1937-1957 Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac suspension upgrade
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The upper control arm mount is a fairly simple fabrication. If you have a pre-50's car, the upper mount will differ from this article. The pre-50's had the lever action shock, therefore no upper shock mount. On both of our tested conversions ('41 Pontiac and '49 Olds) we fabricated the mounts out of angle iron. We used ¼ in. 3x3 angle iron on the Pontiac, and added 2 gussets. On the Olds, we had some 3/8" 4x6 angle iron, so only added one gusset. | The upper control arm mount is a fairly simple fabrication. If you have a pre-50's car, the upper mount will differ from this article. The pre-50's had the lever action shock, therefore no upper shock mount. On both of our tested conversions ('41 Pontiac and '49 Olds) we fabricated the mounts out of angle iron. We used ¼ in. 3x3 angle iron on the Pontiac, and added 2 gussets. On the Olds, we had some 3/8" 4x6 angle iron, so only added one gusset. | ||
| − | [[image:49_olds_upper_mount_1.jpg|frame|none| | + | [[image:49_olds_upper_mount_1.jpg|frame|none|49 Olds.]] |
Note in the pictures how the front mount is higher than the rear mount. This sets up the anti-dive angle. Up to 10 degrees is fine, as long as the upper ball joint is not in a bind. Be sure the frame is level side-to-side, and has the correct front-to-rear angle that you want. (With 15 inch wheels, the spindle center was 12.5 inches off the ground. The frame was blocked, so that when the lower A was level, the spindle was 12.5 inches up.) | Note in the pictures how the front mount is higher than the rear mount. This sets up the anti-dive angle. Up to 10 degrees is fine, as long as the upper ball joint is not in a bind. Be sure the frame is level side-to-side, and has the correct front-to-rear angle that you want. (With 15 inch wheels, the spindle center was 12.5 inches off the ground. The frame was blocked, so that when the lower A was level, the spindle was 12.5 inches up.) | ||
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If you intend to add power steering, shoot for 6 degrees in the neutral position, but don't get the uppers so far behind the lowers that you put the ball joints in a bind. In this situation, holes were drilled in the bottom plate of the angle iron, and, when it was mocked up, the frame was drilled and bolted up with 3/8 inch bolts. This was strong enough to allow for assembly of the entire front end, with springs, putting the wheels and tires on it, and setting it on the ground. Everything was double-checked, then torn down and welded in place. | If you intend to add power steering, shoot for 6 degrees in the neutral position, but don't get the uppers so far behind the lowers that you put the ball joints in a bind. In this situation, holes were drilled in the bottom plate of the angle iron, and, when it was mocked up, the frame was drilled and bolted up with 3/8 inch bolts. This was strong enough to allow for assembly of the entire front end, with springs, putting the wheels and tires on it, and setting it on the ground. Everything was double-checked, then torn down and welded in place. | ||
| − | [[image:Upper_mount_mocked_up_side_view.jpg|frame|none| | + | [[image:Upper_mount_mocked_up_side_view.jpg|frame|none|upper control arm mount, mocked up.]] |
| − | [[image:Uper_mount_mocked_2.jpg|frame|none| | + | [[image:Uper_mount_mocked_2.jpg|frame|none|bolted in for testing.]] |
For spindles, the '63 Pontiac spindles advised in the article were used. Unfortunately, when it was set it on the ground, it was too high. This led to a search for dropped spindles. For BOP, dropped spindles couldn't be found. Chevy drop spindles are readily available, but they come with a problem. Note the side by side comparisons in the picture. The '63 Pontiac spindle has a deep 90 degree bend at the bottom, to clear the wide corners on the lower control arm. The 60's stock Chevy spindle has a 45 degree angle there, and won’t work. | For spindles, the '63 Pontiac spindles advised in the article were used. Unfortunately, when it was set it on the ground, it was too high. This led to a search for dropped spindles. For BOP, dropped spindles couldn't be found. Chevy drop spindles are readily available, but they come with a problem. Note the side by side comparisons in the picture. The '63 Pontiac spindle has a deep 90 degree bend at the bottom, to clear the wide corners on the lower control arm. The 60's stock Chevy spindle has a 45 degree angle there, and won’t work. | ||
| − | [[image:63_pontiac_65_chevy_spindle_2.jpg|frame|none| | + | [[image:63_pontiac_65_chevy_spindle_2.jpg|frame|none|Pontiac vs Chevy spindle shape.]] |
| − | [[image:Cpp_-_Pont_-_chevy_spindles.jpg|frame|none| | + | [[image:Cpp_-_Pont_-_chevy_spindles.jpg|frame|none|CPP custom spindle/Pontiac/Chevy.]] |
The third spindle is the '65-'70 Chevy drop spindle from Classic Performance Products. It's their own in-house design and is very close to the design of a Pontiac spindle. The ears had to be trimmed off the front side of the lower A frame, but that was a minor modification. | The third spindle is the '65-'70 Chevy drop spindle from Classic Performance Products. It's their own in-house design and is very close to the design of a Pontiac spindle. The ears had to be trimmed off the front side of the lower A frame, but that was a minor modification. | ||
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