Suspension Conversion Parts List
Copyright December 21, 1998
(at www.v8monza.com)
I will not be liable or responsible in any way for any damages incurred as a result of these modifications to person, persons or property. Whenever working on vehicles, use safety equipment such as jackstands, goggles, gloves, etc.. Also, when working on the front suspension, beware of the coilsprings, they are very dangerous and can release with a lot of force that could result in death or serious injury. Take this warning and just be careful. These modifications can be very frustrating, so have some patience.
Below is a list of parts that can be obtained from salvage yards to convert the General Motors H-body cars to 5-lug suspensions. The lists are by part, what vehicles to get them from and their years. The list starts with the front suspension, and ends with the rear suspension. The list is not all-inclusive. Some aftermarket parts are required to mount the front suspension parts to the factory control arms. Also, some modifications are required to various components to facilitate the use of these parts. Remember that when obtaining used parts, to inspect them for defects. If you do not feel qualified to do so, have them inspected by a professional mechanic. For more information, go to my website and read everything!
Thanks to Salvage GM Parts of Valdosta Georgia and Rich Foster for all of their help in the research and actual parts tests involved for these modifications and this extensive FAQ. If you need some of these parts and can’t find them, call them at 1-800-848-4635 or visit their website at www.salvage-parts.com and tell them Bob Gumm sent you.
FRONT SUSPENSION (I have performed this modification)
Remember, ball-joint adapters, ball-joint adapter sleeves, S10 ball-joints, and some welding may be required for these modifications, depending on the method you choose to install the G-Body/S10/S15/Blazer parts. If you choose to use the S10 ball-joints, you'll need to weld an adapter sleeve for the larger lower Chevy S-10 ball-joints into the lower control arms and enlarge the upper control arm ball-joint hole and weld the old rivet holes close and drill new mount holes. Also, when picking rotors for the front-end I suggest using the later (metric) versions. The reason why is because the axles are only available in metric and the metric studs are larger than the standard studs. By using all metric studs you ensure less confusion and my guess would be that they are stronger by virtue of the fact that they are larger (metric size 12X1.5 lug studs and nuts). However, if you've got the money, you could just replace all the studs with the type of your choice (a must for race vehicles).
REAR SUSPENSION (This mod works, I know because I've done it.)
The S10 axles are 1/16th inch shorter, so this shortness may cause the brake drums to rub against the rear brake back plates/dust covers. If yours rub (mine didn't), remove 1/16th inch from the edge of the back plates. To do this, scribe around the edge of the back plates 1/16th inch in from the edge. Then using a handheld grinder, remove the excess metal to the scribe mark and file or sand the edge smooth. All the axles have metric studs, so make sure you plan ahead and get some lug nuts to match the studs or get some standard studs to install.
Spindles
(for 5-Lug conversion)
CENTURY 79
80-81
S10 S15 82
83-97
S10BLA 83-97
GMCSPR 79
80-87
GPRIX 79
80-87
MALIBU 79
80-87
MONTE 79
80-88
CUTLASS 79
80-87
88
PONTIA 82-86
LEMANS 79
80-81
REGAL 79
80-87
Rotor (5-Lug Standard
Studs)
Make Year Description
CENTURY 79-81
GMCSPR 79-81
GPRIX 79-81
MALIBU 79-81
MONTE 79-81
CUTLAS 79-81
LEMANS 79-81
REGAL 79-81
Rotor (5-Lug Metric Studs)
CAMARO 82-97
88-92 10-1/2" rotor
S10 S15 82
83-93 4X2
84-95 VIN mdl "S" (4X2), 4-134 (2.2L)
FIREBI 82-87
88-92 10-1/2" rotor
S10BLA 83-90 VIN mdl "S" (4X2)
81 VIN mdl "S" (4X2), w/a A.B.S. ring
GMCSPR 82-87
GPRIX 82-87
MALIBU 82-87
MONTE 82-88
CUTLASS 82-87
88 RWD
PONTIA 82-86 Bon
REGAL 82-87
Chevy S10 and Blazer Rear Axles (5-Lug Metric Studs)
S10 S15 82
83-87 4X2
88-93 4X2, 7-1/2" ring gear
S10BLA 83-87 4X2
88-90 4X2, 7-1/2" ring gear
Rear Brake Drums (5-Lug Steel)
APOLLO 73-74
75
BUICK 77
78-79
80
81-85
85
CENTURY 73-74
75
78-81
SPECIAL 64-69
70-72
CAMARO 67
68-74
75-81
82-92
CHEVEL 64-67
68-72
73-74
75
CHEVROL 77-85
86-89
90
CHEVAN 65-66
67-70
71
S10 S15 82-84
85-91
91 SYCLONE
FIREBI 67-74
75-78
79-81
82-92
S10BLA 83-84
85-91
CABALL 78
GMCSPR 71-74
75
79-81
82-87
GMCVAN 65-66
67-70
71
GPRIX 69-74
78-85
86-87
MALIBU 78-81
82-87
MONTE 70-74
75
78-81
82-88
NOVA 64-66
67
68-74
75-79
OLDS 65-66
77-79 Dlta 88
80-85 Dlta 88
85 Cust Crsr
BRAVAD 91
CUTLASS 73-74
75
78-82
83-87
88
F85 64-72
OMEGA 73-74
75
76-78
79
PHOENIX 77
78-79
PONTIAC 77-79
80-81
82-85
86
LEMANS 72
73-74
75
78-81
REGAL 78-87
RIVIERA 79-80
81-85
SKYLARK 75-79
TEMPEST 64-66
67-71
TORANA 79-81
VENTURA 71-74
75
76-77
Rear Brake Drums (5-Lug
Aluminum)
BUICK 80
81-85
85
CENTURY 78-81
CAMARO 82-92
CHEVROL 86-89
S10 S15 82-84
FIREBI 82-92
S10BLA 83-84
CABALL 78
GMCSPR 79-81
GPRIX 78-85
MALIBU 78-81
MONTE 78-81
OLDS 80-85 Dlta 88
85 Cust Crsr
CUTLASS 78-82
PONTIAC 80-81
82-85
86
LEMANS 78-81
REGAL 78-87
RIVIERA 81-85