Researching G-body Cars

[69hurstolds]

I've never understood the change from A to G when 95% of the parts the same - beware of the wheel stud change from SAE to metric. AFAIC, a 79 Cutlass or Malibu is not what I consider an A-body - but what do I know?

Because GM wanted to use the A-body designator for the FWD cars, so in 1982, they went from that SAE to metric wheel stud, and changed the world by magically making the A-bodies into G-bodies. 81's were sort of "tweener" versions as it were. New body styling but still technically an A-body. Nothing really changed in large part except the designator.

Sort of same thing happened in 1985 for Oldsmobile though just a name change. Up through 1984, the A/G bodied Calais was the Cutlass sport version. The Calais was going to be its own model for 1985, as a FWD smaller car. Thus, they needed a new name to use for the 1985 G-body Cutlass sport version. So they used the older namesake of Salon to take the place of the RWD Calais. Then it went away at the end of the 87 model year.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Because GM wanted to use the A-body designator for the FWD cars, so in 1982, they went from that SAE to metric wheel stud, and changed the world by magically making the A-bodies into G-bodies. 81's were sort of "tweener" versions as it were. New body styling but still technically an A-body. Nothing really changed in large part except the designator.

Sort of same thing happened in 1985 for Oldsmobile though just a name change. Up through 1984, the A/G bodied Calais was the Cutlass sport version. The Calais was going to be its own model for 1985, as a FWD smaller car. Thus, they needed a new name to use for the 1985 G-body Cutlass sport version. So they used the older namesake of Salon to take the place of the RWD Calais. Then it went away at the end of the 87 model year.

 

[gnvair]

Firewalls are the same 78 to 88, floors are the same 2 door and 4 door with the exception of the El Camino where the transmission tunnel is shaped differently due to the extra length.
Radiator core supports are the same size, with the openings for the headlights being different.
Monte dashes are the same as El Camino, Malibu wagon and Malibu, the year breaks are 78-80, 81-85, 86-88, 81 to 88 are the same shape with a minor difference above the glove box.

1980 is a one year only dash board. The molded strip across the right side does not wrap around the edge. Some also have a black or wood grained molding covering this strip. Again, it was 1980 only.

 

[gnvair]

This is the 78-79 style. I should note that the only thing that I have seen that differs between the 78 and the 79 is the 78's do not have a dash emblem EXCEPT the El Camino SS models. The 79's all have emblems (i.e. Malibu, Malibu Classic, Monte Carlo, El Camino, etc)

 

[81Regal]

True there was alot of 1 year only parts for each year 78 to 80 through out the A body lineup but will pretty much interchange.

 

[pagrunt]

True there was alot of 1 year only parts for each year 78 to 80 through out the A body lineup but will pretty much interchange.

I've noticed several one year only features o my '81 Monte. Gauge cluster face plate for dash mounted wiper switch, rear window/trunk filler with lower window trim, full front bench & bucket seat covers, the wood grain pattern, pull strip ends screw cover with the matching wood grain, front grill.

 

[Researcher]

Thanks for all the input!!!
I purchased these manuals yesterday. I'm hoping to get images of core supports (etc.) and THEIR differences. Do y'all have any other manual recommendations?
Thanks!

 

[gnvair]

Thanks for all the input!!!
I purchased these manuals yesterday. I'm hoping to get images of core supports (etc.) and THEIR differences. Do y'all have any other manual recommendations?
Thanks!

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Not to be a Debbie Downer, but those are the worst manuals for comparison. I would be looking at info packets from GM Heritage or original GM service manuals and the specific GM parts books.

 

[GP403]

Thanks for all the input!!!
I purchased these manuals yesterday. I'm hoping to get images of core supports (etc.) and their differences. Do y'all have any other manual recommendations?
Thanks!

Well. Speaking from experience, the Chilton/Haynes stuff is "alright" as its very very basic, very "overhead" type of view of things. As you can see those books cover at least 3 different eras of cars (69-ish, 73-77, 78+), and inside I doubt you'll find a lot of specific photos of what you're looking for, i.e. firewalls (for whatever reason that's important idk) ... It's a whole lot of generic info and not much specific. The photos IIRC (I had the Cutlass book way back in the day) are just generic ones. If you've never touched a car before, they'll get you started at least.

If you really want to drill down and get into the hairy mess of specifics, you need:

• The Factory shop manual for a specific Make/Model/Year, that covers electrical/mechanical stuff
• The Factory Fisher body manual for a specific Make/Model/Year, that covers (wait for it) body and trim, glass, interior, etc.
• and the parts catalog that contains the year(s) you're needing. This will be make and sometimes model specific depending on the year.

And even those will not have a ton of *photographs*, mainly functional drawings or "stock" photos of parts and tools, etc. They also won't cover the highly specific variations that exist, the parts books might list them but probably won't show much.

Best of luck

 

[69hurstolds]

Be careful of the Fisher Body manuals as well. Sometimes they use "generic" photos of assemblies that could be 15 years older than what they're describing in the book. Or even of some other model, but used for "reference". So the Fisher book isn't always the best either.