Probably going to catch hell for this but i have a 57 olds 88 do these threads also apply to this car ? I to have been reading in the coalalition and although very helpful its alittle unclear. Sorry for throwing in the olds thing but i dont like the stock setup . I'm running the J2 371 without the 3-2s .Later bake
David, Thanks for your comments. Here are some pics of the final assembly. Notice I put a gusset in on the backside of the new crossmember that I cut out of a piece of 2X4 rectangular tubing into a wedge then left a > tail that covers my abutment weld from old to new. I also plated over the old steering box releaf on frame and cut out the indent on the outside of the frame and plated it. See pics.
David, Yes I still have the 57 ball joints. PM me if you are interested. Thanks Dan ---------- Post added at 07:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:21 AM ---------- I am a little unclear what your asking. I have two 57' Olds and did measure the frame on the 88 I have and this set up would work fine if that is what your asking. If you have any question I would be more that happy to help if I can.
Dan you are making great progress by the look of the photos. The C4 upgrade looks like a nice bit of work. Maybe you could spend some time in my shed when you have yours going!! Ross
Ross, Thanks for the complements. I picked the body off yesterday. I stopped into Art Morison last week and picked up the rest of the hardware to finish up the triangulated 4-bar this week. I will post some pics and a video later. Also picked up a 66' MW suffix 425 from my neighbor Friday...:TU:
Been working on the triangulated 4-link. Just about have it all tacked in. Also picked up this 66' 425 MW code. Tore it down Thursday and found it had a recent rebuild. So I am going to ring, bearing and gasket it, new cam and valve job.
Looking good Dan I just noticed this thread over at the hamb discussing a 1955 X-frame with 4 bar and wondered if you also moved your x-frame forward or adjusted the angle to mount the lower 4 bar. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=669485&highlight=buick Is the 57 the same x-frame design intersecting just ahead of the rear kick up. It's a bit difficult to tell looking at your photos. Thanks Ross
Ross, Thanks for the link to the Hamb. I posted some pics there as well. He did a parallel bar system and I am doing a triangulated system. He is going to have to run a panhard bar and the triangulated does not. I did not have to move my X frame to mount the lower control arm mount. Although I did think about it but once the body was off I could see it was not necessary. I was able to weld the mount in between the X and the frame. Here are a few more pics. I will be working on the rear crossmember today and had planned to do just like he did but use sleeves in the tube rather then tabs.
Got the rear cross cut out and the frame cleaned up then boxed in the frame were the spring pockets were yesterday. Will be putting in the new rear cross and shock mounts today.
Well I have made a little more progress. Got my chassis all done and my body set on today. I also got the engine set in and will be building motor & trans mounts next. It has taken me six months to make it a roller. Here area a few pics.
Looks like you are doing a great job Dan. Awesome progress. What size rims and tyres have you got there? Ive got a few questions so will send you a PM. :grin: Ross
Ross, Fronts are 18X8 with 4.5" backset 235/45 and the rears are 20X10 with 5" backset Intro Wheels Vista ll. 275/40 General G-Max from Tire Rack.
Got my motor mounts built. I also was able to use the 401-425 drivers exhaust manifold as appose to using a 364 drivers manifold...:Brow:. Now I need to pull the body back off and build the trans crossmember but that should be pretty easy. I also am going with a two piece drive line. I will post pics of the carrier bearing mount and drive line angels later. Its going to work out really nice...:Brow:
Mock up is done for the drivetrain. Still need to buy a carrier bearing and adjust the pinion angel. I am using the drive line out of the the 1966 Wildcat that the 401 and SP-400 came out of. I cut down the front shaft and added to the back shaft to get the right lengths (this is just for mock up and will make a new drive shaft after I figure out all my angles). I drilled out the spot welds on the housing that supported the carrier bearing. That left me with just the bearing cup that the bearing sits in. Then I made a stand to get the correct angle on the front drive shaft (see pics). I have the front drive shaft at 0* and from what I understand with the double cardan U-joint I am going to want to set the pinion angle at 0* as well? Anyone have any input on that?
Thank You James. I got the dash cut out of my 57' Olds parts car and will work on getting it installed into the Buick over the next few days.
Nice choice of dash, I like the speedo more than the same era Buicks. Your project is coming along nicely. Ross
Thanks Ross. Yes the 57' Olds dash is a much better looking dash then the Buick. I blasted the dash and painted the back side with red oxide primer. Now I have it just about fit. I just need to do a little more trimming and then will tack it in. Because the Super and Roadmaster are a wider body I am going to have to make a couple fillers at the A-pillars. All in all though it is a pretty easy fit. Here are a few more pics.
Well I have been working on the dash. Changing it out with the 57 Olds dash presents a lot of different little details to make it look like it should have been that way. Unlike the Special and Century the Super and Roadmaster are a bit more of a challenge to make this swap. The Super and the Roadmaster have arm rest or rather a hand rest by the wing window. As smoking was a much more popular habit in the 50's I guess this was a convenient place to rest your hand as you could easily flick your ashes out the wing window and, would also account for his and her ashtrays in the dash. Anyway I had to modify the wrap around ends of the dash to accommodate the top rails of the doors. Another modification was the wiper assemblies. I had to use the Olds assemblies as the Buick's were to large to fit the Olds Dash. This meant making all new brackets to support the smaller Olds assemblies. All in all it turned out very nice. The Dash will be padded to match the hand rest.
Man that chassis is spot on. I hope my 55 Special comes out close to yours. I'm doing the Fatman air ride front stub and a triangulated 9" rear with air ride. Love the stance of your car. Keep up the good work and please post lots of pics for us less talented guys. URSLO
