chassis compatibility and front end conversion

[Trans Am]

ok, i ve got a 99 Z28 that is crashed in the front, the front chassis legs or rails are bent , in front of the wheels, together with the radiator support frame. I have been quoted around $3000 for the work to put it in the jig and replace the chassis legs , if i get the parts.
Now i have found the front end of a 2000 v6 firebird with all the body panels for $1000. The guy said they will cut the car in half and i can have the front. And i could do a front end conversion on the 95 formula

Is it difficult to replace the chassis legs , are they the same on v6 and v8 s , camaros and firebirds? Is there any point trying to fix the camaro or should i just sell the engine?
How much would the front end of an late model f-body cost in the usa?

This is pretty urgent cause i have to make a decision , so please tell me what you think!

[greeno]

So from the cut off of the 00 firebird you are just go to use the structural parts?

[Rob B (shoebox)]

AFAIK, the basic frame is the same on all Camaros and Firebirds.

[Trans Am]

Thanks Rob,

I ll probably buy the front end and use the structural parts to fix the camaro, and i ll swap the body panels with the ones on the formula..even though i like the look of the 93 97 formula front end a bit more, just for a change


Any ides how the front rails are connected to the rest of the chassis, in the manual it says they are easy accesible from under the car , but nothing about the way they are fixed, and has the engine got to come out when i replace one of the chassis rails?

[Injuneer]

On the 93-97 cars the V6 K-member is a different shape than the V8. They have to be swapped when people put a V8 in a V6 car. I suspect it would be the same on the 98 and up cars, since the LS1 has an unusual "platform" type motor mount between the engine and the K-member. You need to find out the 99-V8 and 00-V6 K-members are the same.

The V6 springs may have a different spring rate, although the aluminum LS1 V8 probably isn't a lot heavier than the cast iron V6.

[Trans Am]

Thanks for the info Fred,
The k member on my camaro is not damaged, suspension parts look ok, front wheels off centered because the sway bar which is mounted on the chassis rail has moved about 5 inches to the left, but they were ok after i unbolted the sway bar off the rails.
I am pretty much sure the steering gear is different on v6 s, but i have a spare v8 one in case the one on the camaro got damaged.

I think i ll have to take the engine out so they can do the jig work at the bodyshop. Is it difficult to take the ls1 out of the car?

[greeno]

Just drop the whole thing out the bottom. Leave everything connected to k-member, suspension and everything. Take and jack the car up in the air as high as you can get it. Then loosen the struts and k-member. Support k-mem with jack(s). I used an enginge hoist to lift the front of my car up so I could roll the drivetrain out. Its really not as complicated as it looks.

[Injuneer]

If you're going to have the front subframe realigned, they might want the K-member and the front suspension on the car, requiring that the engine be pulled from the top. Check with the body shop.

[FroSSty]

The frame work could be done with or without the k member. It will have to be measured either with lasers or precision gauges. The best thing to do would be to drop the engine/k member and bring the k with the car. The suspension components aren't really needed. I would still contact the body shop and make sure that is what they want. They may do things different over there.

[Trans Am]

ok, i have stripped the body panels headlights and part of the suspension today. I ve got to go back and get the frame, the front half of the car..i ll tell them to cut it just behind the front seats.
I got the new style taillights too, an a few other bits and pieces. Cost about $1000 for everything, not too bad i think.

I ll be busy over the next few weeks trying to sort out the camaro and doing the front end conversion.
Thanks all for the input!