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GN frame width diffs?

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8AV8

Banned
Joined
Jul 27, 2005
Messages
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I had an 87 hardtop GN that was stolen years ago. I replaced it with an 87 GN with t-tops. I had a set of rims that didn't get stolen with the car[running stockers when it was stolen] . A few years later I replaced the tires with the same size tires and had to put spacers on the rear so I wouldn't rub on the t-top car. Somebody told me the frames on t-top cars were a 1/2 in. narrower. Any truth to this or could the variation be in the tire manufacturer. Seems like 255/50/16 is always going to be 255/50/16.
 
I've never heard of different frame widths. Always believed a G-body frame was a G-body frame, with MAYBE slight differences on the station wagons. Tire variance I have heard of however: if you read the spec catalogs it is not that uncommon for, let's say a 255-60-15 in a Goodyear to be as much as 1/4 inch different from a comparable MIchelin/Firestone/whoever. Not so much the width that varies as it is the hieght.
 
Did the hardtop have the aluminum brake drums? Those move the wheels out about 1/4", and give more clearance. Also, many cars have the axle slightly off center, which will affect clearance too, making one side closer than the other. The frames are the same, within some tolerance.
 
frame width

stock brakes as far as i knew...makes sense that there wouldn't be differences...ya never know though.Glad this forum is available!
 
If both GNs had the original drums it the body not being set perfectly aligned on the frame...common on these cars and many others, still today.
Some require spacers for the same tire and size while others do not.
If you don't want to use spacers, your only other alternative is to loosen up the body bushings and try to center the body on the frame using the tire locations as a guide if its only rubbing on one side.
 
stock brakes as far as i knew
The aluminum drums came stock on some cars, some cars came with the cast iron drums. It depends on what other options were on the car, and I don't know the rules. But you may have had aluminum drums on one car, and cast iron on the other.
 
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