Well, for those of you who thought I was talking about your GFou: I meant my 64 skylark. As a couple of you may know Im pulling my motor out in a couple months and working on susp./firewall prep and have a great deal on some global west tubular control arms/tall spindles/baer brakes that I want to use. I want to lower it. Heres my question. It will be carrying a Chevy aluminum LS1 engine in her which is lighter than the 300 I would imagine I know there is a lot of people that can chime in on preference on lowering springs/drop spindles/tubular control arms/tall spindles/cutting stock springs ect. but if anyone has dropped their car can you please post pics and explain all thats been done to it so I can see what and where I want my buick to sit. Im thinking tubular control arms(Global west) hotchkis lowering springs w/2 in drop spindles and Baer brakes on all fours...will that work? I want the front tucked in wheel well about 2in and the rears tucked in 1in..it will be sitting on 17" cragars Im thinking as well. Hopefully I can get some input on this thread as its a little vague...anyways any help much appreciated:beers2:
I was hoping for the GF but then you totally ruin the Buick thing by putting a chevy in it. What's that all about; this it the V-8 Buick page. I would ask that you rethink the engien swap.
Have you thought about air-ride? I just got the bags to do my 67 Rivi. That will get the look you want, and also it will handle like a million bucks! It seems like you want the pro-touring look??
450rwhp along with a 200 shot/fuel injected/6sp...:Brow: Come on...really do i have to explain how much fun that would be?? I was thinking 455 but the thought of fuel injection and 6sp other than searching for yrs on end finding a 4sp set up is not fitting the bill...Dont be jealous p just kidding, Even though its a chevy I would still hope that you would support a fellow Buick owner, and besides, how many 64s are already restored to original condition....alot!
Might possibly go that route, what set up are you running on the riv? How hard is it to set up? Its a custom route that Im taking with it but you have me listening....
Anyone can do this swap.... ..its the guy that Buick powers a BUICK that has our attention. I myself have thought about this deal too. But how much more impressive when you open the hood and see a BUICK engine??? Otherwise its just another:boring: cookie cutter chevy motor car.... wont be any sypathy around here :Smarty:
Well, lets start off with the rear. What I am doung is building a stand off, on top of the axle appx. 1.5"(just enough to put the bolts in the bottom of the bag) On the top of the bag there will be a plate about 5.5" dia. with a piece of round tube 5" i.d. As for the leignth of the tube, that will determine the heigth of the car when the bags are deflated. the upper "cup" will get bolted in through the trunk. For the front, I will have to cut out some of the frame for the bag clearence. Abrasian is the first killer of an airbag. Once the frame is cut out, and re-enforced there is a "cup" in the spring pocket that will be bolted in through the top shock hole. The bottom of the bag will rest on a slightly modified lower control arm. Basicly I will cut it a little, and weld in a plate to mount the bottom of the bag to. Run some air line to the valves, and air it up! This is a VERY basic explanation to what I am in the process of doing. I hav put air ride on quite a few Chevy S-10's, Ford Rangers, and full size Chevy's. My latest one was a full tube chassis for a 1950 Chevy coupe. As for suppliers of air ride parts>>> www.suicidedoors.com is a good one. I think if you have some fabrication experience, you could buy the bags, and an air managment system, and do ot yourself for a fraction of the cost of say an Air-ride Technologies system (they do have very nice stuff). I hope this helps! My home internet is shut off cuz we are moving, otherwise I would post some pics. My avitar is my Ranger that I did for example. Justin
And you are entitled to your opinion 100% if its a boring cookie cutter chevy motor...I know a lot of people wont have sympathy about how I restore my buick this thread is not for the people who dont have sympathy. Im not looking to debate as a lot of you "die hard" buy every single die cast replica buick at the hobby store guy are done with. Why the beef racebuicks? Am I pissing off the Buick Gods by going Chevy or am I ruffling a couple old farts feathers because Im bringing new technology and putting it into old?
You can do what you want, your car. However some events that I attend would not allow your car to play as a crossbred car. (all of the events I have been too in the last 4 years actually) Its still your choice but a well tuned 455 (weighes the same as a SBC) will run as well as your LS1 on spray and will have twice the torque. That you can take to the bank. But what I dont understand is, why ask Buick guys what they think when you dont like the answer you get? We have had these kind of questions before about chevy powered cars. Even the Hot Rod magazine people tell me that they are sick of that combo. They actually look for cars that have what they are supposed to be in it to photograph. IMO its been done to the point of being boring. After all Im almost 50 Ive seen it before over and over again. I have a story of the 65 backhalf skylark here in town I know of. Its chevy powered. He wanted to race me and well I embarassed him so bad it wasnt funny. (with the wifes stock GS) Anyway moving along........... As for the other things you were asking about, We have done these tubular arms and they are bad ass. Make sure you buy the stuff made for the car exaclty and it bolts in with little to no problems. Watch your header clearance before you lower it. Good luck
it's a Buick board and your going to find Buick lovers. I'm sure we'd get the same heat from a chevy board about putting in a Buick 300 into a Chevy. oh btw.. here are some modernized 455's and 350's I believe there was a 215 efi (less computer)and blower setup for sale reasonable in the parts section. http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=166550
:shock: Guy, I didnt ask if anyone liked the engine idea. I would know what response I would get if I specifically asked "What do you guys think about an LS1" in a Buick specialized website Its funny how I ask about suspension mods and it turns to "You will not get sympathy" "Its boring" "455 can handle the same" uzzled: I almost hate to even state about my build up but felt it is interesting and unique to myself and of course I want to express how excited I am to be building this since it is my first build up. You guys really need to take the blind folds off and be more open to individuals looking towards advice from you expeirenced fellas and chime in when of course the opposing person cannot decide on their decision. I made up mine..
Skyleezy I like the idea. I think it's pretty cool when a guy can take new technology and mate it with and old car. The shop that did my paint and body just put a late model 5.3 into a 70 Blazer. Pretty cool stuff if you ask me. I bought a Buick to be different. In the Buick community, most are just another Buick. I did my Buick my way, the way I wanted, and the way that makes me happy. Forget what anybody else thinks, it's your car. Do what makes you happy. As far as lowering the car. I used Eaton spring in Detroit for my springs. They have all the original specs and can adjust for what you want, add or drop and inch or two, whatever you want. Here is a link to Eaton. http://www.eatonsprings.com/
Thanks Tom,:TU: I wonder what the price would be to custom design the springs for you however? Any pics of your ride?
Mine is not lowered at all. I had them add a half inch in the back for a little tire clearance. I think the custom springs were 150 bucks per pair if I remember correctly. Here's a pic of my car.
What size wheels are you running...Nice ride btw:beers2: did you remove the top roof rail? I was thinking of doing the same thing. Very clean ride you have there. Are you running stock suspension other than springs? Thanks for your advice..
I am running 15x8 8 all the way around with 4.5 inch backspace. The rear tires are 275 60 15 and the front are 225 70 15. The rear has rubbed once so I have to work on that a bit. It is stock rebuilt suspension. All body mounts bushing and suspension components are new. The shocks are edelbrock IAS and are stock replacement. The front springs are stock and the rear are custom. Mine being a Special, there was no chrome trim.
Do yourself a favor and check out the feedback on just your question, www.pro-touring.com and www.lateral-g.net These sites are dedicated to getting excellent handling out of our cars. I am researching the same and to best thing to do is research and layout a stepped plan unless your pocket is full and you have the luxury to do it all at once. Step 1: Performance drop springs specific to your needs, hotchkis, eibach, etc... -If you are looking for handling than add a beefier sway bar, 1 1/8 or 1 1/4 will do. Step 2. Tubular upper a arms with tall ball joint will give you a tremendous advantage in hard cornering if you are looking for that. If you are not doing hardcore than step 1 should be sufficient. Step 3 Tubular lower a arms Drop spindles - depends on how low you want to go. Check out the feedback on the sites above for good manufacturers. Stay away from the Hot Rod spindle manufacturers, i.e. Fatman, Heidts, etc... They are using Hot Rod technology. However Heidts was recently bought out and the new owner is a hardcore muscle car guy and they are engineering a new line of drop spindles this year specific to muscle cars. ATS\AFX or Detroit Speed, Spohn, SPC are the best for our cars. Check out www.scandc.com for the products that they sell at a good price. Ask for Marcus for knowledge and advice. www.prodigycustoms.com is another customizer with good feedback. Also, I currently have a 1.25 sway bar from a 77 trans am that I am putting in my car along with eibach lowering springs. I just came across a package deal with a guy where I will be getting a set of Hotchkis lowering springs and a Hotchkis 1.25 sway bar. I will be selling one set or the other. let me know if interested. Tom
Don't get it all confused here. You ain't restoring your Buick. You're chopping it up. in having said that, may I introduce you to: www.hotrodders.com great car forum, lots of knowledge there.. and they won't be insulted as much as some of us here on a BUICK forum, when you throw that junk under your hood!
