GM G-Body Performance Upgrades 1978 - 1987 (incl. LS engine swap procedure)

Author: Joe Hinds, ISBN: 9781613250327

All the best suspension, brake and chassis upgrades. Includes a complete LS engine swap procedure.

1978-82 CHEVY MALIBU
1982-88 CHEVY MONTE CARLO
1982-87 CHEVY EL CAMINO
1982-87 GMC CABALLERO
1982-87 BUICK REGAL 
1980-87 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
1984-86 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE
1982-83 PONTIAC GRAND LEMANS
1980-88 OLDS CUTLASS

While some may have perceived the GM G-Body as a run-of-the-mill midsize passenger car, the G-Body was indeed capable of spectacular performance, and models such as the Monte Carlo SS, Hurst/Olds, Regal T-Type, and others proved this. In fact, the Buick Grand National earned the title of the fastest American production car in the mid 1980s. Hundreds of thousands of G-Body cars, which included Buick Regal, Chevy El Camino, Oldsmobile 4-4-2, and Pontiac Grand Prix, were made between 1978 and 1987. This was also the body chosen for use in NASCAR competition at the time, and some special-edition G-Bodies were aerodynamically enhanced by the factory to give their NASCAR teams an on-track edge.

Today, the pre-1987 G-Body is the classic American front engine/rear-wheel-drive platform. This affordable and plentiful car is easily upgraded into a high-performance vehicle that rivals most other American V-8 muscle cars. Author Joe Hinds covers how to shop for, thoroughly inspect, and purchase a G-Body that fits your needs and budget. Once you have your G-Body car, he details how to extract the maximum performance. He does this by explaining how to upgrade each major component group: powertrain, suspension, braking system, and interior. In addition, he shows you the steps to build and upgrade a G-Body for a particular application, such as high-performance street, Pro Touring, drag racing.

The aftermarket has recognized this growing market segment and now offers a wide array of high-performance parts. Whether pure acceleration or overall handling improvement is the goal, he covers it all clearly and concisely.

About the Author

Ever since Joe Hinds and his dad drove home his first car, a 1957 Chevy Be! Air, in the spring of 1985, he has been obsessed with cars. For most of his life it was a hobby, besides working for restoration parts suppliers such as Year One and Mustangs Unlimited. Since 2009, he has owned and managed Bulldawg Musclecars, a full-service restoration and high-performance shop that specializes in building pro-touring G-Body cars. The business has become known for not only LS-series engine swaps, but EFI Hemis and modular Fords as well. Joe lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with his wife and son.