• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Cradle steel vs. aluminum

minichopper6hp

minichopper6hp

Banned - Busted For Scamming
Was wondering the weight savings on the steel cradle versus the aluminum one, picked an aluminum one up at the yard today for $32 and was curious as to the actual weight difference, i know the steel one took me and my brother but the aluminum one i can pick up with one hand no problem.
 


There's a few that have done the switch, but mostly guys who are just trying to squeeze out that extra weight savings. It won't hurt anything either though.
 
Yeah, I believe it is a direct bolton from what i've seen/read? Either that or there was some slight modifications/cutting. Lmk because I've been coming across some too but haven't pulled the trigger to buy any yet.
 
Should be the exact same, from what i hear, looks identical. It would make sense as they would only have to make one for all the platforms.
 


04+ cars have the aluminum one. i dont see the reason why its such a big mod unless youre going for big weight savings by shaving weight all over the car.
 
Bio248 said:
04+ cars have the aluminum one. i dont see the reason why its such a big mod unless youre going for big weight savings by shaving weight all over the car.
Click to expand...

The aluminum cradle has been around since the 2000 model year. They're also weaker, as I found out when mine in my Impala developed a bad crack.
 
Im going with it, $32 you cant beat it, its alot lighter. As i see it, some have this problem, some dont, but i can MIG so if it does develop a weld crack, its easily fixed.
 
Well everyone, its a direct bolt up. Running it now, its about 25 pounds lighter. For someone who is looking for weight savings, probably not that great to pull it out just for that, but for me, i had the cradle out when i pulled the tranny so it was easy and the lighter one was easier getting back up in there. For $32 i couldnt beat it.
 
25 lbs. Not really much overall. Although in your case, having the cradle already out..it was a good move. 25 lbs though, I had heard it was a great mod, then found out it was 20-25lbs and thought there's other places to save that much.
 


Does my 2000 GTP have an aluminum or steel cradle? Twenty five pounds sounds pretty significant to me for $30, especially since it's all coming out of the front end.

I'm thinking of replacing my isolators and tranny/engine mounts, so this would be worthwhile for me if it I don't already have the lighter one.

On a somewhat unrelated note, are there any options for us with subframe isolators aside from the stock rubber? The Taurus SHO guys use aluminum and plenty of other people use polyurethane, but I've never heard anyone even suggest it for our cars.
 
only 25 pounds? if it took you and your brother to get the steel one out.. and you can pick up the aluminum one with one hand... thats gotta be more than 25 pounds
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top