumper supports.

So.. you're selling any one of them?

 

[Doug Trahan]

I knew the decklids were made in aluminum, I still have 2 of them. I did not know these supports were in this as well. Will have to keep an eye out for these.

 

[Kansas Bu Wagon]

Easiest way to tell is to take a magnet with you if/when you look at them.