cradle swap

I threw a rod in my 85 fiero, it ripped the oil pan wide open, and also busted a coolant passage. So that block is basically trash. What I'm going to have to do is pull the engine out of my 88 and put it in the 85. (the 88 is trashed but the engine is good) My question is, can I use the cradle from the 88 on my 85? Will it bolt up? That would be nice because I have two rebuilt rear spindles that will only fit on the 88. Does anyone know if they changed the way the cradle is mounted between 85 and 88? I would appreciate any help you can offer. Oh yeah, both my engines are 2.5s.
Thanks,
Greg M

Sounds great!

Make sure you get the computer and wiring harness from the 88, too. The 88 motor doesn't have a distributor.

fIEROWISEGUY

The only modifications to the 88 suspension were in the FRONT, so you're good to go.

I know the way the wiring harnesses mount up to the computer in the 85 is from the bottom and on the 88 is from the side. Do you think I'll have to change out both wiring harnesses? (front and rear?) I was kind of wanting to just change the connector on the front wiring harness. I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks,
Greg M

There is some difference in the 88 engine harness because of the coil packs replacing the distributor. As far as I know, the passenger compartment harness is the same.

Sorry ragtop, but rear suspension, brakes, etc. are completely different.

If you do a subframe swap, you must do the complete rear suspension and brakes, too.

fIEROWISEGUY

I was planning on swapping the rear suspension too, my question was, Will the cradle bolt up?

Thanks,
Greg M

The hub and brake caliper are different on 88s, this is true.
However, we're talking suspension. Calipers are brake parts, and hubs are drivetrain parts. As far as SUSPENSION goes,
the 88 cradle will bolt in just fine and attach to the current control arms. If you prefer to swap the newer brakes and hubs, you can include the 88 control arms, spindles, struts,and toe rods as well.

Actually the way the rear spindle is attached is drastically different, I don't think you could swap the 85s and 88s without doing some customizing. That's partially why I want to do a cradle swap.

Where's the difference? Everything I've seen shows the same setup, a single ball joint stud on the bottom and a basic 2 bolt strut mount on top.

On my 88 there are 3 bars connecting to the bottom of the spindle, and on my 85 there's just one triangular part connected to the bottom of the spindle, both the 88 and the 85 attach alike at the top. I'm not sure if the holes would line up though. I could take some pics, I'm not sure if I could post them here though.

peace,
Greg M

Odd, you're saying the contyrol arms are different. My service manuals are lying then. Got pics?

Ragtop, I've got pics, but I don't think I can post them here, or, I don't know how to post them here. If you could give me an email address I'd send them your way. Mine's gameover-gjm3@sc.rr.com( if you don't want yours floating around the web).

peace,
Greg M

You can post pics here that are located on the web using the img bb code -

see http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/misc.php?do=bbcode#imgcode

or you'll find my email address in my profile.

Ok, now I'm really confused. I don't have any experience with writing code past running wad files for doom, and your profile doesn't really offer an email address, it wants to go through a page on the boards, and doesn't give the option of attaching a file. It's late and I'm tired, send reply to my email address so I can just reply with the pics.

peace,
Greg M