88 Mid-year Front Frame Redesign? (Page 1/1)
reinhart SEP 24, 01:40 PM
I was looking under my 88 GTs today and I noticed the front frame rail is different between the one I have that was built super early in the production run (first 1000 units) and the other two later builds.

All frames are original.

Early front support beam (22P Group 12.000, Page 0-22 & 0-23, Part #35) only shows 1 design.

Lying on my back looking under the front fascia:
On my early build the beam is rounded at the bottom with a smooth edge curling back. Like a (Rear---> "J" <-- Front) shape
On the two later builds, the beam has a vertical flat surface that extends a quarter-inch down past the lower edge. Like a (Rear---> "-|" <---Front) shape

I was a bit surprised to discover this. I've not seen anything on the forum about this and didn't find anything with a search.

Anyone else confirm the two designs? I wonder if there are other mid-year differences that aren't generally known.

Also was this change rolled out at the same time the Rack and Pinion bushings was redesigned. The early car mentioned above had the metal rack bushing. The later one that I rebuilt the rack had the nylon bushing.
Gall757 SEP 25, 12:16 PM
Auto companies will never admit it, but they often don't control their supplier's part changes.....especially when they are starting up a pilot run for a new design. Everybody is happy if the parts fit and the job is on time. Most of the time the parts look the same and nobody knows the difference, but sometimes a quality control guy will figure it out and send off a bunch of memos (or tweets in today's tech). I am speaking from first-hand experience here....
cvxjet SEP 25, 12:28 PM
On my 1985 SE V6, the front crossmember was just a channel in the middle...I went to the JY and grabbed another crossmember so I could rebuild the front suspension and then just swap it.....I don't know what year that crossmember is, but it has some metal pieces welded across the bottom for added strength. Sometimes they just update the design a bit.

(By the way, my "2-day suspension swap" turned into a three week..."Adventure"....when the LAST BOLT into the frame snapped off (Argggggg)- ended up taking the front facia off so I could fish a carriage bolt and plate into the frame rail)
theogre SEP 25, 03:30 PM
GM and others make changes anytime and most w/o notice or warning.
And 22P and other parts "books" often do not get updated for any change or even correct numbers for some parts.

Some Errors/Changes in FSM and Parts "books" Maybe corrected/updated in TSB but almost no-one reads them or not have access even if people what to read them.

Examples:
● The entire rear brake section in 84-86 Fiero FSM has wrong images not fix until need major update for 87 includes DIS Duke section.
● Error in 22P for Radiator Cap is why all parts source have wrong vented cap. Only Stant finally change their "book" to have non-vented cap.
● Just TH125c have Many changes and when ordering parts, you better know what year etc the trans was made because many parts won't work in the "wrong" years. Chain and sprockets are known for this because later units have different specs.
● PF52 and other Oil Filters have changed many times too and GM claims work the same and maybe change GM and/or ACDelco PN's or not. See https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...120111-2-105330.html AC Delco PF52 oil filter has shrunk and GM change PN but Still PF52. Later changes had PF52E and other PN's

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

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