Picked a new project, going to upgrade the suspension.

I wanted a G body or A body.... but got this instead,,,A 1985 Buick LeSabre Limited Collectors Edition.
307 Olds V8, 200r4 od transmission, 7.5" with 2.76 gears.
With some research a a few questions I've asked so far , found this ole B-Body shares alot with its new sibilings the 91-96 GM "whale" B- Bodies.
So a alot of the suspension parts and aftermarket suspension upgrades for a 95 Impala SS will direct bolt on to my 85.
Yes going to go aV8 Buick power plant of some sort, and a heavier duty 8.5" rearend..
Heck even found out that the jeep steering shaft will work on it!
So stay tuned.....

 

The G-body guys all swear by using factory parts to stiffen up the body structure around the front clip and underneath at the frame horns--they use Grand Prix bars, cowl to radiator support, frame rail to support, etc. I would think the same improvement idea would work on the B body too. Check out the underhood bracing on a mid '80's Cadillac DeVille and Fleetwood Brougham (the square RWD sleds). I think the dimensions are the same as yours, and the whole front box is triangulated from cowl to fender to support.
Patrick

 

Pbr400
Thanks...
I assuming your referring to these front braces?

There is also referred to as the "Buick" brace GM # 10225142 , it's a brace that ties the rear frame horns together.

 

So far I havent seen any front "Grand Prix" or "jounce" Bars for the front frame.. be awesome if there was.

 

Cool--those red ones in the non-stock Caddy were the first to come to mind; I had a couple of those cars and was impressed by how tight the bodies were. I've never seen or heard of that 'Buick bar', it looks like a good idea. I don't remember if either of my Cadillacs had jounce bars underneath (or if they even made them) but figure if they do exist you'd find them on a Cadillac or cop car. Good luck!
Patrick

 

That kit is a UMI kit for a G Body.
However several in the Impala SS forum have contacted UMI to build a front Triangulation frame brace for a B Body.
It would be awesome to see if the do.
UMI did respond, and mentioned that they have Caprice in their lot.
Would be even better than awesome if they produced all three braces for the B Body.

 

I actually had a 83 and know a lot about these cars all b bodies from 77-96 are pretty much the same frame. the frame is also the same one used on 73-77 a body cars. you can swap parts from any over pretty much. 85 will have the 200-4r but also has the 7.5 rear which isn't very strong. also the 307 while tough sucks for power. if you want buick power a sbb 350 is a easy swap just use v6 motor mounts and move the wiring and fuel lines around. if you get a 8.5 rear you will either have to a get a pre 80 car and use the 28 spline version, get the later 30 spline version and switch the front rotors and wheels to the big bolt pattern set up to match the 30 spline rears as they only came in the big gm pattern, or buy custom shafts which is a lot more expense than needed. also you need a driveshaft from a pre 80 car or shorten yours. the 30 spline was in the 80s up 9c1 and some caddis. you can look at the bolt pattern and till what it has. however in 91 the 7.5 when to big bolt pattern two so 91-96 could be either or. wagon rears will not work it is way to wide around 6 inches iirc. the 30 spline is a inch wider than the 28 spline but both work. if you don't want to use the cc carb btw just take the bulb out of the check engine light and run mech carb and dist. cc carb can be kept though with the v6 cc dist swapped in the 350 just different caps I think not 100 percent on that. forgot to add the impala ss had disc brakes on the back and some of the later 9c1 cars. ok another thing to add if you add a sbb you will prob want dual exhaust the trans cross member will need to be notched. pretty easy to do but just be warned about it. also its a good idea to find a v6 front brackets for your ac and all but the older stuff will work. a bbb will fit also but the ac box may cause you problems and there is no motor mounts made you can buy g body conversion mounts. 350 is the easiest by far.

 

Thanks heard about those Impala rearends, just not sure about having a 5x5 bolt pattern .

Do have a question tho , for anyone.. I know my sway bar endlinks are shot.. so i am replacing those.
But... my front end floats, and still is very bouncey after pushing down on the front bumper.
The question is what do I need to do to figure wether it's the springs or shocks?

 

Found out its the shocks.. a good upgrade for shocks thatbwas recommended to me was 88-90 Caprice Cop C91 cop car shocks.. for a budget.
Also suggested a step up from that , Bilsteins..
Thoughts?

 

idk if cop car shocks will be much different than any of the hd shocks for this car I think they are the same. you just had a light duty and hd version. there was a hd spring and shock combo that was basically a 9c1 with lighter springs f41 or something like that (it changed to something different name wise after the bubble cars came out but was same set up came standard on the ss). the 9c1 springs did have a higher rate. if you want to keep the small bolt pattern just by a 28 spline set up like I mentioned. shouldn't be hard to find a junk 73-77 abody. the driveshaft should work also from the a body if your keep the 2004r and I would.

 

Just read a thread over on Pro-Touring.com that the Suspenion Guru Ron Sutton recomended using Ford Crown Vic lower front control arms which are 1 1/4" longer than the factory.
This helps increase the scrub radius of the front tires wich makes handling a lot better.

here's the thread

http://www.pro-touring.com/threads/99461-1977-Caprice-Impala

 

ive read that before. idk if it throws anything out of whack though.