UBC & LCA Spindles

[chufham]

My son wanted me to find out if B-Body UBC & LCA and spindles would owrk on a 74 Ventura X-Body.He seen where I had read about 96 9c1 B-Body some had come with 5/8 in. balljoints and wanted to know if he could adapt the ubc & lca with spindles to his car which would also give him bigger brakes in the front but will also have a larger 5x5 bolt pattern. Which also means he could run Impala SS wheels but I also told him the would have to change the bolt pattern for the rear axle also.I did a search before I posted this and couldn't find anything.Thanks,Cliff

I'm trying to help make this car extra special it will be the only father and son build up I will have with him bbefore he leaves to go into the Army next year.

[Q ship]

77-96 B-body arms and spindles are applicable to '75 and up X-bodies and 70-81 F-bodies. A '74 X uses arms and spindles like the 67-69 F, so there are a lot of options.

[Q ship]

BTW, what's a "UBC"? I assumed you mean upper arm.......

Cliff, you did ask this before.....don't you trust me?

[gmachinz]

Hold on a minute. I assume you are using aftermarket upper control arms, right? I just finished a big brake install on a '69 Chevelle (with a little help from Dennis68-holla...) The tricky thing about going with the B-body spindles is the height between the upper and lower bj's. Your car is going to be about 5.25" I'd bet and the B-body is right around 6.5"-quite a bit of distance to make up for. I gave the customer two options: Either go with the B-body spindles and aftermarket upper arms, or I can use GM (only 10.5" rotors though) metric spindles (ala 78-88 G-body stuff) and merely ream the bj and tie-rod end tapers to match the bigger susp. pieces or wait awhile for me to find a stock front spindle set-up for his Chevelle. There are several ways to attack it but the upper bj height is the major hurdle. Your bumpsteer might be a concern (not so on g-bodies) but there are aftermarket centerlinks to cure that, too. Howe's comes to mind but they are not recommended for the street. -Jabin

[chufham]

I remeber asking about aftermarket control arms but this time we were thinking along the lines of factory units off the late 96 Impala or Caprice 9c1 police cars

[Q ship]

Jabin, that's all well and good, but aren't all the cars you mentioned front steer? The 68-74 X-bodies are all rear steer. So the spindles are completely differant. And he's asking about stock control arm compatibility between platforms.

Cliff, I don't mean to be so short but there are so many options available for the 1st gen Camaro/3rd gen X cars that I don't understand the interest in the B-body stuff. The stock arms are no better or worse than the stockers off the Caprice-the 5/8" ball joints aren't a big deal on such a light car. The reason Chevy went to them was because cops were breaking them by bouncing 4000 pound cars off of curbs.

AFAIK the Guldstrand mod works on X-bodies just as well as Camaros, there is just so much available now for your car that will be better for your needs.

[gmachinz]

Agreed. Also, the upper arms off the B-body won't work anyway because of the 7.25" distance between the bolt holes for the cross shafts (and a much wider shaft, too) making the step up to the Guldstrand mod a better choice with aftermarket arms. I realize the X bodies are rear steer, but like you said, with what's available for the 1st gens, just pick your style basically and shell out some plastic. -Jabin

[chufham]

I have looked real hard at the aftermarket and like GW suspension set up.

But since I have been in the hospital twice and in and out with the Doctors money is real tight so I just trying to find a way to so a suspension on the cheap using junkyard parts.Thanks for all the help,Cliff

[MuscleRodz]

Gulstrand mod is a cheap way to go. Also I would look at SC&C's tall upper ball joint conversion as well.

Mike

[David Pozzi]

You need to do the usual first gen Camaro mods since this suspension is similar. I have a lot of first gen info on my page below.
Guldstrand mod
Set as much positive caster as you can.

you can get by ok with stock A arms, there is no 5 on 5 method I know of.

[chufham]

Thanks Mike and David My Son will be doing the work and paying for parts since I have given him the car but he doesn't know the plans yet,since it won't be finished until he is done with his training in the Army.

[chufham]

I ordered a catalog from Guldstrand yesterday,I can't wait til it gets here.

David I have been reading your site on 1st.Gen Camaro and will keep doing so until I understand everything.My son has changed his mind about the car so I will be able to do everything myself without buying too much to do it.
Thanks,Cliff

[David Pozzi]

There are a lot of areas you can cut corners, save a lot of money and still have a very good handling and braking car.
I need to do a page on that but I'm too buisy until winter!

Guldstrand is great, but I don't recomend their rear springs since they have bronze bushings in each end and are too severe for a street car.

Check out Global West, Hotchkis, Detroit Speed too. They all have websites.

http://www.globalwest.net/
http://www.hotchkis.net/
http://www.detroitspeed.com/
http://www.guldstrand.com/