[Murf]

Hi all, I'm building a 65 convert for my wife. Just like the one she had in high school, well almost. I need input on brake and suspension mods to help it handle and stop more like a modern car. She says she will be driving it most of the time, so I would like it to behave like a modern car. It needs to stop well and handle fairly well although there will be no "canyon carving" type driving. My budget is like most everyone else's, the cheaper the better. So if any of you have a set-up your happy with let me know what works. I would also like input on springs. I am looking for a slightly lower than stock stance with a comfortable ride. Thanks in advance and sorry for the run on!

Later, Murf

[Murf]

Hi all, I'm building a 65 convert for my wife. Just like the one she had in high school, well almost. I need input on brake and suspension mods to help it handle and stop more like a modern car. She says she will be driving it most of the time, so I would like it to behave like a modern car. It needs to stop well and handle fairly well although there will be no "canyon carving" type driving. My budget is like most everyone else's, the cheaper the better. So if any of you have a set-up your happy with let me know what works. I would also like input on springs. I am looking for a slightly lower than stock stance with a comfortable ride. Thanks in advance and sorry for the run on!

Later, Murf

[b-man]

Here's what I did when rebuilding the suspension my '64 Lemans convertible:

All new rubber bushings front and rear. New ball joints and tie rod ends as well as upper control arm shafts. Converted to '69 Grand Prix 11" front disc brakes using all factory/junkyard parts for a direct bolt-on. I didn't use a power brake booster, I like manual brakes.

I left the stock rear brakes alone. I wanted to use 14" wheels on my car so 11" discs were the biggest I could use, they are also the cheapest disc brake conversion. They stop very well, especially when compared to the original front drums.

For better handling I went with a big 1-1/4" front sway bar off of a '70 -'81 Trans Am. Be sure to get the mounting brackets that hold the bar to the frame. I used new GM rubber bushings to mount the bar and aftermarket urethane-bushed end links.

I found a pair of used boxed rear control arms (there are inexpensive weld-on kits to box your standard rear arms) and found a used 7/8" A-body rear sway bar. I also installed a new set of KYB gas shocks all around. They are pretty much the cheapest performance shocks out there, less than $120 a set when I bought them.

I kept the original springs. They were still in decent shape and have settled a bit over the years so they do offer a slightly lower stance than it originally had from the factory. You can buy springs for the front that are custom-wound for the lower ride height you desire.

A new set of early '67 -'69 Firebird front coils will fit, they allow the front to settle a bit more than standard A-body. I use these on the front of another '64 I have, they lower it nicely a couple of inches and don't cost as much as custom springs.

Out back a new set of standard-ride springs will work fine. It's easy to trim 1/2 of a coil (or more) off the top of the early A-body rear springs with a cutoff wheel to find your preferred ride height. Use an oxy-acetylene torch to heat the spring cherry red in one spot 1/2 a coil away from your cut end and push the spring against the ground to flatten the end of it so it seats correctly in the upper spring pocket.

I also found a good used steering box from an '80 Trans Am, it reduced the turns of the steering wheel from 4.5 to 3 turns lock-to-lock. Didn't have to change the stops in the box, turns plenty tight. It hooked right up to my factory power steering hoses and steering coupler too. A nice $40 steering box upgrade for sure.

There you have it, a stock suspension rebuild with sway bars and front disc brakes added. Better shocks and quicker steering. You can't do it any cheaper than this while still keeping a decent ride and adding good handling and stopping.