1937-1957 Buick Oldsmobile Pontiac suspension upgrade
(→Front suspension) |
(→Additional suspension option) |
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The only real issue with the stock lower control arms is the king pin mounts. My buddy with the 49 Olds has a yard, but no 58 Pontiacs. He didn’t want to wait for one to come in, so we cut the outer end off his lower control arms and welded on a 3/8" plate for a ball joint mount. He did have a '58 Buick, so those were the uppers we used. He had already pulled a complete spindle/disc brake setup off an early 70's Chevy, so we knew going in that the 45 degree angle on the spindle was going to be a problem. As it turns out, the narrower end on the original lower control arms is a blessing. A Chevy spindle can be made to work, but the Ford Courier had a ball joint with a 3-point “crowsfoot” design -- it is very narrow at the outer end, and the Chevy spindle cleared with no problems. There must be several ball joint mounts that could be adapted to the original arms. Just remember, the ball joints point down. | The only real issue with the stock lower control arms is the king pin mounts. My buddy with the 49 Olds has a yard, but no 58 Pontiacs. He didn’t want to wait for one to come in, so we cut the outer end off his lower control arms and welded on a 3/8" plate for a ball joint mount. He did have a '58 Buick, so those were the uppers we used. He had already pulled a complete spindle/disc brake setup off an early 70's Chevy, so we knew going in that the 45 degree angle on the spindle was going to be a problem. As it turns out, the narrower end on the original lower control arms is a blessing. A Chevy spindle can be made to work, but the Ford Courier had a ball joint with a 3-point “crowsfoot” design -- it is very narrow at the outer end, and the Chevy spindle cleared with no problems. There must be several ball joint mounts that could be adapted to the original arms. Just remember, the ball joints point down. | ||
| − | [[image:49_olds_lower_with_for_ball_joint.jpg|frame|none| | + | [[image:49_olds_lower_with_for_ball_joint.jpg|frame|none|Ford Courier ball joint mounted on a 49 Olds lower control arm.]] |
We used his original springs, but don’t have it finished yet, so we may do some adjusting to the ride height when all is said and done. If you use a disc brake kit with the caliper to the front, you will probably have an issue with the sway bar. | We used his original springs, but don’t have it finished yet, so we may do some adjusting to the ride height when all is said and done. If you use a disc brake kit with the caliper to the front, you will probably have an issue with the sway bar. | ||
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