Engine cradle replacement
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 908
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Engine cradle replacement
I got the new part in but the FSM doesn't have a proceedure. It looks like I have to:
1 Pull Wheel wells
2 Pull Sway bar, Steering cooler and Rack
3 Remove Brake lines, Upper and Lower Control Arms, shocks and knuckles
4 Support engine, unbolt engine mounts and pull K-beams
5 Remove skid bar and unbolt and drop old cradle
Did I miss anything? Look like a fun job...not
1 Pull Wheel wells
2 Pull Sway bar, Steering cooler and Rack
3 Remove Brake lines, Upper and Lower Control Arms, shocks and knuckles
4 Support engine, unbolt engine mounts and pull K-beams
5 Remove skid bar and unbolt and drop old cradle
Did I miss anything? Look like a fun job...not
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
I think your list pretty much covers it. You'll be taking the front spring out also. I've done this too, but I had a little more room to work with:
before:
after:
I'm curious about the differences (if any) in the engine cradle between the early C4's (mine's an '85) and the later years (i.e. your '92). The motor mounts changed at one point (about '89, I think), and I'm thinking the later style motor mounts transfer less engine vibration to the frame. I think the way the mount connects to the engine cradle is different, meaning that the engine cradle itself is different between the early and late models. Did you run into this or find out anything about this while sourcing your engine cradle? Where did you get it?
I would be most appreciative if you could post a picture or two of where the motor mounts mount to the cradle since you have one out right now. I'm thinking of converting mine.
Thanks!
Dan
before:
after:
I'm curious about the differences (if any) in the engine cradle between the early C4's (mine's an '85) and the later years (i.e. your '92). The motor mounts changed at one point (about '89, I think), and I'm thinking the later style motor mounts transfer less engine vibration to the frame. I think the way the mount connects to the engine cradle is different, meaning that the engine cradle itself is different between the early and late models. Did you run into this or find out anything about this while sourcing your engine cradle? Where did you get it?
I would be most appreciative if you could post a picture or two of where the motor mounts mount to the cradle since you have one out right now. I'm thinking of converting mine.
Thanks!
Dan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 908
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Yeah, when I looked for a part I found there were a bunch of part number changes through the years. My parts manual stops at 92, so I don't know if they carried this cradle through later years, but the earlier cars were different. This cradle came from Jason at vette2vette.
I'll post a picture of the cradle here a bit later when things clear. We're in the middle of a blizzard here and the replacement cradle is stitting outside the garage covered in snow.
I'll post a picture of the cradle here a bit later when things clear. We're in the middle of a blizzard here and the replacement cradle is stitting outside the garage covered in snow.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
Yeah, when I looked for a part I found there were a bunch of part number changes through the years. My parts manual stops at 92, so I don't know if they carried this cradle through later years, but the earlier cars were different. This cradle came from Jason at vette2vette.
I'll post a picture of the cradle here a bit later when things clear. We're in the middle of a blizzard here and the replacement cradle is stitting outside the garage covered in snow.
I'll post a picture of the cradle here a bit later when things clear. We're in the middle of a blizzard here and the replacement cradle is stitting outside the garage covered in snow.
Happy Holidays!
Dan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 908
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
Ok will do. IIRC the lower control arms are the same on all the C4's, so the dimensions should be the same. I have one splayed right now by about 1/8" which is why I'm replacing the cradle. The distorted geometry makes it virtually impossible to change the bushings (when it come to re-installing the control arm).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
Ok will do. IIRC the lower control arms are the same on all the C4's, so the dimensions should be the same. I have one splayed right now by about 1/8" which is why I'm replacing the cradle. The distorted geometry makes it virtually impossible to change the bushings (when it come to re-installing the control arm).
on the later C4's and figured the difference was in the spindle or wheel hub, but didn't know for sure.
I'll be interested in seeing pics of the motor mount pads on the cradle.
Thanks!
Dan
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 908
Likes: 1
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
I'd guess they made the additional width in the knuckles from an examination of what they did in the rear. I bought an 85 rear to get the D44 that is now in my car and did compare a lot of parts during the swap. The dog bones were the same lenght with different but interchangable ends. But the dog bone brackets in the 85 under the diff had more rake, which pulled them in some compared to the 92. Half shafts and wheel bearings were the same, so it looks like the knuckle on my 92 was a little deeper, and the spindle a little longer, but I didn't pull either off to measure.
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