My question is regarding brakes. I'm putting the braking system from an '81 Le Sabre into a '65 Buick Skylark - doing the B Body dropped spindle & disc thing. I'm not 100% sure but I think the car was a Canadian car, it had a block heater if that's any clues. I'd like some advice about the fittings on the brake lines - are they metric or imperial? The front line from the master cylinder seems to be bang on a quarter of an inch OD and the rear line is approx three sixteenths of an inch. The fittings onto the master cylinder are just too small for a nine sixteenths spanner [and I don't have any metric ones!!]. If it is any help the master cylinder is clear plastic with a black plastic lid with a stylised M on the lid. Does this stand for Moraine? Additionally the rear reservoir looks bigger than the front, which seeems strange. Finally, I'm trying to track down some B Body rear drums and backing plates to put on the Skylark axle to give me bigger rear braking. I understand they are quite a bit wider that the A Body ones. With modern traffic I'd like all the braking I can get! Does anybody know what is the biggest drum that will go inside a 14 inch Buick rallye wheel with a 4.75 inch PCD not the 5 inch PCD please? And what fittings are the brake lines to these please? Many thanks all Nick Stratta
Nick, The OD sizes you stated sound about right. I wouldn't think an '81 would be metric yet, but I'm not positive. There are many cars out there that have odd 'nuts' at the master cylinder, larger than the ones on parts-store brake lines or elsewhere on the same car's brake system. Weatherhead makes all kinds of different fittings & adapters that will let you get things hooked up properly. Check with your local parts store. I assume your LeSabre has disc/drum brakes, correct? That's the reason for the master cylinder having different sized reservoirs. Check the brake lines on the LeSabre, and you may find that the rear master reservoir goes to the disc (front) brakes (the front reservoir doesn't always go to the front brakes). However it is plumbed, keep it the same on the Skylark. Your other questions I can't answer. Reid
In my experience...........Late 70's and early 80's vehicles do indeed use metric fasteners. Don't think it has anything to do with Canadian built. I worked in car dealerships back then and I seem to recall a lot of the technicians spending big money on new metric tools. I have complete sets of both. Metric sockets do work with 3/8 and 1/2 drive ratchets. Probably a conspiracy started by tool manufacturers so they could sell twice as many tools :bglasses: :Brow: :laugh:
Reid, Dave, Many thanks for the info. Much appreciated. Getting the car back from long term storage next week! best regards to all nick
Are you using the proper upper control arms and if so, who's are you using?? as for the rear brakes the full size cars used the same brakes on the rear as your 65 does ( 9 x2 ) and if you do find the 11" brakes they will be 5 on 5 ( the Sportwagon400 from 68 -69 use 9 x 2 1/2 rear drums ). I have used various brake upgrades on my 64 skylarks, and I still find that the proper disc conversion works the best although I have toyed with the big brake conversion for one of them ( I have all the parts except the upper arms ). I just pulled the brakes off a 82 olds 88 and they were 5 on 4 3/4 and 9x2" drums so no improvement there. I suggest that you check into a adjustable proptioning valve from RUSSELL to help you set the rear pressures. With in the next month I will be putting a dual system on my 64 Skylark from a 74 Apollo and front discs from a 71 Lemas. with the headers I modifed to fit i will have to re route my front brake line to keep from boiling the fluid I like the Apollo ( Nova ) style of brake because the combination valve mounts under the master and not on the frame like so many others and should be easier to route the lines if you have any qustions please feel free to E mail me as i have done this more than once before and am willing to lend a hand or learn from anyone kkklassen@shaw.ca Thanks Ken
Hi Ken, Many thanks geat info. Glad to hear someone is doing the same things as me here. I'd much appreciate your help on completing this brake swap. Very good of you. Thanks for the info on the Russel prop valve. So I'll need one of these as well as the original brass non-adjustable combination valve? I like the idea of the valve mounting under the master and not on the frame like so many others. I'm going to do custom hard lines so it is all tucked away and hidden so I'd also appreciate your advice on that. I'll drop you a mail. many thanks once again! Nick
