Aluminum Cutlass Parts?

[Burnhard]

There was no rhyme or reason for aluminum parts nor was it due to EPA weight savings and I have proof:

I had TWO 84 Calais that were identical looking, both black with sand gray interiors and hard tops however one was a 350 DX diesel and one was a 307.

The 350 DX diesel DID NOT come with an aluminum hood or aluminum bumpers
but
The 307 came with an aluminum hood and aluminum bumpers :shock:

Completely throws the whole "EPA weight savings" concept out the window.
Explain that...

Could have been an option as it was on the option list with a option code

 

[black86442]

I was reading this thread at work so i grabed a magnet and starting checking and mines all steel. 🙁 lol

 

[tobyp]

had a guy offer me 250$ for my front alum.

 

[Rocket]

I got my AL front bumper support off an '87 Supreme I picked up for a winter beater once. Most ppl around here don't even knwo they exist...whenever I ask around for a rear AL support ppl look at me like i have 2 heads and tell me there's no such thing lol

 

[88hurstolds]

Aluminum bumper supports are suprisingly abundant, hoods however are not.
Also, there are various different weight steel hoods.
I have a few that are very heavy and some that aren't, pretty weird if you ask me...
The one on my 85 442 and off my 88 Cutlass is pretty light while the one on my 87 442 and 83 Hurst is really heavy, both are steel.

 

[87ttop]

I got one in Chattanooga tn

 

[Rocket]

I'd like to dig up a set of rear AL supports

 

[gearhedjon]

My core support came from a 79 Malibu. On some core supports you have to modify the headlight area to accommodate the 4 lights on a Cutlass. You do not need a magnet to see if your core support is aluminum or not. There is a prominent letter "A" on the top right of the core support. Since were talking about weight savings, does anybody know that a Monte Carlo comes with a complete plastic glove box. Most G bodies have a steel face with a plastic inner. The Monte Carlo is completely plastic and has a different way to support the glove box when opened. It has a short metal lanyard that is screwed to the back of the dash.

 

[oldtinsmith]

Yeah,,,,, you need a magnet! I've had two 1978 Grand Am's. One had no aluminum parts at all but the other one had the aluminum rear bumper support and an aluminum core suport (not all aluminum core supports had the letter "A" stamped on top!). Here's a picture of the Grand Am aluminum core support with the rare factory aluminum radiator "X" braces, no stamped "A" letter, and the somewhat rare 46" plastic chin spoiler.





The aluminum"X" brace is the one without rust (LOL)!

Doug

Oh,, the aluminum core supports I've seen had really crappy welds too!

 

[DRIVEN]

I didn't know the aluminum radiator X-braces even existed.

Slight tangent; How rare is the 46" chin spoiler? Rare(ish) in general or just on Grand Ams? My car has one and I never even gave it a second thought.