Brake hoses and brakes on a 1965 GS

[jmos4]

Hi,

I am redoing a 1965 GS frame to put under a 65 lark I have and is there a difference in brake hoses (rubber lines)

I understand the front wheel cylinders are 1 1/8 inch bore are the rear ones any different?

also does anyone have part numbers for the rear axle bearings and seals?

thanks
Jim

[Loren At 65GS]

Jim,
The hoses are same as Skylark. Rear wheel cylinders are the same as Skylark, fronts were arger as you have noted.
Rear wheel bearings for a GS , are same as a Sport wagon. They are not the same as a Skylark though. The correct # for GS/ Sport wagon is RW507AR. This is for an aftermarket part and includes the retainer.
 Buick dealer part listed  the bearing and the retainer as separate parts. The same bearing was used in Mopars without the retainer.
I don't remember the specifics for the seal.

Loren

[nut465gs]

Jim,

I recently replace the rear axle bearings and seals on my '65 GS. Bearing numbers are as Loren stated. I got my rear axle seals from Carquest, part # 8594S. Although I would think you'd be able to get those from any auto parts store.  Good luck.

John

[Brian]

Jim,
  The challenge is finding those front wheel cylinders.  The ones I got at the local parts store were a newer style that theorically should have worked, but wouldn't because the bleeder jet was made different and hit the spindle.  They also had external dust boots and wouldn't fit right on the backing plate.  I ended up ordering mine from NAPA online at the advice of someone on V8Buick.com and they were the correct ones. 
  I was having so much trouble finding them that I had actually bored the orginals on my lathe, pressed in a steel sleeve, and machined/honed them to the correct size!  Once I found the right ones, I put those on the car instead of the ones I sleeved. 

[Loren At 65GS]

Thanks Brian, that's a good thing to pass on for availability.

Loren

[jmos4]

All thanks for the knowledge,

I ordered a set of wheel cylinders for a 66 GS as NAPA listed that not a 65 go figure hope this is the set Brian is talking about will find out

will order some bearings and seals on Friday

FYI: I have been for the past 2 weeks rebuilding a 65 GS frame (painted today) and engine (just seals) and converting it to a 4 speed to place under my 65 Skylark post car my goal is 3 weeks so time is closing in may take 4 as I only have a few more weeks at home to work on it then back on the road so to speak...

Thanks again wish me luck

Jim

[Brian]

Jim,
  Have tried out that wooden body stand yet?
Also, did you figure out if your Skylark post car has the cross flow core support or not? 

[Chris]

Wooden body stand?

Now I'd be interested in seeing that!

I've actually thought of making something similar (a wood dolly that holds the body shell about four to five feet off the ground) when I take on my four speed project however I keep leaning back towards biting the bullet and buying one of the body carousels.

The last body I took off the frame I used four empty 55 gallon drums on each corner with two heavy pieces of wood in between to hold the body up.  Primitive yes.. but it worked well, was inexpensive and I didn't have a lot of stuff to store afterwards.   ;D

Chris

[Brian]

I made mine back in 1995.  Just sold it to Jim a few weeks ago since I have no plans to do any more cars:

[Chris]

That is pretty slick Brian!

I like how you've got the wheels on there and you left plent of unobstructed room underneath to work.

Very cool design... you've got my gears clicking again and giving this new thought.

Thanks for sharing..

Chris

[jmos4]

Hey Brian,

I have yet to utilize the stand as I really am not yet to the detail stage of the underside of the car which the stand should help alot

I got a cross flow core support yet does anyone have or know of where to get a set of lower radiator brackets?

also the Bearing part numbers according to NAPA closest they had listed was for all Skylarks, sportswagons and Gran sport were RW5070CR no listing on the "RW5070AR"  and the seals you gave cross referenced to a NAPA 13492 which was listed for all 3 again

the Napa Bearings were listed as a size of 1.378 ID, 2.7475 OD and .700 thick

the ones on  my axle measure about 2.995 OD have yet to press off so any other PN to check to??

still going one other question maybe anyone who has done this conversion is on wiring the GS has 2 engine connectors the Skylark has 2 and a separate lug for the ALT do I add a wire between the junction block (where the Alt and positive cables all join on the Drivers fender) can I get away with Plug and play one harness to the other car (one thing to note the GS was a AC car the Lark is not)

been Blasting parts for the past 2 days need to get a cabinet and a bigger compressor, one day for now it is getting down slowly

thanks for the help
Jim

[WkillGS]

I got a cross flow core support yet does anyone have or know of where to get a set of lower radiator brackets?

also the Bearing part numbers according to NAPA closest they had listed was for all Skylarks, sportswagons and Gran sport were RW5070CR no listing on the "RW5070AR"
Jim

Jim, The GS does not use brackets for the radiator, only some rubber mounting pads. Steele Rubber reproduces them, but they are stupid-expensive at over $27 a pair...you need a pair for the bottom, and a pair for the top. CARS once posted they sell Steele products at a 15% discount. So drop them a line...
http://www.oldbuickparts.com/
You may not be aware the GS uses a radiator with wider tanks, so the top cover plate is unique to GS and HD cooling-optioned cars. Wagons are another good source for those. Do you have one?

Rear wheel bearings....The GS and Sportwagons (and Olds versions) use a larger bearing, RW507-A.  It's not made any more.... A place called Olcar bearings used to have them, maybe they still do. Might try the Buick Farm (Doug) too. Expect to pay $40 each for those or more...

[jmos4]

Thanks for the info

I will check the Buick farm for them also does anyone make replacement axles as I have one with twisted splines use to be a 4 speed drag car so who knows (one of my earlier parts cars)

I am aware on the Cross flow and 4 core radiator the thing I am missing is the steel lower brackets I have a rusty set from a 3 core I may modify to fit but if someone new a source it would be better to replace with new

thanks again all I believe I am done with the sand blasting dam stuff gets everwhere starting to paint my pile 

Jim

[jmos4]

One other question what is the right PN for the rear axle seals are they the same as a normal skylark?

as I checked the Number that was given and it crossed to a std skylark seal

thanks again all
Jim

[Brian]

Rear seal is the same as regular skylark, and so is the axle, so you should be able to pull the axle out of one of your parts cars to use--just need the GS unique bearings.
  What was said earlier is correct--the GS radiator is so much larger that the rubber pieces that go under the radiator tanks actually sit right in the core support.  If you look, it has indentions in it for the rubber pieces to fit in with a hole at each end of the indention for the little rubber snaps to pop into.  The radiator is smaller on a regular skylark, so it has a stamped metal piece that screws into the bottom of the core support to hold the rubber--that is what you are thinking about.  They are not used for a GS radiator though.