Trying to get this old bird to handle better but on a tight budget.

Is there a list of some kind of all the junkyard upgrades you can do?

For example, say 4th gen sway bars fit and 98 T/A ones were the biggest.

Or if LT1 Caprice brakes bolt on.

Better ratio steering boxes?

Springs?

Stuff like that?

 

-Wonderbar off an IROC

-front and rear sway bars off any thirdgen that had a better package than your current car (do a search to find out which)

-4th gen seats (lighter, sit slightly lower)

-1LE brakes (if you don't have a disc brake rear end then I'd add that to the list too)

 

haha the few that I did know about! Trying to think outside the third gen box though as they are very rare in junkyards nowadays.

Fourth gen seats are definitely on the list! Those cars seem to be everywhere still. Any other upgrades from those to be picked? (besides LT/LS swaps )

 

Haha, fair enough!

Only other 4th gen item on my car is the rear view mirror (with the nice reading lights and all). It can be wired up to the same wires that go to your dome light (and no, it doesn't turn on whenever you open the door lol).

I've also hear that lincoln mk vii overhead consoles have the same flashlight in them as 3rd gens, if you need one of those. other than that, I'm out lol.

 

- lt1 f body rear brakes
- c4 corvette brake calipers (Same as 1le)
- aluminum rear drums (check both g bodies and f bodies)
- g body rear lower control arms ( could be aftermarket)
- 4th gen rear shocks
and - rear 4th gen springs

Are a few of the parts to look out for to improve handling besides finding an iroc or ta. Another tip is to check the undercarriage of every f body you come across in the junkyard, you never know what you might find. I have seen bilstein rear shocks, full aftermarket exhaust systems, poly sway bar pieces, a tds wonderbar, and even umi rear control arms and panhard bar in the junkyard cars around here.

 

Yeah, it's rare to even find a 3rd gen around here anymore. And when you do, the yard treats it like gold!

Going to be hitting the yards hard this year soon as it gets warm. Hope to find some goodies

 

Sway bars bigger than yours are a plus. Any option you want that you don't have? Any parts you would like to have extra? I plan to pick up some spindles to have an extra set to try the LS1 brake upgrade with. Any 4th gen upgrades you been wanting? Junkyards aren't bad places to get some parts. Some parts are best left there like springs and shocks. Unless they happen to be brand new. I got some brand new rear hatch shocks from somebody's abandoned project in a junkyard. It had immaculate gray/black interior in it i should have saved and sold.

My 92 has reading lights in the factory mirror

 

So does my 89.

 

steering intermediate shaft off of the box style cherokees

 

That's cool, I'd never seen them in our cars, either way mine is from a 4th gen.

 

Hollow front sway bars (34mm and 36mm available, bring a good caliper to check). If it's hollow it will have small drain holes near the holes for the end links on the underside of the bar. They're significantly lighter than solid bars and still pretty stiff.

Lightweight parts- composite Camaro hood, ultra rare aluminum power bulge Firebird hood, aluminum driveshafts, aluminum crash bumpers, lightweight spare tire, GTA wheels. Bring a magnet, aluminum parts won't attract. If you forget to bring one you can grab a speaker out of a random car as there are magnets in the back that will work just as well.

Non suspension, but rare and worth grabbing for yourself or reselling to other thirdgenners:
Some cars had pop up t-tops that flip up in the rears like a sunroof... Those are really rare and well worth buying... They won't fit cars with the standard t-tops though. Good consoles and components out of 82-84 Firebirds are really rare. Overhead consoles are hard to find too, as well as a/c and radio delete panels.

 

Here's some of the upgrades I've found in junkyards:
4thgen posi disc rear(entire rear will fit)
3.73 gears from an 80's S10/S15
Larger sway bars
Fog lights(aftermarket, but they are VERY similar to the stock ones)
IROC quick-ratio steering gear
Aluminum driveshaft
Jeep Cherokee/Astro van steering shaft
Holley carb
Tinted tail lights
Extra fuse/relay box(for all the electronics I have or will add)
Power mirrors
Headers
70's Z28 fender louvers
80's Buick hood hinge(reverse-opening, like a Vette)
Serpentine steup from an 80's fullsize Chevy/GMC van, running just alt & PS pump

Non-performance pieces that are still good to have around, or could be sold for a nice profit:
Extra T-tops
T-top bag
Dad pads if uncracked(made a HUGE profit on that one)
4thgen seats
Steering wheels
Berlinetta digital gauges
Auto-dimming mirror with compass and temp
TPI air box
Hatch shocks
87 Camaro spoiler with the integral third brake light
Firebird tail light center section
Firebird headlight motors