I'm looking at a mid engine hatch project and am hoping to use the fiero cradle/suspension... i need to make sure it'll fit before i spend any more thought, time, or money on it...

if anyone has one "laying around" could you please give me the following measurments... they don't have to be super exact... the yellow/white line is supposed to be axle center line.



thanks
mark

I have the specs for an 88 cradle. Having just done an 88 cradle swap I know that they bolt up the same. At eth very least they will be close. Just wish I could remember where I got them from. I printed it out when I found it but didn't write down where I found it.

Blue line from (bolt hole to bolt hole) - 912.0mm
Red line (bolt hole to bolt hole) - 864.0mm
Green line (outside edge of bolt sleeve) - 1055.95mm
Yellow line (front bolt sleeve to axel center) - 698.5mm
White line (red line minus yellow line) - 165.5mm

The page is listed as "cradle allignment specifications" but that is all I have to go off of right now. I will scan it back in and post it tomorrow if no one beats me with the actual link.

Here is a converter if you need it in inches...
http://www.convertunits.com/from/mm/to/inches

Hope this helps.

How would this do ya... 86 specs.

[This message has been edited by Dodgerunner (edited 12-04-2007).]

That one I have never seen. Pic saved. Thanks Dodgerunner. You have the one for the 88 cradle by chance, just as a reference?

So the overall dimentions are the same but the axel center is different. Interesting, that would place the wheels in a slightly different place with an 88 cradle swap. 29.05mm or just over an inch towards the rear bumper. Not enough to make much of a difference in handeling but different none the less.

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 12-04-2007).]

Here is the '88 cradle:



PFF Search is your friend.

Center of front mounting point to axle centerline is right around 590 on the '88. The figures you see on the charts (669 & 698) are *not* the axle centerline, but are mounting points for the control arms.
Thought you might like to know before you go building a car around those figures.
Edit: What'cha got in mind? I'm working on a mid-engine VW Cabriolet & might be able to give you a few suggestions.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

[This message has been edited by Tha Driver (edited 12-05-2007).]

you guys rock...

thanks
mark

thanks for the pics!
I was planning on building a new cradle dolly - and this will help alot

er ok... measurments look good... may have to extend the wheelbase by a few inches depending on how far the engine sits forward (car already has an 84" wheel base... i'll need to do fender flairs for the extra 7" of track width anyway.

for those wondering... i'm thinking 60*v6 mid engine in this...


actualy that'll be my "big blocked" daily driver 1.5L efi engine pushing nearly 100hp ;-)... the donor car is black and has the EFI top end i'm stealing for ol blue.


so all that being said... anyone have pics (or at least measurments) of where the 60* v6 sits verticaly relative to the front of the cradle?... how high is the front most point?

thanks again guys
mark

quote Originally posted by Tha Driver: Center of front mounting point to axle centerline is right around 590 on the '88. The figures you see on the charts (669 & 698) are *not* the axle centerline, but are mounting points for the control arms. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"

That makes more sense. I was thinking about that after I posted. Thanks for clearing that up.

quote Originally posted by Marvin McInnis: Here is the '88 cradle: PFF Search is your friend.

I was sure I found it here and even did a search but could not find it again. How did you search for it?

[This message has been edited by Fieroseverywhere (edited 12-05-2007).]

First thing I would measure on the yugo is the distance between the 1/4 panels & compare that distance to the Fiero strut towers. Not sure they'll fit...
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

i know they won't fit... will require removing the inner fenders completly and fabbing strut top mounts... have some good ideas on that thanks to someone else who's done a similar swap... will likely have to cut out and refab portions of the frame also (frame rails get kind of narrow though the rear suspension area)

quote Originally posted by donalson: I'm looking at a mid engine hatch project and am hoping to use the fiero cradle/suspension... i need to make sure it'll fit before i spend any more thought, time, or money on it... thanks mark

GM made a "push me-pull me" '85 chevy citation X-11 with two 3.1L v6 engeins in it, one in the front in the stock location, and one in the back where the hatch is, using a fiero engine cradle..

quote Originally posted by donalson: i know they won't fit... will require removing the inner fenders completly and fabbing strut top mounts... have some good ideas on that thanks to someone else who's done a similar swap... will likely have to cut out and refab portions of the frame also (frame rails get kind of narrow though the rear suspension area)

Yeah I know you'll have to cut out the inner fenders: I was talking about making sure the strut towers will fit inside of the *quater panels*.
On the VW I cut out the entire rear area (you will too) from the floor where it turns up to meet the rear seat all the way back to the rear panel, including the frame rails in the area of the inner fenders, & from side to side leaving only the outer & inner 1/4 panels. Frame rails were left in, in front of & behind the inner fenders.
I then welded in 1/8" plate on the inner 1/4 panels, & fabbed up mounting brackets in the rear to mount the cradle to. In the front I welded the plate to the frame rails, & fabbed a crossmember to mount the front of the cradle to. I made a bracket to bolt to the strut towers (accross them like a strut brace), to hold then at the correct distance apart & at the correct angle.
You have to weld the plate any where you weld in brackets to avoid stress pulling the brackets away from the sheetmetal.
PM me your email address if you want & I'll send pics to show you how I did it.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

[This message has been edited by Tha Driver (edited 12-06-2007).]

Bwaahahahha! In a Yugo? Now THAT'S a sleeper. Awesome project! Reminds me of when I had dreams of installing a mid mounted V12 from a Lamborghini in a Buick station wagon :P