I've got a buddy that has a 78 or 79 Malibu. He wants to put my '71 12 bolt under it. I've done some reading at Maliburacing.com that says SSM used to make a conversion kit that made this possible. I know several of you guys have Bu cars that you drag. Can anyone tell me where I can find one of these conversion kits or what all my buddy needs to make the swap? TIA

Pretty sure a 71 Chevelle 12 bolt will be way too wide. If I remember the SSM kit uses a Nova 12bolt. A 9" will probably be cheaper.

Steve

it will work . you will have to run 5.5 backspacing on your rims. reason for the adapter is for the pinion angle. there is a specific tech artical on the swap at the site you mentioned. i put a 12 bolt and big block in a 79 elk. upper and lower trailing arms worked for me. just watch your pinion angle. modify the lowers if you have to. good luck

This is the info I pulled from Maliburacing. I think he can deal with the extra 1" width. I mostly am concerned about the spring perches and control arm mounts.

Body Style Housing Width
64-67 Chevelle 54.250"
68-72 Chevelle 55.250"
67-69 Camaro 54.250"
62-67 Chevy II 52.125"
70-81 Camaro 55.375"
82-92 Camaro 55.750"
93-up Camaro 59.250"
68-76 Nova 54.250"
78-88 A/G Body 52.125"

I read the article you are talking about. Do you know where I can find the conversion kit?

Turn him onto a 9 inch ford. There are millions of trucks in the yards with 9 inches under them. 12 bolts are getting to be rarer than hen's teeth.

SSM is out of business. Maliburacing had some posts about it. Check Maliburacing's for sale section in the forums, sometimes the kits show up there. Other than that you can fabricate your own or contact BMR Fabrication or some of the other suspension mfgs., they may have something for the conversion.

Rod

I put a twelve bolt A body rearend in a 79 Buick regal years ago, the upper control arms had to be shortened 2.5 inches to get the right pinion angle- then it bolted right in. Set the rearend in there with only the lower arms attached then rotate the housing till your pinion angle is right and measure the distance your upper arms will need to be-length. Bob

Jegs sells the SSM bars now under their own name..