Finally getting at it! My Buick Project.

Josh, I was just thinking.

myPlate-new.asp
 
jdustu said:
It's been a while since I last researched this, so my memory isn't the best, but I can promise you it's not that simple. After 1970 they changed the spindle, and before 1970 the cars it would interchange with(the c-bodies) are nearly as hard to find with front discs.

The other issue is finding "new" discs/parts to go with that stuff. If you find them, it's pricey. With this set-up the off the shelf parts are readily available and cheap.
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If nothing else you should be able to use a proportioner from one of those cars provided it is similar in weight and has the same brake setup you're going to use (front disc, rear drum I'd assume).
 
Birdie2000 said:
If nothing else you should be able to use a proportioner from one of those cars provided it is similar in weight and has the same brake setup you're going to use (front disc, rear drum I'd assume).
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4 wheel disc. I've got a 9" set up with disc.
 
jdustu said:
It's been a while since I last researched this, so my memory isn't the best, but I can promise you it's not that simple. After 1970 they changed the spindle, and before 1970 the cars it would interchange with(the c-bodies) are nearly as hard to find with front discs.

The other issue is finding "new" discs/parts to go with that stuff. If you find them, it's pricey. With this set-up the off the shelf parts are readily available and cheap.
Click to expand...

Yes, they did change the spindle, but I was just assuming that was part of the change over. They should just bolt in. Changing drum to disc is a big mod that the chevelle/monte carlo folks do. It really shouldn't be that hard. If you can find a donor car, just take the proportioning valve along with the spindles and the disks. Even the calipers, that way you have cores to turn in. If the rubber lines are in good shape take them too. You might even be able to get the steel lines. If the engines out of the car, it'll be a piece of cake.

How far are you from me? If I'm not gone I'll help you do it.

EDIT: Ok, skip the proportioning value, I didn't see that you're going four wheel disc.
 
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patman said:
Yes, they did change the spindle, but I was just assuming that was part of the change over. They should just bolt in. Changing drum to disc is a big mod that the chevelle/monte carlo folks do. It really shouldn't be that hard. If you can find a donor car, just take the proportioning valve along with the spindles and the disks. Even the calipers, that way you have cores to turn in. If the rubber lines are in good shape take them too. You might even be able to get the steel lines. If the engines out of the car, it'll be a piece of cake.

How far are you from me? If I'm not gone I'll help you do it.

EDIT: Ok, skip the proportioning value, I didn't see that you're going four wheel disc.
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For some reason I thought is was a bigger issue doing the swap on the C-bodies. It's been a couple years, so I can't remember exactly.

Anyways, I already ordered the bracket to do this swap:
http://www.1badriv.com/rivprogres.htm#Front%20Disc%20Brake%20Conversion


Edit: I just found a thread on V8buick.com from 5 years ago where I had asked about this. A guy in St Claire Shores responded to me, and he said that the big(c body) buicks worked with each other, but that the big buicks were different from the other big gm cars. :dontknow:
 
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jdustu said:
For some reason I thought is was a bigger issue doing the swap on the C-bodies. It's been a couple years, so I can't remember exactly.

Anyways, I already ordered the bracket to do this swap:
http://www.1badriv.com/rivprogres.htm#Front%20Disc%20Brake%20Conversion


Edit: I just found a thread on V8buick.com from 5 years ago where I had asked about this. A guy in St Claire Shores responded to me, and he said that the big(c body) buicks worked with each other, but that the big buicks were different from the other big gm cars. :dontknow:
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I have a hard time buying that. GM was always known for it's interchangeability. If it where in the early fifties maybe, but 1970....?

Well, I guess it's a mute point since you've already ordered the aftermarket stuff.:cheers:
 
patman said:
I have a hard time buying that. GM was always known for it's interchangeability. If it where in the early fifties maybe, but 1970....?

Well, I guess it's a mute point since you've already ordered the aftermarket stuff.:cheers:
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The Buick was the oddball....throw in it being a big buick and it's even farther off the map.

I mean, the car came with a 9 3/8 rear, that sure as hell didn't interchange with anything. :lol:

I guess the tie rods and ball joints are different, so you can't swap the spindles.
 
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i had a '73 Olds 88 2-dr. 70-72 had interchangable parts and 74-75 had interchangable parts. my 73 was a year all on it's own (as far as body parts anyway).
 
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I got the brake conversion brackets, and just sent the part numbers that I need to do that over to Reiko.

I need to organize my garage again! My father in law retired and gave me a bunch of tools and a sweet Knack box, but it's all eating up a lot of room:)

That, and my junk metal collection is using up a lot of floorspace. :lol:
 
Alright, I'm in the middle of organizing and cleaning the shop so I have enough room to do my welding stuff and get this boat on the road. Anyone who has been in there in the last few weeks understands the magnitude of this endeavor!

I got the brake parts from Reiko and the disc conversion brackets for the front. I just need to get new brake lines and figure out what to use for the master cylinder as far as that goes.

I also dug out the 9" and the center section, so I can put that together. At that point I'll need to measure for a new driveshaft.

I think I'm just going to go through Kanter for the complete front end rebuild kit, because I'm having no luck tracking down part numbers. I guess I really should order one of those master manuals, I think TAperformance reproduces them.

I'm hoping to have it on the road by the Dream Cruise. My new plan is to do an airride setup next year. I saw so many boats on the power tour that weren't really that nice, but looked sweet because of the airride :lol:
 
installing that axle should only take you a couple hours, get moving :) very nice car. My future land yacht is a 59 impala non-post coupe.
 
nice ride man. my brother has a 67 lesabre convert in his shop now doin some major rust repair on the frame man is it cool :thumbsup:
 
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