suspension & brake compatibility and upgrading

'65 Special Deluxe 4dr, 300ci 2bl/2spd auto

Will someday upgrade the suspension and brakes on my cruiser and am curious if all 64-67 A-body stuff is compatible. Chevy, Olds, and Pontiac? 2 door parts the same as 4 door parts?

Case in point: found a set of like new tubular upper and lower front control arms locally for sale for a great price advertised as being for a '66 Chevelle. Would loved to have bought them and future other stuff to start the gathering process but wasn't sure of the nuances between makes and applications (SS/442/GTO vs 6cyl). A reasonable thinker would assume they would bolt right up but I needed to ask first before I buy anything going forward.

Front suspension - control arms, ball joints, springs, spindles/brakes, shocks, steering arms/links, sway bar/links are all the same?

Rear suspension - obviously the diff housing is different but if I found a nice 10 bolt out of a '64-'67 Chevelle/Malibu would it be the same width and bolt right up? Same spring perch locations and shock mounting locations? Same control arms, sway bar/links, brake drums, etc?

Also, my rig's got it's factory brake drums all around and would like to upgrade to front disc setup someday as well. So same question: would any/all front disc A-body stuff bolt on or do I need to find Buick-specific parts for this? And would upgrading to front disc mean that I would need 15'' wheels? Or is there a take-off front brake setup that can accommodate the factory 14'' wheels? Is there any aftermarket front disc kit that is small enough to use the 14''ers. I really like my painted steelies...

During any search it is most likely that I will be coming across items with a Chevy label on them as they are the most prevalent but could also stumble upon some Olds and Pontiac stuff occasionally too. Haven't had lots of extra time lately to dive into this topic and learn on my own so any info or guidance would be appreciated. I may come back to this thread in the near and possibly distant future to ask about specific parts that I find and haven't figured out yet so thank you all in advance for the help.

 

I’ll be watching this because I recently bought a 1966 Special 2 door. Thinking of doing all the same suspension upgrades you are wanting. I’m a Chevy guy but really like this Buick. I’ll keep it along with my 70 Camaro. I might add that I have already added the Ride Tech complete steering kit which was listed as fit all A body cars.

 

All 64 to 72 A body control arms interchange
Brakes interchange
Sway bars are different 64-67 68-72
Rear suspension 64-72 lower control arms interchange....uppers 64-67 68-72
Rear ends interchange 64-66 1in more narrow
Spring pads bolt on style 64-66
Steering boxes interchange 64-87 jeeps use same back as well but later model boxes require adapter fittings or custom lines
Idler arms 64-72...drag links are different manual vs power
Tie rods 64-70 71-72

 

Best brake upgrade for the money is the 12in LS F body swap...uses stock spindle with an adapter bracket and the stock drum hub machined or new is available

Control arms ..Global West is the best imo...Hotchkiss is way overpriced as is Detroit Speed imo ..BMR are ok but the upper cross shaft holes are 1/2in instead of 7/16 and the arrogant assholes won't admit they made a mistake and change it...

Go with Delrin or Jonny joints....UMI offers they johnny joints but they are $$$....poly bushings are a last choice

Metco has the absolutely best rear control arms at the best price ..Billet aluminum and machined to perfection and he's a Buick guy

Upper arms I like the BMR for street or TRZ for Race...use a johnny or Heim joint it allows MUCH BETTER articulation

The Viking coil overs are good choice but for a driver I still prefer a Bilstein shock with a spring combo

Tall upper ball joints are a no brainer .they simply have no down side and all the suspension to work better

 

Stock disc brakes will work with the correct 14in wheels . They offered them in the ralley and steel base wheels although the will togh to find...15in steels are a dime a dozen and have exponentially more tire options

 

Toms Classic auto/Auto City Classic sells a front disc brake kit that bolts to the stock drum spindles, and says that it works for 14" wheels. I have a similar car to OP's, and might buy one of those kits someday.

 

That was great info guys! Thanks a bunch!!

 

I wish I knew beforehand that the tubular control arms won’t accept original rubber bushings or I would never have got them(because of poly bushings). Didn’t realize how much I would hate the ride of poly. But close to 5 years now I’m well use to it that it doesn’t bother me anymore as long as pump them up with grease as much as you can and then some, 3 times a year.

 

Go with the Trans Am front sway bar - you find them in yards or ebay.