What engine cradles can I use for a 87 GT V6 5 speed (Page 2/3)
gregr75 FEB 23, 09:08 AM

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Originally posted by mcguiver3:

Where are you in CT?
I'm in Beacon Falls. would be nice to meet a fellow Fieroite close by.



Cool! I'm in Milford, close to the shore, not too far...

[This message has been edited by gregr75 (edited 02-23-2023).]

82-T/A [At Work] FEB 23, 09:28 AM

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Originally posted by gregr75:





Heres a view inside the lower driver side frame rail, seems ok. upper rails look fine. i took off the bumper etcetera to access the witch hat nut which had completely rusted and it was freely spinning. to get the cradle rear bolts out i held the nut flat still with a tire iron while a friend impact wrenched the bolt, thank God there was antiseize on the bolt. am i supposed to re-weld this witch hat nut when i put the replacemt cradle in? also whats up with piece of metal, arrow pointing in blue... its like the diameter of a pencil, doesnt seem to be doing anything.




Yes! Those were originally welded (not referring to the plastic tree). In cars like the 2nd Gen F-bodies and a lot of 70s cars, they called this a "cage nut," which was literally a nut that was stuck into a cage that was spot-welded to the inside of the frame. On the Fiero, they had something similar, but it was instead welded to the frame. It's probably insanely hard to actually get in there, so I don't doubt if you're unable to weld a replacement in there.

Personally, I would look for a crush-nut with an integrated washer. I would then just use some blue locktite, and stick a wrench in there to hold it as you tighten it down.


I had a similar problem in the front of my Fiero when I was removing my control arm. I was really young (forgive me) and I accidentally broke the nut off because I was going the wrong direction. The shop I took it to actually had to cut into the frame, and replace the nut, and then welded it back with something that looks like brass... I have no idea, haven't really looked at it since.

fierofool FEB 23, 12:18 PM

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Originally posted by Patrick:

Isn't the blue arrow (in both photos) pointing to that ridge along the bottom of the rail?




Looking at it on another device where I could enlarge it enough, it looks like there might be an overlap or maybe a reinforcement plate for the floating cradle nut. It only runs across the bottom and up the inside of the rail.

If Rodney Dickman's cradle nut repair kit is used, with the small window cut into the side of the rail, the replacement nut can be held with a wrench. The plate the nut is attached to is long enough that it won't rotate so it really doesn't need to be welded inside the rail.

[This message has been edited by fierofool (edited 02-23-2023).]

gregr75 MAR 19, 07:49 AM
so i got a replacement cradle from an 86 gt. (shown in foreground of second photo). its identical except for the sheet metal bracket on my old 87 is bent down, where the 86 is bent up. i suspect my old one is just bent. what is this bracket used for?

also there is a smaller bracket on the 86 that was not on the 87, what is this used for?

[This message has been edited by gregr75 (edited 03-19-2023).]

Spadesluck MAR 19, 08:52 AM
The silver sheet metal is an exhaust shield. That smaller metal piece in the foreground, I am not sure as I have never seen that. Maybe it's on the 4 cylinder cradles only? Someone else should pipe in and tell us though. It almost looks like an exhaust hanger thst was put on later.

[This message has been edited by Spadesluck (edited 03-19-2023).]

gregr75 MAR 19, 11:35 AM
it looks like theres holes to accept that small bracket on my old cradle too..
A_Lonely_Potato MAR 19, 01:28 PM

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Originally posted by gregr75:




this bracket is for the muffler hanger springs
ArthurPeale MAR 19, 06:54 PM
where's the rusted out parts on your old cradle ?

edit - you have more than one replacement cradle? I saw your older thread. There must be something about that specific part of the cradle that loves to rot. My GT broke there, and my replacement cradle has damage there, also

[This message has been edited by ArthurPeale (edited 03-19-2023).]

Patrick MAR 19, 07:02 PM

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Originally posted by ArthurPeale:

There must be something about that specific part of the cradle that loves to rot. My GT broke there, and my replacement cradle has damage there, also



I don't know where you're referring to... but I'll guess it's below the factory battery location!
ArthurPeale MAR 20, 11:27 AM

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Originally posted by Patrick:

I don't know where you're referring to... but I'll guess it's below the factory battery location!



Opposite side, actually. This is the photo posted in the link you referenced

My GT was similar, and the cradle I got to replace it has the beginnings of rot at where the bushing sits.