*4 to 5 lug Conversion for '61 / '62 Skylark, Special, F85...Assistance Needed Please

I have a 1961 Buick Skylark with 13", 4-lug wheels. As most of you know these vehicles are not well supported by the aftermarket so information is limited. I have heard that I may be able to use Chevy II stuff but I'm not certain.
I would like as much info as you would care to share. My biggest thing is I would like to purchase a new set of wheels but will not buy 4 lug.

I worded the title as so to help all others in the same boat combat this problem.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this and assist any way you can.



BloodyKnuckles

 

hmmmm if i get the lady one too....this will be valuable info....

so post away guys...what about dual masters, possible front disks?

I love ron....

 

front wheels are easy. you need 1965 to 1969 corvair hubs and drums. a bolt on deal, wheel bearings and seals are the same for the buick and corvair.

for the rear,you have to get the axles and drums drilled and press in some new studs.

hope this helps.

motorsent

 

I was also wondering about this. Thanks for the info!!!

 

Dude, whoever you are...thank you very much.


BloodyKnuckles

 

I'd look into the Scarebird disc brake swap for those cars, I have his old V8 Mustang kit and I'm very impressed, though actually getting a kit turned into a bit of a saga because I wanted an old kit. The parts are cheap (I have less than $325 in mine) and you get nice big rotors.

http://scarebird.com/index.php?id=6

HTH
--Kyle

 

BTTT



BloodyKnuckles

 

Corvair hubs for 65-69 have different bearings and seals than your Buick.
I think you are out of luck without some machining.
If you are doing this swap just for wheels, how about redrilling the hubs?

 

I may just do that.

Anyone else?



BloodyKnuckles

 

I have a 62 olds f85 I did this conversion to last winter... still not driving it, but I did get the brakes completed...

Front hubs... Stock, re drilled them because I couldn't find what I wanted / needed
Front discs... Late 80's Celebrity... You need to turn the OD of the hub ~.050" to make a decent fit
Front calipers... GM small metric... 1980-ish El Camino / Malibu
I made my own brackets, but it looks like Scarebird (on here and on Ebay) has some nice brackets... I was about ready to buy them from him but instead made my own...
Rear drums... Stock, redrilled
Rear axles.... Stock, Redrilled... Stock bearings are expensive, I found them for around $100 from Kanter Auto, I couldn't get them locally.
Master cylinder... 1980-ish Ford Fairmont... It is cast aluminum dual reservoir, manual for disc brakes and the ports are on the right side (towards passenger side) so the M/C can be put in the stock position and still able to use steel lines without hitting the annoying fenderwell / unibody frame.

I didn't get a complete engine for mine (AL 215), everything but the block, so I am in the process of putting in a 3.8 (231 evenfire) V6 from a mid 80's Regal. There is some lineage from the 231 to the 215, it didn't bolt right in, but i think i will make it work. I added an Edelbrock 4bbl intake and an early HEI distributor. I mounted it to a BOP 350... One thing I still need to do (among a long list) is find a long enough drive shaft. I can't find the carrier bearing anywhere so I could cut the stock one... I haven't found a 1 piece driveshaft that is long enough, so I am thinking of trying to find a 2 piece S-10 (Ext cab) driveshaft. For a radiator, I found that a late 80's radiator will fit with a little trimming to the lower pan... Its a little bigger than stock and a helluva lot cheaper than a custom made replacement / recore, plus it is cross-flow, which is more efficient.

For wheels, I found a set of 14" Olds ralley wheels (5 holes) that I painted black with the stainless trim pieces.

BTW, not that this is the correct place, but I am planning to sell my extra 215 parts w/ tranny if anyone is interested...

Hope this helps... I don't quite have it on the raod just yet, I am shooting for next spring to have a driver...

Andy

 

I have been told that early Nova spindles will swap in place of the stock Buick ones so that would be one option. I also know of a Willwood kit that will swap f you want nice disc brakes and afford them. I just need to find the part # from Willwood. This would fit on the stock spindle and you just have to drill out 2 holes if I remember right.

 

I will explain that the corvair hubs and drums will work, because I helped my buddy do this setup 2 years ago. He put 15" chrome rally wheels with a 4 3/4 bolt circle and everything fit correctly, including the wheel bearings.

I just finished building him a 215 for his car, orig. motor was really tired.

While I was doing the motor, my son was reworking the car for a 200 overdrive trans. built by Gear Star.

This is a slick little Buick now, the trans. ratios made a night and day difference.

Motorsent

 

I appreciate all the information and may contact you through a PM to discuss this option a bit further.


Thanks to all for the additional info.



BloodyKnuckles

 

I'm going to get the Scarebird kit for the front. The other problem is the brakes are expensive as hell for front and back. I was considering just finding a new rear end for the car and replacing it with something more conventional. The car is 800 miles away right now. If anyone can find the width of the rear end, I will start the quest and let everyone know.

 

Will early ChevyII spindles fit?
I have a line on the whole set up with drums, brakes, spindles and wheels for $100 which I thought was fair.

Let me know please.


BloodyKnuckles

 

Anyone?



BloodyKnuckles

 

62 chevy II spindles will work. i just put them on my 62 skylark. check out classic performance products

 

Will just the Chevy II spindles work or can you use the A-arms also?
Has anyone setup any type of air bags on a 61-63 BOP?

I am about to go through this myself and I am looking for the least amount of machining to do. I would also like a 2" drop if the spindles fit.

Thanks
Dave

 

i have the classic performance products 62 nova 2'' drop spindle on mine but it takes some modifacation to the upper and lower a arms

 

I have a 62 skylark convertable that I just finsihed putting in the airbags. If you still need info let me know. The project required a lot of cutting and fabrication.

I wish I found this post 6 months agos becuase I gave up on going to 5 lug. Maybe next winter.

 

Any more info on the '62 Chevy II spindles bolting up?

 

Subscribed for my '63 Skylark

 

What kind of modifications to the a arms to put the chevy 2" dropped spindles on?

Any modifications to use the non dropped spindles?

 

I am unsure on the bearing fitment corvair vs. buick,But I worked as a Corvair Specialist at a major East Coast manufacturer,and pontiac Tempest guys were always using the Corvair stuff for conversions to five lug.you may want to check with Clark's Corvair Parts to see,I know the current tech guys and they will measure the hubs for you so that you can compare.

 

I have Corvair hubs on mine now from "Flat Top Bob"
They fit nicely.

 

Boobie went another way with his Sky-lark (hyphen explained in thread below....)

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=333586

 

Any more updates on the Chevy II spindle swap? Just picked up a 62 Skylark

 

Actually, the 64-72 GM A- body front hubs like Chevelle will also fit. You'll just need to use the Y-body spindle nuts ave washers. They both use the A-2 and A-6 bearings.
I don't know if the Scarebird brackets will need the 69-72 A-body rotors or not. I'm still in that process myself

 

If you go with a more conventional rear end, you may have to put a new floor hump in. Part of the "appeal" of these cars is that there's not much of a transmission/floor hump because of the unique "rope" drive shaft that curves under the car.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Tempests were 5 on 4 -1/2..Yes, 4-1/2".
Don't tell anyone, but mine had Torque Thrusts, 4-3/4 in the rear. (12 bolt)