Does anyone know which suspension parts work on both body styles? I am moving from a 1987 GTA to a 1997 T/A and I am wondering which of my fantastic spohn suspension parts I can swap over to the new car.

 

The LCA's and brackets, panhard and torque arm, the rear springs, and man I'd try to make that 9" work!

Good luck

 

the entire rear suspension, including torque arm, LCAs, panhard, springs, and axle assembly.

(note, axle assembly will be 3rdgen offset, and not 4thgen, but otherwise bolts in)

 

Yup. What they said. Everything in the rear is good to go. Even the driveshaft if you have an upgrade.

Hmm...you dont hear about swapping 3rd gen parts into a 4th gen...usually the other way around. Now hotcam that LT1 and have some fun!

J.

 

what about the front and rear sway bars?

 

Rear yes, front no. However, 4th gens seem to like smaller sway bars than thirdgens. If you put larger ones on, the 4th gen tends to understeer.

 

It was mentioned that I could use the ford 9" as well, excellent. What will I need to do to take the different offset into consideration? I dont even know what that offset refers to exactly.

 

Youll be able to bolt the axle from your 3rd gen in with no problems. However, the axle is a few inches more narrow than the axle in the 4th gen. So if you were to try to stick the 4th wheels on there...they wouldnt fit right. You will need to use wheels that are to 3rd gen specs. Such as stock 3rd gen wheels.

Which is actually kinda cool I think. Because you will be able to use wheels that have some deeper dish to them. Personally I think a deep dish in the back and a shallow dish in the front looks mean...

You'll basically need 4th gen spec wheels in the front, and 3rd gen spec wheels in the back...

If Im not correct on that someone will chime in.

Justin

P.S. Google "measuring wheel offset" or something similar for some good illustrations on wheel measurements. That will help you more than a typed out explaination. A picture is worth 1000 words.

 

So the torque arm too... Thats wonderful. I have the spohn torque arm that attaches to the spohn cross member. Will that work as well or will I need to modify it or get a new one from Spohn?

 

the crossmembers are different, i would call spohn and ask if you can buy the crossmember for the 4th gen and not the torque arm. this would allow use of the torque arm and only have to buy the crossmember to hook it up to. of course it may not be worth the trouble of that

 

It wont work. The 4th gen spohn arm is shorter and has a different x-member than the thirdgen ones.

 

the STOCK torque arm yes.

aftermarket ones differ... but most of the 4thgen ones bolt to the tunnel brace, while the 3rdgen ones goto the thirdgen crossmember.

you'll probly want to sell it and buy another one for the 4thgen.



if you want to run 4thgen rims all the way around, you can get 2" bolton adapters... then you can keep your 9" and use stock tires... and if you get drag slicks, just take the spacers off, and they fit the nicer drag rims.