Learn me about aluminum engine cradles

[smug]

I am thinking of swapping my steel engine cradle for a nice stock junk aluminum cradle and would like to know if

A. Is it even worth it?
B. Any certain years that may have issues?
C. Are the 04+ GP and 01+ Impala and MC basically the same?

Click to read more...

 

[Mike K]

26lbs of savings... In my opinion, unless you're planning on dropping the cradle for other reasons, it's not worth it.

No issues as far as particular years go either.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

the 9c1 cradles and some later cradles have a much taller PS rack mount rail

 

[Fish]

ZZP did it first.

 

[smug]

They also were the first to use a "lightweight race engine" or an L36 lol

 

[smug]

the 9c1 cradles and some later cradles have a much taller PS rack mount rail

hummm did not know. Any reason as to why they would have a taller rack mount point?

I had an 04 GTP for about 2 months and I had an issue with the PS rack mounts started making noise .

 

[Fish]

Even though Zooomer himself told the first guy that was trying a L36 that it wouldnt work. He also said waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in the day that rockers>cams.

I know trying to look though boneyards is rough bidness for aluminum cradles. Most of the ones we saw were cracked.

 

[smug]

I just wonder why that on car-part.com Impala and MC cradles and about half the price of an 04+ GP cradle.

 

[1quick]

for what year? I thought the 04' of each of those models was still series 2 it may still have a steal cradle if your looking up 04' model year

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

hummm did not know. Any reason as to why they would have a taller rack mount point?

I had an 04 GTP for about 2 months and I had an issue with the PS rack mounts started making noise .

the rack mounts in the same spot but much more of the aluminum extrusion was sheared off vs the 9c1/late03/04+ subframes.

the extrusion that holds the rack is shaped like a Y
well actually mmore like
l l
Y

you get the point but the Y extrusion has the upper Y legs machined oiff except in the bolt area's early units also machined/cheared off the lower leg of the Y in those area's too.
where as the 9c1/03.5+ units only cheared off the upper arms and the Y's leg is left in place

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

in this pic you can see the Y extrusion where it welds to the subframe, the good one's the two rack mounts are still joined by the lower leg

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

i just noticed the later unit has bent tubelar front mount ears where the earlier one's have a much stiffer looking machined extrusion
here's a pic with the better rack mount/rear extrusion
ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting
and 2 pics of the early units, notice the two seperate welded on rack mounts

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

actually it all kinda makes sence from a beancounters viewpoint
much cheaper production wise to bend two alumnum box ears than cut and machine those webbed extrusions.
also cheaper to remove a jig and 4 welding ops on the rear crossbar for a one piece lasercut/machined extrusion

 

[EmersonHart13]

I always thought those aluminum sub frames were nice to look at.

 

[smug]

Ahh I see the difference in the PS rack mount. Is one really better then the other, other then one design was cheaper to manufacture?

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

dunno but beancounters always fuck shit up

 

[Alacran]

i thought early 9C1 cracked but i dont recall anymore. They are nice to look at though.