Front body differences in G-body cars by year

[tdskip]

Hi folks - hope everyone is having a good weekend.

I know this has been covered somewhere by my searching hasn't found prior discussions on it so forgive me for asking again.

Is there a definitive list of how the front clip of G-body cars changed over the model years?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[almostordinary]

The things I know, which isn't an exhaustive list are:

- Fender Side Markers
- Physical Antenna
- Fender Flare size
- Front Fog Ligts
- Head lights (h4. h3. sugar scoops)
- Brake Calipers
- Strut housing (Boge, Bilsteins)
- Oil Cooler Versus No Oil Cooler
- Headlight washer option


Without coffee and walking out to look at my 87 that's all I got for now.

[thejobrien]

Pretty sure front fender flares are the same for G body cars from 74-89 and the rear quarter flares were the same from 66-77 (narrow body) and then flared more for the 79-84 cars (SC/carrera flares) - but thats from what I have gathered so far

[tdskip]

Thanks gentlemen.

Any difference in body stamping?

Appreciate the responses.

[Classic 911]

No brake booster on the early ones, brake booster from 1977.

[tdskip]

Thanks

[darrin]

Originally Posted by tdskip

Thanks gentlemen.

Any difference in body stamping?

Appreciate the responses.

Rear fenders for 78-86 (915 transmission) are different than 87-89 (g50 transmission)

[KRLocke]

Originally Posted by tdskip

Thanks gentlemen.

Any difference in body stamping?

Appreciate the responses.

I have heard that Carreras are heavier than SCs because thicker gauge metal was used in the body itself here and there. This is just cars and coffee talk so not authoritative.

The long used kidney bowl little stamping behind the door pillar was replaced with a wider longer arm that integrates with the rocker starting in 86.

[PeteKz]

By “front clip” I assume you mean the body, not brakes, suspension, etc. As you probably know, the big change was for the 1974 model year when they switched to the impact bumpers. From my online searching, I’ve found that the bumper, trim, the metal panels behind the front bumper, between the shock towers, and the front fenders are listed as “1974-1989”. There may have been some minor changes, such as finish or galvanizing, but the online parts catalogs strongly suggest that they are interchangeable for that 15 years. If you need a particular part, you should check with suppliers to be sure it works on your car, but for planning purposes, there were no substantive changes.

[dg567]

Theres a support that is on the pass side fender to the left of the spare that isn't there on 74-76/77 and I think was introduced on SCs

1974:




1983:

[PeteKz]

Yup, it looks like another brace was added at some point.

[Arlo911]

That brace is US spec only.

[onboost]

Originally Posted by almostordinary

The things I know, which isn't an exhaustive list are:

- Fender Side Markers
- Physical Antenna
- Fender Flare size
- Front Fog Ligts
- Head lights (h4. h3. sugar scoops)
- Brake Calipers
- Strut housing (Boge, Bilsteins)
- Oil Cooler Versus No Oil Cooler
- Headlight washer option


Without coffee and walking out to look at my 87 that's all I got for now.

- Fender side markers: were euro spec only, the did not come on US cars

- Antenna: varied based on option of radio, many were dealer installed typically on
pass fender

- No difference on flare size

- Fog lights: optional on most earlier cars including early SCs, standard on 84 >
Carrera

-Head lights: sugar scoop w/sealed beam standard on U.S. Cars, H4 standard on euro/option for U.S., H5 on later Carrera (H3?)

- Brake Calipers: Most had the A caliper w/some variants having the aluminum S
caliper which of course could be ordered as an option

- Strut housing (Boge, Bilsteins): Some earlier car 74 - 77 may have had koni Boge
or Bilstein 77-on

- Oil Cooler Versus No Oil Cooler: most with no cooler 74 - 76 although early turbo
had them. Late 76 and 77 began to get them and they as trombone cooler.. some of
the euro SCs and carreras began to get brass tube version until the radiator style
showed up.

- Headlight washer option: want to say they showed up in 76 model year, there are 2
versions.. one the sits-up on the bumper which ran through 79, then the
flat/recessed in the bumper appeared in 1980

Originally Posted by Classic 911

No brake booster on the early ones, brake booster from 1977.

Depends on build date, we always considered the 77 cars as basically an early SC without flares or booster.

Originally Posted by darrin

Rear fenders for 78-86 (915 transmission) are different than 87-89 (g50 transmission)

The only difference in the two is the opening for the torsion bar.. 87 -89 is larger. Otherwise, they are the same including the gauge of the metal.

Originally Posted by Arlo911

That brace is US spec only.

This is correct.. "brace is US spec only."

[Mark Salvetti]

One minor difference that wasn't mentioned - the later Carrera's have an opening under the front bumper above the right fog light to get more air to the oil cooler. I think this started in 1987.

And of course the fog light style changed to a flush-mount in the front valence in 1984. On the SCs they were on hinged mounts bolted to the exterior of the front valence.

It think the radio antenna went away in 1985 (maybe mid-1985) in favor of an antenna in the windshield.

Mark

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by onboost

- Fender side markers: were euro spec only, the did not come on US cars

Flasher repeaters (not markers) in the fender are '86-on, IIRC. And yes, Euro-only.

IIRC, the rear fog lamp (center or offside of the vehicle) was a Euro requirement; in the UK for vehicles manufactured after 1 October. 1979 and first used from 1 April 1980.

In the UK, rear seat belts were compulsory equipment for vehicles manufactured 1986-on.

Originally Posted by onboost

- Antenna: varied based on option of radio, many were dealer installed typically on pass fender

I thought I read that the side they were installed on depended on whether it was manual or power antenna?

Originally Posted by onboost

Depends on build date, we always considered the 77 cars as basically an early SC without flares or booster.

I thought all '77 MY cars got the 7" servo/booster? Mine was a May build, so late in the run, I guess.

Last year 3.0 turbos also got them (after I upgraded mine to a 8" 930 servo, my 7" servo got used as a replacement in a 3.0 930 - part #'s matched, which was important for that car/owner).

[tdskip]

Great discussion and information, appreciate all the responses and sharing.

[Rodsrsr]

Always wondered why my 76 doesn't have that extra brace. The knowledge on this forum is crazy!

[spuggy]

Also:

- my '77 has the bracket in the frunk on the driver's side behind the shock tower that accepts the high-intensity washer reservoir/pump - even though this system doesn't show up in PET until 1984 MY. Presumably there was a point at which earlier cars didn't have that provision.

- Apparently, later G-body cars (starting somewhere in the SC run) have the bracket on the right side of the engine bay for the second decklid shock needed for a heavier tail. The '77 doesn't (have to weld the bracket on yourself).

[Tinkerer]

Originally Posted by Mark Salvetti

It think the radio antenna went away in 1985 (maybe mid-1985) in favor of an antenna in the windshield.

Mark

Yes, ‘84 was the last year of the passenger fender antenna

[Mocker]

Originally Posted by onboost

- Headlight washer option: want to say they showed up in 76 model year, there are 2
versions.. one the sits-up on the bumper which ran through 79, then the
flat/recessed in the bumper appeared in 1980

Not to be pedantic, but the snorkel washers were replaced with the flush-mounted sprayers mid-way through MY '79. No difference in the stamping for the bumper.