4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end

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Feb 22, 2009 | 12:36 AM
  #1  
im putting a lot of power in to the rear end of a 3rd gen and was thinking of going with a 4 link!! i want to run a gm 14bolt and 29x10r15 tires in the back. and the engine im putting in it is really!!!!!!!!!! f-ing heavy so im going to have to do some work to the front to comp for the heavy load. can u guys help me with some idea's??????
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Feb 22, 2009 | 02:08 AM
  #2  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
hence the name (rolls eyes)
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Feb 22, 2009 | 04:56 AM
  #3  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
that wasnt nice! thanks for you help
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Feb 22, 2009 | 08:10 AM
  #4  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
How much does your new motor weigh? People install big blocks in these cars everyday.
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Feb 22, 2009 | 09:47 AM
  #5  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
To put a 4-link in, you need to do a complete back half on the car. There are a couple of threads on TGO on doing a 4-link.

A 14 bolt is too big and wide for a third gen. There are better choices such as a 9", 12 bolt or Dana 60.

As for swapping in a diesel into the car, you're on your own as to what needs to be changed or fabricated. A truck transmission is going to be very difficult to put under the floorboards since your car's transmission isn't going to bolt up to the diesel.

You could just red neck it by putting the car body on the truck frame.
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Feb 22, 2009 | 04:18 PM
  #6  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
i have seen some one put the trany im putting in this in a supra!!
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Feb 22, 2009 | 10:17 PM
  #7  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
I'm currently doing a Duramax conversion in an older Chevy truck. You got your work cut out for you.

Due to your light weight (compared to a truck) you can probably get by with a D60. Strange S60 is a bolt in. This can be an easy fit without rebuilding the whole car. You are still going to be traction limited with a nose heavy car & small tires, so this rear should be durable.

I guess you are not using an Allison trans as it would not fit between the seats, not to mention the trans tunnel. Are you using a 4L80E?

The Duramax is about 100lb heavier than a Big Block. It is a very tall motor if you leave the turbo on top.

Good luck & post pictures.
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Feb 26, 2009 | 03:03 PM
  #8  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
yes im useing a 4l80e
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Feb 26, 2009 | 05:28 PM
  #9  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
it would be quicker and better to build a tube frame car and put that engine trans combo in. No room in a camaro. look up camaros with sbc and twin turbo. its super tight. non the less a huge truck engine. but hey go for it if you have cash and professional fab skills.
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Feb 27, 2009 | 11:19 AM
  #10  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
the diesel will shake the car apart.
there is no separate frame, so the engine mounts to the k member, which bolts to the body.
someone else put a 4bt in their camaro and took it out due to the vibrations.
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Feb 27, 2009 | 11:36 AM
  #11  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
All I can ask is ....Why?

To each his own, I guess I can respect that individuallity, but it would be worthless. I can see all the links to youtube saying look at the stupid thing.

You want to be that guy? If yes then my hats off to you. its your time and money down the toilet. It will end up in the junk yard far before anyone else ever gives you two nickels for it.

It would be far more appreciated to put a Duramax motor into a Yugo or even something more tiny like my Austin Mimi Cooper- people have put bigblock intot hese little cars just to have a bigger motor than car- thats kindof funny there. The Camaro thing sorry to say is just plain stupid sounding.
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Feb 28, 2009 | 07:52 AM
  #12  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
There is a Duramax in a regal and its one tight fit.But the g body has a frame and wider engine bay then a f body.A 14 bolt is kinda a paper weight now its big heavy and lacks a good aftermarket.To even get the engine in the car would mean building your own front suspension or a full frame.
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Feb 28, 2009 | 09:51 PM
  #13  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
a buddy of mine is pulling his engine and tranny out his 3rd gen so if i dont do the duramax thing i want 2 put a 454 bbc with dual carbs
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Mar 2, 2009 | 01:36 PM
  #14  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
A d-max in a 3rd gen would be pretty cool, IMO. The SN95 platform mustang that kicked serious but on drag week is proof that this type of swap is do-able and can still be tuned to hook decent and run some serious numbers, all while maintaining great drivability and fuel mileage.

Diesel shake the car apart? What's the last diesel you were around? Those motors are far smoother than most any built sbc or bbc. - I'm sure anyone thinking of doing such a swap will be planning to fabricate some frame rails and should at least be thinking about a cage.

The 14-bolt, all though a very tough rear, has no place in a performance car build. Look into either a 9" or dana 60, there strength is basically a wash when going part for part in the aftermarket world.
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Mar 5, 2009 | 06:56 AM
  #15  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
ive seen 2 diff 3rd gens with diesel motors in them. one guy had a hell of a time trying to isolate the vibrations from the motor. the car would have litereally shaken apart. he wasnt using a newer type diesel tho. it was a smaller 4L turbo diesel i believe. he had fabbed up his own motor mounts and then was planning to add a second set of mounts to adsorb more vibrations lol. he did get it to fit tho and got everything hooked up. i think he had it dynoed and reported some STUPID high tq numbers lol. like over 600ftlbs but only had like 340hp.

i saw another guy on youtube who had a big duromax turbo diesel in his 3rd gen maro. two huge 4" exhaust puffing black smoke and what i can only describe as rear tires the whole length of the rear of the car lol. looked like the tires took up the whole rear of the car. and that thing could burn the tires off and launch hard.

i would think that it would also be pretty cool. i say try it. but i hope u have some good ideas in strengthening the unibody. im talking prob fabbing up a full frame. or a really well planned custom subframes and preparing to stich weld every seam/weld on the car. u would prob have to install a cage and mini tub the rear to get wide tires to try and hook the insane tq from the diesel too. the diesel engine will literally shake/rip the car apart since our frames are just sandwiched and spotwelded sheet metal.

good LUCK! do it!!! post pics
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Mar 5, 2009 | 09:13 AM
  #16  
Re: 4 link (gm 14 bolt) and maga beefed up front end
Some decently designed sub-frame connector's that weld through the floor and tie to at least an 8-point cage should cover the chassis stiffening just fine.

As for tires, with proper boost management you can hook a lot more than you can imagine on a 315/60/15 DR, which can be fitted w/o any major modifications. - That's what the mustang on drag week used, not only for the entire week of drag week, but also for another week of sales calls on his way home. D-max's are freakin ridiculous.
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