[46fmaster]

hey everyone, I was just wandering if the old caprise and malibu shared the same ft. end as far as firewall foward? I have a '46 chevy fleetmaster and have been told the '80 malibu clip will almost just weld right up.... but have a chance to drive 4 hrs. away and pick up a 80's model caprice for FREE!!! so before I spend money on a malibu "clip" just wanted to check to see if they are abou the same? thanks


nick

[Triaged]

They are not the same. The B-bodies (caprice) are wider then the G-bodies (malibu). Just about everything is bigger/heavier. B-body wagons are also 5 on 5" bolt circle for the wheels rather then the standard 5 on 4.75".

[xntrik]

Originally Posted by Triaged

They are not the same. The B-bodies (caprice) are wider then the G-bodies (malibu). Just about everything is bigger/heavier. B-body wagons are also 5 on 5" bolt circle for the wheels rather then the standard 5 on 4.75".

Big Chevy cars began using the 5 on 5 bolt pattern in 72, sharing it with the big Pontiacs/Olds/Buick of the 60s and the Chevy pickups.

In fact, so did Ford cars in 73. In the 70s the wheels were interchangeable between Ford, Chevy, BOP, and Chevy trucks. I had a 76 Caprice and a 77 Ford and the wheels/tires were swapped vehicle to vehicle. Somewhere back in the 80s, I think, even Ford pickup dropped to 5 x 5 for a while.

[46fmaster]

so just the frame with is'nt the same? I know the car with is different.... but the frame narrows back down in the front. I can find all th demensions I want about the Malibu on the net bu t I can't find a ting about caprice? What I need is mainly track width, frme width from firewall forward, so if anyone has them or knows where I might be able to find them, Please let me know.

Thanks
Nick

[Henry Highrise]

The Caprice is wider than the Malibu. The Caprice and the Impala shared the same frame I think.

[jimfulco]

But you have to watch out. Some of the post-'76 B-bodies had 5-on-4.75" patterns and some had 5-on-5". Same thing with 7.5" & 8.5" rear axles.

I think I'd hold out for a G-body. There's quite a few of them still around. The Caprice might make good trading fodder though, so get it anyway.