'78-'88 G-Body Front Axle/spindle Centerline Reference?

[Oleblue55]

I am working on installing a '79 Monte Carlo front clip on my 55 Chevy truck. I am having a hard time establishing where the exact centerline is on the Monte frontend. I bought a wrecked Monte smashed in the back and totalled, but the frontend was good. Anyway, I need a reference point of some kind for the centerline of the front wheels. I have "heard" that it is the centerline of the front shocks, but don't have verification of that location. If any of you guys have any info on this please let me know.

This is a great website, I wish I had my '86 Monte SS back! I sold it to a friend of mine in Nebraska. We have a standing agreement that if he ever sells it, I get first dibs!

 

[pontiacgp]

I'm curious why you'd be using a metric clip instead of a camaro clip. The geometry and suspension travel are much better on a camaro than a metric..

 

[dan2286]

If he is using the front clip, wouldnt that have nothing to do with front suspension?

 

[Oleblue55]

The G-body stuff is more readlily available at the salvage yards than the F-body parts, and less expensive as well. I can also use the components available from the aftermarket like dropped spindles (S-10 are the same), and larger rotor components if I ever want to upgrade. The truck will benefit with disks, power steering, sway bar and independent front suspension over the old drum brake straight axle. I just want a nice driving truck, and don't plan on really hammering the corners. Also, the grafting of the front clip of the G-body mates the existing frame rails of my 55 better once the Monte rails are cut and formed, than the F-body clips that get grafted on to the bottom side of the '55. Just a personal preference I guess.

 

[pontiacgp]

If he is using the front clip, wouldnt that have nothing to do with front suspension?

you still would have to use the metric upper and lower control arms and the steering linkage set up...with ugrades if you want. The camaro front clip lowers the engine about 1.5" and you can lower the ride height to under 6 inches with a camaro clip but the metrics we race won't let us drop the ride height under 6.75 or the frame ends up sitting on lower control arm cornering, plus we're using a large bar soft spring set up. The brakes on a camaro clip are larger, instead of the 10.5" rotor on a metric they use an 11"

but as Oleblue pointed out the metric serves the purpose....and Oleblue I'll check to see if anyone I know knows.

 

[Oleblue55]

Thanks for the info on the suspension components. I was wondering if anyone had a factory assembly manual for the Monte or G-body, the suspension/frame specifications may show where the front axle centerline is and maybe give a dimension from somewhere or reference a suspension component. My 1955 truck assembly manual has a drawing of the complete frame with all of the dimensions including the front axle centerline. Any help would be great.
Ed