Hey guys, after many hours of crusing the forums I decided to go ahead and swap the b-body brakes on my 64 malibu wagon. I am doing this swap in a weekend hopefully so I am trying to assemble everything before hand. Would someone check my list to make sure I have everything I need? Here it is:
1975 camaro master cylinder, manual not power

1975 camaro proportioning valve, if this locks up the rear brakes i will get an adjustable one

1988 pontiac full size wagon calipers, left and right

Bearings inner and outer, A3 and A6

Wheel bearing seals

High performance brake pads for a 1996 caprice with 9C1 police package

Brake hoses for a 1972 chevy caprice

1987 camaro 1LE rotors, converted to 7/16" studs

outer tie rod ends for a 1984 buick regal

inner tie rod ends for a 1972 chevelle, i think i have to swap to these because they are larger than the 64-69 style and there regal ends wouldnt mate to the earlier size

tie rod adjusting sleeves for 1972 chevelle

upper control arm bushings

lower control arm bushings

offset upper control arm shaft Moog #5250

Is this a complete list? I know I will need little fittings here and there. I am right about the tie rod ends aint I? The 72 inner tie rod ends will still bolt to a 64 centerlink, right? Did I have the moog part number right for the upper offset shaft? If so how much did the shaft cost? Will the caprice brake hoses mate up to my drum brake hardlines and bolt up to the 88' pontiac calipers, and be long enough to support the full suspension travel? Any additional notes anyone wants to add would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Mack Miller

The only part of this I can help with right now is the offset shafts; 5250 is the part number I have as well. O'reilly Auto has them for 41.99 ea, I'm sure they can be found cheaper somewhere else.

If you are using the 72 inner tie rod end it is an 11/16 thread. The 84 Regal is a 5/8" thread. Look at the 73-77 a body outer tie rod end its 11/16" Or use the 70 and older inner it is 5/8 this info is in the back of the the moog book.

Hey 64Malibuwagon,

You will need to get upper and lower b/joints for the b-body spindles. The lower b/joint will have to be machined down to the stock Chevelle diameter in order for it to be pressed into the lower control arm. The upper joint will bolt right in. smile.gif

Hope this helps.
Elmo

Thanx slo307, that info on the tie rod ends helps out alot. I think I got everything in order, except I have one more question: will the 12" brakes fit in my 15" american racing smoothies?

will the 12" brakes fit in my 15" american racing smoothies I was told you could run 15 inch rims w/12 inch rotors...joe

I suggest you nix the full-size calipers and just stick to the factory chevelle ones along with chevelle disk brake hoses. This is because the full sized cars have the brake hose mounted low and it points down and away from where the frame brackets are to attach to the hard lines. There is no difference the the Chevelle calipers except for the hose mounting point and it points up towards the frame so the hoses are quite a bit shorter. The full sized hoses are about 6" longer and have to wrap around and up to get them to work. It will work, just looks kinda messy and dangerous to me. BTDT>

To get just a little better pedal feel , you could try a 77 Malibu manual MC for a 6 cylinder car. Those have a slightly smaller bore so pedal feel is a tad easier.

Bill C.

Hey Mack,

You didn't mention them in your list, but do you have the correct spindles for the 12-inch rotors?

Hey Mack,

You didn't mention them in your list, but do you have the correct spindles for the 12-inch rotors?

hey guys thanks for the replies. Yes i do have the proper spindles for the 12 inch rotors. Thanks BC I will go ahead and use the chevelle calipers and hoses. I have read this before but forgot about it.
thanks again,
Mack
graemlins/waving.gif

I have a question. I know that you can put b-body spindles and brakes on 80's montes, and all you need basically is a shorter upper a-arm, or just use spacers. That is the some for 64-72 chevelles right?? So does that mean that the 10.5" rotor rotors and spindles off the montes will bolt right up to the chevelles. Just curious.

Thanks

Here is an exerpt from Global West (http://www.globalwest.net/1964-72%20disc_brake_conversion_informatio.htm) suspension. I hope this helps:

Note: Bring a tape measure with you to the wrecking yard because many of these vehicles also had 11-inch brakes. The rotors off of (B) cars have a 5 on 5 bolt pattern. You have a 4-3/4 bolt pattern, so you will not need the rotors. Use 12-inch rotors off a 1988-1992 1LE Camaro/Firebird GM part # GM 18016035. This is all you will need off the 88-92 Camaro/Firebird. 1LE rotors have the correct bolt pattern but use 12mm studs rather than 7/16 studs. You need to change the studs over to 7/16. We use a DBS-42 kit ($20.98) for this conversion. The wheel stud holes in the rotor will have to be opened up slightly in order to convert to 7/16 studs. A 35/64 drill bit will do the job.
The brake caliper we use is off of a 1970-1976 Camaro/Firebird. These calipers are the right width for 1LE rotors. Use an 1-1/8 master cylinder with power brakes and a 1-inch master for manual. We use an adjustable proportioning valve rather than a standard valve. If you have front drum brakes and converting to disc. You will need a proportioning valve. If you already have disc's and upgrading to larger brakes for the handling kit. Your original proportioning valve will work.

bigblockboy,
You are on the right track, but here's some additional info for you. In '73, GM changed the spindles on the A-bodies to the taller spindles on every car, same as the B-bodies. The big difference is that A-bodies never got the option of having 12" rotors whereas the big B-bodies such as Caddies and things like Wagons could get the 12" rotors. Yes, it is true that the spindles off an 80's Monte will work on the Chevelle, but you will still be doing the same tall spindle conversion, only without the benefit of being able to use the 12" rotors, so what's the point? Most people figure that id you are going to the trouble of doing the tall spindle conversion, then why not go to the 12" rotors also? If you simply want to do the tall spindle conversion with the standard 11" rotors, then many cars will work including F-bodies, A-bodies, the rest of the B-bodies, etc.

Hope that helps,
Bill C.

Are you saying that the 80's monte's also have tall spindles? I don't think that they do, I was just thinking that it would be a direct bolt in since you don't have to buy an aftermarker uppper a-arm. I think this since you have to get the shorter upper a-arm for the 64-72 a-body and the g-body monte's. So if you have to do the same, I am thinking that it would bolt right in. Just a cheap way to get disc brakes, although it is only a 10.5" rotor, but I am sure it is still better than drum. This is just what I am thinking, I am not saying that it would work, i am just trying to get some ideas.

Thanks for the help

Yep, the 80's Montes will be the tall spindles... everything out of GM went to the tall spindles after 74. The Camaros and such were first in '70, then the A-bodies went in '74 and the X-bodies like Novas and such followed last in '75. I'm not sure of the big B-bodies and when they went over, but it was around the same time period. So pretty much anything after '75 had the taller spindles and then in the '80s, GM started changing things pretty drastically.

Good luck,
Bill C.

I don't think that the G-body's have tall spindles. You have to do all the same stuff to the G-body's to put the tall spindles (b-body) on, as you do to the 64-72 chevelles. It just doesn't make sense to me. If you have to do the same, then they must be the same.

I just finished putting the 12" tall spindles on my 78 El Camino, while the stock 78 spindles are taller than the earlier spindles they are about one inch shorter than the B body spindles.
I too thought it would be an easy swap using the stock upper control arms but no such luck, after taking it too the alignment shop and he put in all the shims he could fit it was still off by 1 1/2* positive.
I bought the Poleposition uppers,he is in Denver,CO. Cost was $250 half of the other guy's. They are fully adjustable just have to grease them once a month.
The whole operation cost close to $1000 but now I can stop and handling is great. I used urethane bushings and stock HD springs with an 1 1/4 front bar and 7/8 rear, I also reinforced the lower arms and used the 78 ball joints.
I spindles and calipers came from a 81 Olds 98, still using the stock MC

:confused: well if the 80's montes came with tall spindles, why is still a tall spindle conversion when switching to b-body spindles?? If they are all tall spindles wouldn't the b-body spindles be a direct bolt in for the g-body's?? g-body's have the same spindles as s-10's. Do s-10's have tall spindles also?? :confused: