70 Stage One “Boogie” breakdown

Today my son and I started taking apart the front suspension of the Stage One I refer to as the Stage One “Boogie” because of its 70’s studio 54 red velvet interior. Something the prior owner did back in the late 70’s. Anyway I took pictures of some identifying marks and I notice the way the cotter pins were folded back from the factory. My car still has the factory suspension and it’s is very tight so I’m just going to clean and repaint and reinstall. The ball joints still retain their factory rivets.

 

Good stuff!

 

You should have aluminum drums on the front of that car. If you’re not converted to disc brakes, start looking for a set now they’re getting scares.

 

After talking to Todd at Stage 1 restoration I’m going to do the disc brake conversion. I have power drum brakes (steel) I’m assuming because it’s an early build.

 

Thanks!

 

All factory 455 cars came from the factory with aluminum drums. Small block got the steel drums.

 

I though Buick stopped using Aluminum front drums in 69?

 

I’ve had two 70 GS 455 One was a factory stage one with manual aluminum drum brakes, the 70 GS 455 had Power brakes with aluminum front drums. I actually think Buick ended aluminum drums in 1971 because it was mandatory to have disc brakes with a big block.

 

Given that you've so far (based on our discussions & your posts) seem to be wanting to make/keep the car very much original, why stray from that to convert to disk? Buick drum brakes were very good. I'd find a pair of aluminum drums or get a pair relined (expensive but probably not as much as a disk conversion).

 

Mine has steel and I don’t know why anyone would change out the factory aluminum brakes.

 

'70 for the GS 455 & I could be wrong but I believe were still used on '71-2 Sportwagons w/o disk.

 

How many miles are on the car?

 

It’s not going to be a numbers matching car. So I figured I would update the brakes. I’ll keep the factory stuff and see what happens later on. I’ll be driving this car a lot around town.

 

I’m talking GS 455 only.

 

87,550

 

Seems odd but it definitely would've had aluminum orig. Maybe someone ran them down to metal. Hard to imagine they were turned too many times if the suspension is orig. How many miles on the car?

 

I realize. Rhett's comment was referring to Buick in general stopping their use in '69.

 

Repeated very hard stops & possibly when wet are the only issues w/the drum brakes. Otherwise, they'll perform as good if not better than disk (yes, ppl will disagree w/me here).

 

What’s the correct paint colors for suspension and steering components?