Guest taongisurvivor Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I am installing the positraction differential back into the 67 Riviera GS. Is there a 'proper' way for the pig-tails on the coil springs to be oriented?? The springs look symetrical top-to-bottom (so there is no "up" or "down"), and the mounting location on the differential is not 'notched' in any way to indicate a pig-tail orientation. I could find no thread on the interweb discussing this issue on symetrical coils, but I hesitate to assume anything. Is there a right way / wrong way to install the coils??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadShark Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 For the rear coils, the top is flat and the bottom is flat, so I just throw 'em in there (with the isolator on top). Just did mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest taongisurvivor Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Done! Looks sexy, too!! I will try to get some pics tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70rivme Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Where are you guys getting lower shock mounts from? Roadshark, I see that you are running the Blisteins in the rear also, do you know the part # for your shocks? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest taongisurvivor Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 My shock mounts came with the shocks. I did not use the new one since the old ones were perfect. Give me your mailing address and I'll send to you if you want them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70rivme Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Thank you for your reply and offer for the mounts. Could you tell me what shocks you purchased that these came with. I finished my posi swap in my '70 on Friday evening and purchased Bilsteins from OPGI. When I went to install them, the lower mounts were similar, but the completely wrong size and OPGI has absolutely no interest in helping get the issue resolved. I keep getting told to just return the order. I am wondering if the shocks they sent are correct as well. I was told to return them and then they would evaluate if there is an issue. I ended up finding some mounts that work at a local parts store, but I am more intetested in the originasl style. The shocks are RCD 55-R087, but the RCD website says 55-R262 are correct. So confusing and difficult just trying to improve the Riv a little. Needless to say, the shocks are on and the posi is operating perfectly. I would definately like to know if I have the right shocks on though. Thanks for any info ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadShark Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Where are you guys getting lower shock mounts from? Roadshark, I see that you are running the Blisteins in the rear also, do you know the part # for your shocks? Thanks.Here's what I found out: Race Car Dynamics apparently markets some black-painted Bilsteins for some older cars. I could not find any direct Bilstein numbers for our application, so I assume they are a special run. Here's a link to their Buick page: http://racecardynamics.com/444-buick#s[4][]:409&s[5][]:458&s[6][]:519&s[3][]:888&ash[3][]:888&old_selected_criterion:YTo0OntpOjQ7YToxOntpOjA7aTo0MDk7fWk6NTthOjE6e2k6MDtpOjQ1ODt9aTo2O2E6MTp7aTowO2k6NTE5O31pOjM7YToxOntpOjA7aTo4ODg7fX0:&rg:&sid:1&h:leftColumn&k:1&ics:444&as4_base_selection:YToxOntpOjA7aTo4ODg7fQ:: They list 55-R027 for the front and 55-R262 for the rear. I got my fronts from PST. I got the RCD fronts and they bolted right in. No one that I could find had the rears in stock. I called RCD and they couldn't help me either. Sooooo, I went to the Hollander interchange manual. If you aren't familiar with this, it is what we used to refer to as the 'junkyard interchange manual". Before computers (man - I'm getting old) you would go to the yard and ask for something and the junkyard guy would pull the Hollander out and figure out what other cars he could pull your piece off of. So - I looked up the '67 Riv rear shock application and it listed all Buick '66-'70 (except A-body) and Cadillac '65-'70. RCD has a different part number for Electra 225 rears. Here's where it gets fun. The Electra shocks bolt up, but they are 1" shorter. It doesn't sound like much, but it is apparent when you are bolting them up. I have new springs in the back and my shock are near full extension in the installed, on-ground condition. I took it for a ride yesterday for the first time, and didn't feel any problems. I'm going to drive it until I feel an issue. If so, I'll have to put some other shocks back there. It rides real nice with the Bilsteins all around and the rebuilt rear suspension. It needs a new steering box and the bushings up front replaced and then it'll feel like a shark again... Edited October 12, 2015 by RoadShark (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest taongisurvivor Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 I got my shocks from Ebay, item number 401000642017. They are made(?) by Gabriel and were exact replacements for what was under there. The differential and suspension is now bolted together and looks good. Now waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for the wheel cylinders, flex hose, and emergency brake cables that I ordered from Old Buick Parts. Those guys are s.l.o.w. I am leaving in 2 weeks for Afghanistan, and I need to get the old girl going before I leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadShark Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Ugh. Good luck on getting your parts. Some of that stuff may be available from NAPA. Unlikely to find many Riviera parts in Berzerkistan. Stay safe... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BKJENS67 Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 RoadShark, where did you get those lower rear control arms? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JZRIV Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 Its been a couple years since he's been on the forum. If he doesn't answer I will guess they are from PST or UMI Performance. Seems like I recall the GM A-body track bars fit the Riv but don't know for sure. I doubt you will find a listing specifically for the Riv for this aftermarket track bar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted February 14, 2022 Share Posted February 14, 2022 They make them adjustable for the B body cars as well, Impala SS, Caprice, and the like. They are ~4,000 pound cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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