Hi Guys!, My car is a 1966/67 Buick Riviera. I put it that way because it's actually a 1966 car but the guy I bought it from put a lot of 1967 parts on it. Actually, I think he had a 1966 with a half way decent body but but the drivetrain was shot or non existent and a 1967 in the opposite condition. It has the 430 motor and the factory front disc brakes. Also, it has quite a few 1967 trim pieces as well. That's ok with me though, because I'd like to do a resto-mod/custom on it rather than stock. I'm currently looking at putting a PST super performance front end kit on it, but I have a question maybe you guys could help me out with. I'd love to use the polygraphite bushings but from everything I've read they don't make them for this car. Awhile back I stumbled upon this post from Yardley: http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.ph...CONTROL%20ARMS Could someone tell me why if all the big cars B, C & E bodies shared control arms for the same years the bushings are different? And wouldn't this also mean we could use Global West style tubular control arms for the Impala or Caprice as well? Thank you for any help or advice. -Eric Decatur, IL
From what I've learned over the last 6 yrs working on my 68 and read here none of that stuff will work on the 2nd gen Rivs.
Thanks for the reply Briz, I've seen a lot of your pictures both here and on google images. Love the car :TU:, my dad had a 69' Riviera when I was younger. From everything I've read that's what I've gathered too. What I don't understand is that if the information Jason provides in the Yardley post is correct, then why not? Yardley was looking for new control arms and Jason posted this: "Lowers are the same for all the big cars B, C and E bodies Gr 6.168 69-70 All B-C-E Arm Steering knuckle lower control 1387942 RH 1387943 LH Seems there was some sort of a change because the 66-68 big cars used different numbers- 1379878 RH 1379879 LH As far as the uppers- Gr 6.178 66-70 All B-C-E Arm 1235216 RH 1235217 LH So the uppers can be from any big car 66-70. The lowers have to be from a 69-70 big car. That ought to widen your search a bit." I'm assuming those numbers came from an interchange manual such as Holland?
He was replying to Yardley whose car is a 1969 Riv, which is an E body. His post says "B, C and E bodies". My 1966 is an E body, The second gen Riviera is an E body. o No:
I'm posting this just to clarify my question, not to snark at anyone. IF Jason's post is correct, in that the control arms are the same part number for all big cars, B, C and E bodies in the same year, then it follows that the control arms for a B body impala or Caprice for 1966 would fit a 1966 Riviera. As would the global west tubular control arms for the 1966 Impala or Caprice. They make polygraphite and / or del-a-lum bushings for the 1966 Impala or Caprice. Those should fit the 1966 control arm then. IF that much is true, (maybe someone with an interchange manual can verify the control arm numbers?) THEN the problem must be that the upper control arm shaft is different? If so, couldn't I just use the Impala shaft? On the lower arm, I've seen pictures that show the 1966 Impala has a longer spindle that bolts under the arm on a downward facing ball joint. Why couldn't I just use the Impala spindle, or modify the control arm so that the ball joint faces up? I don't want to tick anyone off by my persistence, and yes from everything I've read here and elsewhere it won't work. I'm just trying to understand the specifics of why not? Unless you can tell me Jason's post is wrong, then this is just moot and I'll shut up about it...
4 yrs ago I bought a complete disk brake set up fro a 73 Impala. spindles, rotors and calipers with the intention of putting on the Riv. I got as far as finding out the holes for the ball joints are different and one set is forward of the oil pan and the other is rear of the pan. Id rather drive the car ten have it sit in pieces trying to make it fit and then still most likely not getting the end results I was looking for.
Just my opinion, but I think your trying to revive a dead horse. Suspension parts are quite different than other GM brethren. I do wish you luck in your endeavors. Let us know how it works out.
