65 Suspension Rebuild

[GCC]

I haven't posted much, but have certainly made use of the posts here over the last couple of years. A big thank you to others for sharing, and I wanted to start documenting some of the work I have done in case it is useful for the next person to go through some of these jobs.

 

Last winter I rebuilt the suspension and brakes on my 65. 

This post was extremely useful for selecting front end parts without having to order multiples and then return stuff. Not a whole lot to add, except to point out that the advice to offset the upper control slightly towards the rear made it possible to get the desired amount of positive caster. I also spent more time cleaning and painting than disassembly/reassembly.

 

A before and after. Note that I went with 1" drop springs and Bilsteins from Jamco when they had them on sale. I was happy with the parts (except for the useless bump stops), but wouldn't recommend ordering from them if you are in a hurry to receive things. I also found a deal on the Wilwood front disc conversion, and did the master cylinder upgrade at the same time. I didn't find a lot of love for the Wilwood kit here, but hadn't seen any feedback from anyone who had actually installed it. I found the install straightforward, and have been very happy with performance so far. 

 

 

 

The rear suspension proved to be a lot more challenging, mainly due to the control arm bushings. 

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread on the subject. Unfortunately, the parts listed there are no longer available from any suppliers. I searched a long time, and was almost ready to give up and bend over for the rare parts bushings, when I found an alternative for $8.72 each. Centric 602.62052 is the part you will want to use now. The instructions for modification in the thread still hold, although for spacers, it's pretty easy to just press out one of the old bushing centers and cut off the required width to use as spacers. Removing the bushings, even with a shop press was not simple. The outer metal bushing sleeves just collapsed on two of them and had to be cut out.  The lower control arms also wanted to collapse as I tried to press out the bushings. I partially boxed the arms, but I still needed to weld up a little shim to slip around the bushings to be able to get them out without damaging the arms. 

 

 

 

The only thing I couldn't do myself was alignment. Once done, it rides and handles like a completely different car, which is not surprising considering most of the parts appeared to be original.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GCC]

And here is the closest I could get to before and after stance shots from the same location. Same camera placed at the same position on my work bench, although the pan angle is a little off. This is from stock original springs to 1" drop.

 

 

 

 

[RockinRiviDad]

Dammit!! Again, it sounds like u did a great job. But your pix didn’t show up again on this thread brother

[RivNut]

How are you posting your pictures that causes them not to appear?

[GCC]

I just copied them inline with the text and it looked fine when I posted, and even after. I guess I was hitting the attachment limit size though. I shouldn't have assumed that the forum would manage the photos. I'll post some resized images.

 

[1965rivgs]

White custom interior? Original black car?

Tom

[Pat Curran]

11 minutes ago, 1965rivgs said:

White custom interior? Original black car?

Tom

Hi Tom.  Back in the summer of 1977, I took an all original 1965 GS for a test drive that was for sale on Cape Cod.  It was black with a white custom interior. The price at the time was $5,000.  I was fresh out of college with no means to buy it.  Flash forward to 2005.  I had an ROA regional cook out at my house and the same car arrived for the event.  I just can't remember the ROA members name.

[telriv]

IF I remember correctly his name was Paul & he was from Mass.

[1965rivgs]

13 hours ago, Pat Curran said:

Hi Tom.  Back in the summer of 1977, I took an all original 1965 GS for a test drive that was for sale on Cape Cod.  It was black with a white custom interior. The price at the time was $5,000.  I was fresh out of college with no means to buy it.  Flash forward to 2005.  I had an ROA regional cook out at my house and the same car arrived for the event.  I just can't remember the ROA members name.

I looked for a recent pic from the showroom of CARS, their ebay store/website/auctions but couldnt find it...Glenn has such a car and has owned it for many years...perhaps it is the same car?

Tom

[GCC]

15 hours ago, 1965rivgs said:

White custom interior? Original black car?

Tom

 

Yes, white custom interior, which is original and in great condition. The paint was originally midnight blue though. Repainted black at some unknown time in the past.

[Pat Curran]

10 hours ago, 1965rivgs said:

I looked for a recent pic from the showroom of CARS, their ebay store/website/auctions but couldnt find it...Glenn has such a car and has owned it for many years...perhaps it is the same car?

Tom

It wasn't Glenn"s.  The ROA member has had the car for many years.  He bought it from the Buick collector who was selling it not long after I test drove it.  The collectors name was Dick Garbitt.  He had a nice Buick collection and specialized in buying and selling them.  I wanted to trade my 1964 on it at the time but he wouldn't take it as he had several 64's in stock.  I also think he was having a cash flow problem and ultimately took $3,500 for the GS.  I just can't remember the name of the ROA member and not sure if he is still a member.  He was from MA.