Replacement sheet metal... what works?

[dwall]

I've had a few minutes to look over a GM Collision Estimating Guide a couple times. I need body parts ------ for the car!!!! LOL.

From what I see most sheet metal - floors, doors, quarters, and glass for the Buick Regal 2 door from 1982 forward will fit on my 87 GN project. My questions are:

1. Is it true this stuff all swaps straight up?
2. Are non-turbo floors exact replacements?
3. What about a non-turbo body tub?
4. If I decide to go to non GN interior, do seats, panel and trim screw/bolt into existing mounts, or locations etc.?
5. Anything Cutlass besides the doors fit?

I appreciate your answers. A couple pics attached. Time to speed up this project.
Thank you.

 

[87GNSteve]

The only difference in sheet metal is the turbo hood.

 

[pacecarta]

1 yes only diference was the tail lamps and header panel grill , fillers, and bulge hood /spoiler
2 no difference ,regal is a regal , the gn would have the console mtg plates welded on hump
3 see 2
4 see 3 and 2
5 doors ,glass , roof ,floors ,wipers cowl ,interior trim too although different styling design on soft parts , a/c box even though turbo is specific due to the mounting for the heat sheild the boxes are nearly identicle

wasnt asked but frame for most part is same , difference being the 2004r trans crossmember mounting points are specific to the 2004r cars , and the specific shocks springs and swaybars used for the FE3 handling pkg

 

[turbofish38]

There are very,very minor differences in the body tubs of the turbo cars. Nothing you cant modify if you have to. You would probally never know there was a difference in other words. On the firewall. By the HVAC case. Where the seams are welded together. The NA cars have a slot cut for the RH exhaust manifold. The turbo cars dont IIRC. You would think it should be the other way around with the DP fitment issues. Heres a pic from my 82 NA Regal showing the cutout. There is also a flange welded to the floor for a small heat shield on the NA cars. This is only on the G-bodies that used the NA Buick V-6. I've never noticed them on SBC/Olds V-8 models. The exhaust manifold shown is my Buick 455. If the factory didn't modify the firewall I would have had to do it to get it to clear.

 

[dwall]

Thank you for the replies/info/pictures....

I am talking to a couple people who have parts/tubs. One tub was originally a NA V6. I need rust free parts so I am asking for pictures to confirm that.

The body I have is an 87 that has rusted out floors, bottoms of quarters (well area) and a bad driver door with broken out strike plate and hinge areas( ....with lots of bubble gum welds leading to a bad fit). My trunk floor is good as are firewall, front clip, header and radiator housing. What I can see of the frame rails is good but I won't know until I jack the tub off to check the body bushing mounts. Trunk lid is decent with some rust repair needed...not sure what I will do there.

Anyway thanks again guys. Its good to know I can go back to 82 for parts and also can get some Cutlass G body stuff if I need it.

 

[thenash79]

i may be wrong but i thought 84-85 doors are different from 86-87.my 84 gn has a trim panel on top of door,my 87 the panel is built in to door,u may not care but i don't know to what extent your trying to restore.good luck finding parts (especially doors for any year)i'm still lookin for a set with good seams.Just make sure u get lots of pictures before u waste your time driving 7 hours to look at junk some people's idea of rust free my vary from yours. On one of the weekend trip i was able to stick my hand right through the "perfect" right quarter.People just love to waste my time,hopefully u don't have the same problem:smile: good luck!!