1937-1957 Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac suspension upgrade
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Front Suspension | Front Suspension | ||
| − | Here is where the fun starts. The original idea came from a magazine article that showed an upgrade for a 55 Pontiac. Reading this article, which has some decent pictures, will get you thinking in the right direction. | + | Here is where the fun starts. The original idea came from a magazine article that showed an upgrade for a 55 Pontiac. Reading this article, which has some decent pictures, will get you thinking in the right direction. |
| + | http://www.pontiacsafari.com/L1Garage/BallJointConversion.pdf | ||
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With some research we figured this would work on all 37-57 BOP’s cause they all had the same basic set up. What we learned was, the 58 Pontiac Lower Control arms are the key. They are a direct bolt in, exactly the same as the originals, but with ball joints instead of king pins. 59 and later BOP’s went to a completely different control arm mount. 58 Buick lowers are not symmetrical, so they won’t work. (waiting for someone to confirm that 37-57 Buicks are the same as BOP’s, right now it is unconfirmed) | With some research we figured this would work on all 37-57 BOP’s cause they all had the same basic set up. What we learned was, the 58 Pontiac Lower Control arms are the key. They are a direct bolt in, exactly the same as the originals, but with ball joints instead of king pins. 59 and later BOP’s went to a completely different control arm mount. 58 Buick lowers are not symmetrical, so they won’t work. (waiting for someone to confirm that 37-57 Buicks are the same as BOP’s, right now it is unconfirmed) | ||
Also we do not have a 58 Olds to check those lower control arms. What we do know is 57 is king pins, and 59 is all new. So 58 is it. We used the 58 Pontiac upper control arms simply because we got the whole front end. Make a note that several uppers will work. Looks like 58 to 60 BOP’s all had the same basic dimensions on their upper control arms. In fact, the 58 Buick uppers we used on one conversion had some built in twist that allowed us to add more anti dive than we could get with the Pontiac uppers. | Also we do not have a 58 Olds to check those lower control arms. What we do know is 57 is king pins, and 59 is all new. So 58 is it. We used the 58 Pontiac upper control arms simply because we got the whole front end. Make a note that several uppers will work. Looks like 58 to 60 BOP’s all had the same basic dimensions on their upper control arms. In fact, the 58 Buick uppers we used on one conversion had some built in twist that allowed us to add more anti dive than we could get with the Pontiac uppers. | ||
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For spindles, I started with the 63 Pontiac spindles as advised in the article. ( Tapered bearings and a good Scarebird kit available.) Unfortunately when I set it on the ground, it was too high. This led to a search for dropped spindles. BOP – they don’t exist. | For spindles, I started with the 63 Pontiac spindles as advised in the article. ( Tapered bearings and a good Scarebird kit available.) Unfortunately when I set it on the ground, it was too high. This led to a search for dropped spindles. BOP – they don’t exist. | ||
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* bend at the bottom. That is to clear the wide corners on the lower control arm. The 60’s stock Chevy spindle has a 45* angle there, and won’t work. | 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* bend at the bottom. That is to clear the wide corners on the lower control arm. The 60’s stock Chevy spindle has a 45* angle there, and won’t work. | ||
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[[image:63_pontiac_65_chevy_spindle_2.jpg]] | [[image:63_pontiac_65_chevy_spindle_2.jpg]] | ||
[[image:Cpp_-_Pont_-_chevy_spindles.jpg]] | [[image:Cpp_-_Pont_-_chevy_spindles.jpg]] | ||
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The only real issue with the stock lower control arms is the king pin mounts. My buddy with the 49 Olds has a yard, but no 58 Pontiacs. He didn’t want to wait for one to come in, so we cut the outer end off his lower control arms and welded on a 3/8 plate for a ball joint mount. He did have a 58 Buick, so those were the uppers we used. He had already pulled a complete spindle/disc brake setup off an early 70’s Chevy so we knew going in the 45* angle on the spindle was going to be a problem. As it turns out, the narrower end on the original lower control arms is a blessing. A chevy spindle can be made to work, but he knew the Ford Courier had a ball joint with a 3 point “crowsfoot” design. It is very narrow at the outer end, and the Chevy spindle cleared with no problems. There must be several ball joint mounts that could be adapted to the original arms. Just remember, the ball joints point down. | The only real issue with the stock lower control arms is the king pin mounts. My buddy with the 49 Olds has a yard, but no 58 Pontiacs. He didn’t want to wait for one to come in, so we cut the outer end off his lower control arms and welded on a 3/8 plate for a ball joint mount. He did have a 58 Buick, so those were the uppers we used. He had already pulled a complete spindle/disc brake setup off an early 70’s Chevy so we knew going in the 45* angle on the spindle was going to be a problem. As it turns out, the narrower end on the original lower control arms is a blessing. A chevy spindle can be made to work, but he knew the Ford Courier had a ball joint with a 3 point “crowsfoot” design. It is very narrow at the outer end, and the Chevy spindle cleared with no problems. There must be several ball joint mounts that could be adapted to the original arms. Just remember, the ball joints point down. | ||
We used his original springs, but don’t have it finished yet, so we may do some adjusting to the ride height when all is said and done. Be aware, if you use a disc brake kit with the caliper to the front, you will probably have an issue with the sway bar. | We used his original springs, but don’t have it finished yet, so we may do some adjusting to the ride height when all is said and done. Be aware, if you use a disc brake kit with the caliper to the front, you will probably have an issue with the sway bar. | ||
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| + | [[image:49_olds_upper_mount_1.jpg]] | ||
| + | [[image:49_olds_lower_with_for_ball_joint.jpg]] | ||
One other tidbit. The 40’s cars had very small sway bars. 5/8th inch. Happened to stumble across a 56 Buick. The sway bar was ¾ inch and bolted in without modification. | One other tidbit. The 40’s cars had very small sway bars. 5/8th inch. Happened to stumble across a 56 Buick. The sway bar was ¾ inch and bolted in without modification. | ||
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