General Questions about the 4th Gen

[treborjm]

I have a 1994 Grand Am SE Sedan. It doesn't seem like there is a lot of discussion about this model. I've seen a lot of discussion about '99 and up. Should I be worried about this car?

I've been wondering if I can use parts from the 95-98 years on this car. Suspension (GT parts???), Interior, Exterior, (GT Grills and Spoilers?) & drivetrain. (Replace 3.1L/Auto tranny with Ecotec/5 Speed) I'm not sure where to start. It's hard to do a specific search on a specific year and try to come back with all that you can do to a certain year.

Thanks for any help.

FLAME ON! I know it's coming...

[eric99gt]

There's a few here with that generation GA. Just have to figure with the age though there are less of them around. Parts from the 3400 will swap over though. But at that point you may be better off doing an entire engine swap

[treborjm]

So, will the parts from the newer GA's directly bolt into my car? For Example... I would like to replace the entire interior. Maybe use a '98 interior??? The interior in this car is shot.

So far, I have only found two major things (besides the obvious cosmetics) different between the 4th and 5th generations. Lug spacing and engine size.

I have so many questions... (Just a warning in advance) LOL!

Thanks,

Treb

[eric99gt]

I'm not too up on what can swap places within the interior. Not my fortee (sp way off).

[Nighthawk243]

Well... It will take work to convert the early 4th gen interior to the late 4th gen interior. The 1996+ interior did some changes such as relocating the handbrakes (1994 had it on the floor, while 96+ has it on the console.) Also your gauge cluster is different, so you will probably need to do the electrical work involved with that, if possible (94 was OBD I while 96+ is OBDII, they use different harnesses.)

Seats though are easy, they'll change pretty readily.

As far as engine tranny swap, its best stick with a V6. It is hell to just go from a I4 to V6 between the Quad4 and 3100, but its another thing to try to go between OBD Generations.

[ChevelleSSLS6]

As for putting the alumanum head 3400 under the hood (all 3400s EXCEPT the GM performance parts 3.4HT engine designed to replace the 2.8 in Blazers and S10s that I know of have alum. heads that flow better than the 3100 head), I think resetting the OBD1 computer (remove from power supply for a while) and hooking up all applicable OBD1 sensors to the 3400 engine and it should work.

I did not try it, but it seems logical that GM would design the newer cars this way, since a total overhaul of wiring and such would cost more.

[treborjm]

This is all great info. Just the kind of stuff that I am looking for.

How about suspension? Can I use the struts and IRS from a newer GT?

Before I buy new wheels, I would like to change to the 5 X 115 Bolt pattern.

This car has so many miles on it, and is in desparate need of new CV Joints (most likely will just replace the both axles) but, before I change them out, I would like to be certain that I CAN'T use the hub assemblies from a newer GA. I would hate to change the CV's and have them be incompatible with a newer hub.

Sorry that this is long and drawn out, but I do have a ton of questions...

[RazorDX]

I'm pretty sure you can't. The bolt pattern for the wheels changed from 4th to 5th generation, leading me to believe that a lot more has changed.

[treborjm]

So, the wheel pattern changed when we went from 4th to 5th?

<Edit>

Did the Strut assembly change at anytime from 92 to 98? I thought that the '98's had 115mm bolt patterns.

Maybe I can just use the newer struts?

Thanks.

[Nighthawk243]

IIRC, the suspension for the 4th gen's changed starting 1995.

[gt00]

I thought that the '98's had 115mm bolt patterns.Nope , 99+ ;)

[RazorDX]

The struts were the same from 1992-1998. 1999+ have a different strut.

[treborjm]

What about the Knuckle? Can I just use the 5th Gen Knuckle on the 4th Gen Strut? Same for the Rear. On my 2001 Sunfire, Some guys from the Jbody.org were using 5th Gen suspension parts on the J-Bodies. For the front, They had used a knuckle from a 5th Gen, Outer CV from the 5th Gen. For the rear, they used the entire GT IRS from a 5th Gen. Will none of this work on the 4th Gen?

Thanks,

Treb

<EDIT>

Just answered my own question... Found out that the Knuckle is completely different. Steering on the 4th Gen... The outer tie rod bolts to the strut on the 4th Gen, and the tie rod bolts to the knuckle on the 5th Gen. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

[Matt95GT]

Well... It will take work to convert the early 4th gen interior to the late 4th gen interior. The 1996+ interior did some changes such as relocating the handbrakes (1994 had it on the floor, while 96+ has it on the console.) Also your gauge cluster is different, so you will probably need to do the electrical work involved with that, if possible (94 was OBD I while 96+ is OBDII, they use different harnesses.)

Seats though are easy, they'll change pretty readily.

As far as engine tranny swap, its best stick with a V6. It is hell to just go from a I4 to V6 between the Quad4 and 3100, but its another thing to try to go between OBD Generations.

Yea... I'll second all of that. Stick with the same engine family. If a swap is in your future, using a 3400 is the easiest, as you can still use the original harness and OBD1.5 PCM.



How about suspension? Can I use the struts and IRS from a newer GT?

Before I buy new wheels, I would like to change to the 5 X 115 Bolt pattern.

This car has so many miles on it, and is in desparate need of new CV Joints (most likely will just replace the both axles) but, before I change them out, I would like to be certain that I CAN'T use the hub assemblies from a newer GA. I would hate to change the CV's and have them be incompatible with a newer hub.

Sorry that this is long and drawn out, but I do have a ton of questions...

The front suspension is the same up to (and including) 98. The rear suspension was revised, so 95-98 parts are not compatible with your 94... you'll need pre-95 rear parts.

5x115 isn't an easily feasible swap.

You can't use the hub assemblies from the newer GA's. Way different... and the new ones have the ABS sensors integrated. (and they like to fail... so that's almost taking a step backwards)

What about the Knuckle? Can I just use the 5th Gen Knuckle on the 4th Gen Strut? Same for the Rear. On my 2001 Sunfire, Some guys from the Jbody.org were using 5th Gen suspension parts on the J-Bodies. For the front, They had used a knuckle from a 5th Gen, Outer CV from the 5th Gen. For the rear, they used the entire GT IRS from a 5th Gen. Will none of this work on the 4th Gen?

Thanks,

Treb

<EDIT>

Just answered my own question... Found out that the Knuckle is completely different. Steering on the 4th Gen... The outer tie rod bolts to the strut on the 4th Gen, and the tie rod bolts to the knuckle on the 5th Gen. Oh well, back to the drawing board.

Yea... pretty much nothing on the 5th gen will work on the 4th gen.