Author Topic: Control Arm Braces  (Read 1984 times)

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Offline Bigpig455

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Control Arm Braces
« on: June 19, 2010, 08:37:28 AM »
We're 65's ever equipped with the braces that run from the rear upper to lower control arm mounts? Mine doesn't have them anyway..

In other news, I recently:

Fixed a spinning wheel bearing race and saved the aluminum drum assembly

cut out the air baffle in the air cleaner housing

ran a limit chain from the frame to the LF motor mount

Installed Air Lift airbags in the rear springs (what a difference in traction!)

Shimmed front springs to level

For all of that, I ran it this AM and officially dipped into the 14's

14.99 @ 96.9 with minimal wheelspin on a 3.08 open diff

I've got a re curved distributor coming from Carmen, and am almost done with a "Doc Dual Plane" intake, with amateur porting and gasket matching. Also have a second carb for jet and rod testing - got a couple sets of each from Carmen as well.

They are having a "all Buick" day at Lebanon Valley Dragstrip (near Albany NY) on June 26th, hoping to make it and see some of you there..

Rhett



1965 Gran Sport Conv.
1973 Gran Sport Stage 1 4-spd
1971 GS455 Stage 1 hdtp
1972 Pontiac Grandville Conv.

Online WkillGS

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Re: Control Arm Braces
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2010, 09:26:52 AM »
We're 65's ever equipped with the braces that run from the rear upper to lower control arm mounts? Mine doesn't have them anyway..

I don't believe  Buick installed the braces, but Pontiac did install them on 4 speed GTO's.

You're off to a good start with the 1/4 mile testing!  Some of the most effective mods I did to my blue 66 were the recurved distributor, and replacing the stock air cleaner with an open element type.
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline Brian

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Re: Control Arm Braces
« Reply #2 on: June 21, 2010, 03:21:25 PM »
I found that the rear cross member braces make a big difference in wheel hop.  They greatly stiffen that upper rear crossmember.  You can get a set off of a newer GM A-body (68-72) and shorten the upper end by about 1.5" (that is not an exact number) and drill a new hole in the end and they work perfect on the 64-67 models.
'64 Skylark 2dr ht 4 speed, 300-4
'65 GS ht, 4 speed,2-4s,AC,PS,PB,PW,Pseat,Tilt
'66 Skylark 2dr ht 300-2 automatic
'78 Yamaha DT 400 2 stroke
'88 Ford F-150 4x4 (used to be 4x2)
'89 Ford F-350 4x4
'03 Honda Accord Coupe V6 6-speed manual (daily driver)

Offline Bigpig455

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Re: Control Arm Braces
« Reply #3 on: June 22, 2010, 01:45:21 PM »
Thanks for the response guys....

I never had bad wheelhop, but I put in a set of Airlift bags and now the rear stays absolutely planted and launches like a champ....almost forget it's an open diff....

I've just  read horror stories about launching hard without the braces - torn crossmembers, bent control arms, etc.... not that I think I've got that much HP, but better safe than sorry..

Thanks again - Rhett

1965 Gran Sport Conv.
1973 Gran Sport Stage 1 4-spd
1971 GS455 Stage 1 hdtp
1972 Pontiac Grandville Conv.

Offline Brian

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Re: Control Arm Braces
« Reply #4 on: June 22, 2010, 03:51:26 PM »
You most likely won't experience any wheel hop with an open differential.  When you switch to a posi, that is when it will show up if it is going to. 
'64 Skylark 2dr ht 4 speed, 300-4
'65 GS ht, 4 speed,2-4s,AC,PS,PB,PW,Pseat,Tilt
'66 Skylark 2dr ht 300-2 automatic
'78 Yamaha DT 400 2 stroke
'88 Ford F-150 4x4 (used to be 4x2)
'89 Ford F-350 4x4
'03 Honda Accord Coupe V6 6-speed manual (daily driver)

Online WkillGS

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Re: Control Arm Braces
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2010, 09:52:19 AM »
The braces are recommended for any heavy-duty use, just as insurance to prevent damage to the rear crossmember.
Stamped steel repos  go for about $90. The tubular Edelbrocks are just a bit more at $105.
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal