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91-92 vs 90 and earlier Fbody GM body construction

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Old 07-03-2003, 11:31 PM
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Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LB9 TPI with L98 cam (Manual car)
Transmission: T5 5Speed/ 9bolt Borg-Warner 3.45 gears with posi
91-92 vs 90 and earlier Fbody GM body construction

You all know GM improved the way it put body panels together on the 91-92 Fbodies to reduce rattles and squeaks, I wonder if the improvements helped in the long run?

Anyone own an example of both of these styles? How did the 91-92 style hold up vs the previous versions?

Id like to reduce the squeaks and rattles in my 89 GTA and I have pondered the idea of added spot welds to weak areas to reduce this? Good or bad idea?
Old 07-03-2003, 11:53 PM
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Car: 1989 Firebird
Engine: 5.7 LS1
Transmission: T56
Look at what third gen resource (up top) did with the lt1 camaro, they welded up alot of seams. I would say subframes would be your best bet. Also take apart the dash and glue foam imbetween the joints. I did that when I put my system in my car(it kept making my dash squeek. Now now no squeeks, I have a 89 formula and the body is tighter than any other car I have been in. I have driven a 91 and the body didn't feel any tighter than mine ( I don't yet have sub frames connectors) And most other camaros or firebirds I have driven the body is weaker. My car has never really been pushed hard though and never had more than a ding in it, the orginal owner drove it highway mostly, as do I.

I drove one 84 firebird with like 100k on it once that felt like the body was going to fold up in curves.

Oh yea my car has 183k on it, It really comes down to how much abuse the car has had in its life.
Old 07-04-2003, 12:42 PM
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Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Actually from what I remember the upgrades were for 1992 only, they added some glues & such to help bond the panels together better. I believe that it is more likely that theseupgrades were experimental to help with the up coming 4th gens.


John
Old 07-05-2003, 10:46 PM
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Car: 1989 Trans Am GTA
Engine: LB9 TPI with L98 cam (Manual car)
Transmission: T5 5Speed/ 9bolt Borg-Warner 3.45 gears with posi
That makes sense. Thanks Guys
Old 07-05-2003, 11:09 PM
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Car: 1987 transam
Engine: 383 /w superram
Transmission: 700r4 /w 2800rpm stall
I thought only the older cars with out the wonderbar made noise? I have an 87 it doesn't make any noise. not sure if it's gta or not the previous owner ripped the emblems off it has the gold spoked rims tho..
Old 07-06-2003, 09:29 AM
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Car: '92 Camaro RS, '93 Ranger
Engine: LO3, Vulcan
Transmission: 700R4, M5OD
Axle/Gears: 2.73, 3.45
Originally posted by okfoz
Actually from what I remember the upgrades were for 1992 only, they added some glues & such to help bond the panels together better. I believe that it is more likely that theseupgrades were experimental to help with the up coming 4th gens.


John
I have some poorly applied glues on metal seams in my '90. I wonder if the whole Van Nuys plant was just bad for chemicals, my underbody coating is falling off, and so is the seam glue. I doesn't even look like it was applied on the seams, most of whats left is right next to the seams. I'm talkin' about inside the spare tire compartment and upper fenders etc, places where water hasn't really been to mess things up. I guess I got a Monday or Friday car (time to check my codes and see if it actually was)
Old 07-07-2003, 07:38 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
Posts: 14,242
Received 170 Likes on 125 Posts
Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
More than likely they van Nuys Plant used Water Based everything on the cars, which REALLY stinks. Nothing about water base paints & chemicals is good in my opinion. NOW I am told that Water based paints & such are illegal in some areas because the they can absorb into your blood stream too easily.

Go fig

John
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