Hey Guys, I recently purchased a full disk brake conversion kit from Summit Racing. For the rear brake kit, the calliper brackets that are supposed to fit just on the inside of the axle flange (on the pumpkin side) are two small to fit around the tube. This is because the tube has an upset and flairs out just before the flange (to make room for the bearing). Summit is telling me that I have the incorrect rear end and axles. They said these cars are supposed to be c-clip axles, not bolt on and not have a flair at the flange. What I have is a Canadian 68 GS 400 car with an 8.2 inch rear end, 3.64 gears with bolt in axles. I’m about 95% sure it is original to the car. It is a right stuff conversion kit. Before I phone back/try phone Right Stuff. I just want to make sure I am correct that these cars did come with bolt in axles. Does anyone else’s car have a flairs like this? Picture is attached. The guy from Summit also tried telling me that my GS is just a Skylark with upgraded trim...I paid a fair amount of money for this kit so it would be nice if it worked. Or at least didn’t go to waist.
Can I get a picture of the caliper bracket? I am pretty sure it is the style that I install,and you just need to enlarge the diameter of the bracket to fit over the tube.
No problem. I will get pictures tonight. Although there doesn’t seem to be much material that could be removed. But maybe I’m looking at it the wrong way.
Sumitt is wrong. All the 64-72 Buick, Olds, and Pontiac 8.2 10 bolts were bolt in axle, so unless you have a Chevy 8.2 10 bolt, your axles are bolt in. http://www.jdrace.com/content/diff_id/10bBOP_Buick.php http://www.jdrace.com/content/diff_id/10bBOP_Pontiac.php http://www.jdrace.com/content/diff_id/10bBOP_Early.php
Ok, You will need to gring the bracket to make it fit...WE have done these before. Then you will need to grind the outer diameter of your axle shaft diameter flange. from 6" down to 5.85" at least... ALL BOP rears (BOLT IN AXLES) have this trouble with the rotor not fitting the axle shaft hub and the large bearing Gr diameter needs more room in the bracket to clear....YOU WILL NEED TO grind and fit if you are using that kit. It will fit...keep radius grinding and test fitting until you get it so it fits correct. YOU MAY EVEN cut into the bracket bolt hole...IT IS THAT CLOSE. Sorry...Just the way it is with the GS. rw507cr (NON GS)bearing I think just makes it the rw507GR (GS)does not.
This is why I did the weld on brackets and wilwood calipers and the cheap dirt track hat and vented rotors
By the way ...you really are bottoming out that chassis a lot huh? Look at your bump stop rubbers. Jim
Thanks guys. I will remove some of the material. As far as bottoming out, that’s all previous owners. I’m yet to drive the car. I just installed new rear coils and shocks last week.
I thought Canadian cars got 12 bolts. (?) I know of a couple ‘68s that did, but maybe not GSs with performance gears? Patrick
I know of a ‘68 Skylark Custom (30,000 mile car!) built with a 12 bolt Chevy, and have read and been told that GM did that in Canada through ‘69. Patrick http://www.v8buick.com/index.php?threads/help-identify-this-rear-end-12-bolt.310944/
I hope the rear is good??? You did not take it for a test drive when you bought it.... Freeway should always be one of the trips 60 mph range will tell you a lot about most cars. Then bring it back. let it sit about 10 minutes...go back and try to start it again. If it is hard starting you probably have more issues again. Just extra stuff learned over the years of buying old cars. Jim
The rear is good. Motor was out of the car when purchased and am now doing a frame off. This is my second Buick restoration. 1st was. 71 skylark that burnt down in a garage fire. Living in Sask Canada, if you find a car that your looking for that’s this old that’s got a good body with a good interior, factory 4 speed manual 400...you buy it.
I have seen multiple Canadian built Skylarks with the factory 12 bolt. Guessing if your car had the 364 gear they had to go with the 10 bolt.
You don’t need to remove much material to get it to fit. I have fit that bracket over the slightly larger SET10 housing end,and did some substantial grinding to fit them over a Moser 7900 housing end. If you get the kit from Inline Tube,the rotor hat will fit over the axle without any machining. I think they are machining the inside of the rotor hat to do this,but it saves you the hassle,especially if your rearend is all assembled. Otherwise you will need to remove your shafts and have the wheel flanges turned down to 6.00”.
