54 Bel Air suspension swap

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

I closed the deal today for a series of trades to which I will get a 54 Bel Air that is set up as a bomber I believe. Or its nose high with 185/75R15 tires.

So the way I use cars, and like to drive. I want it to handle like a Z28 Camaro as a analog. Plus I have a set of 15x7 and 15x10 slot mags that it will get. With 235/60r15, and 275/60r15 tires. Maybe 295/50r15 if it will fit with no mods to the frame.

I know people say it has Corvette suspension, but how good is it? It already has a disk brake conversion.

In my pile of parts. I have a Jag front cross member, Chevelle front clip, and a C10 cross member to play with. All of which can easily be made to do what I want.

[franken]

Should we read your mind as to which Z28 you're referring to? Are you suggesting there's a magic Z28 with Corvette suspension?
I'd guess a 54 Chevy weighs more than any Z28 and won't handle like one.

[leegreen]

hmm, front track width might rule out those front clips.
'54 will be about 59"
70s chevelle will be about 63
c10 close to 64
Jag dunno, what is it off?
a 2nd gen camaro is just under 62
Not sayin those clips won't work, but you'll probably have to run skinny tires or rims with more offset or both and deal with the handling hit from those compromises

old cars are not that heavy, they left out the extra crash protection, 2ng gen camaro and 54 belair are close to same weight. but the camaro is much stiffer

your saying '54 corvette and belair are similar suspension? I would not say that is wrong as they look similar but check out the frame design, vette has x frame, 2 c section stampings fully welded. 'bel air continues the same frame style chev used for years prior, straight ladder, very few cross members a hat section stamping with plate welded to bottom - prone to rusting out along that bottom seam and plate.

If your new car has '54 suspension in good shape, has a disk brake conversion* and a decent motor and tranny combination already fitting around that funky steering setup on the '54s I'd probably try it out.
Rebuilding the '54 stuff could cost close to what one of the cheaper MII kits costs.

* if it has disk brakes it may well have been clipped already. Conversions are not that common.

[LS short box]

I'm not a street rodder but I saw a company called "Fat Man Fabrication" in magazines that used to build Mustang II conversions for all kinds of old cars. Don't know if they still do.
Check with Speedway Motors out of Lincoln NE for something similar.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by franken

Should we read your mind as to which Z28 you're referring to? Are you suggesting there's a magic Z28 with Corvette suspension?
I'd guess a 54 Chevy weighs more than any Z28 and won't handle like one.

Stop

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by leegreen

hmm, front track width might rule out those front clips.
'54 will be about 59"
70s chevelle will be about 63
c10 close to 64
Jag dunno, what is it off?
a 2nd gen camaro is just under 62
Not sayin those clips won't work, but you'll probably have to run skinny tires or rims with more offset or both and deal with the handling hit from those compromises

old cars are not that heavy, they left out the extra crash protection, 2ng gen camaro and 54 belair are close to same weight. but the camaro is much stiffer

your saying '54 corvette and belair are similar suspension? I would not say that is wrong as they look similar but check out the frame design, vette has x frame, 2 c section stampings fully welded. 'bel air continues the same frame style chev used for years prior, straight ladder, very few cross members a hat section stamping with plate welded to bottom - prone to rusting out along that bottom seam and plate.

If your new car has '54 suspension in good shape, has a disk brake conversion* and a decent motor and tranny combination already fitting around that funky steering setup on the '54s I'd probably try it out.
Rebuilding the '54 stuff could cost close to what one of the cheaper MII kits costs.

* if it has disk brakes it may well have been clipped already. Conversions are not that common.

People say the early Corvettes took thier suspension from the Bel Air series of cars. I looked at it and was not particularly happy with the set up design. Which I can not see how that makes a difference as its a giant step behind 60's style suspension.

When I could not sleep last night. I may just narrow my chevelle crossmember to work the way I want.

Initially I will just swap my wide tire package under it, narrowed rear axle, and level the front. It has bias ply tires, and just tires would be a major upgrade.

Mustang 2 swaps would be a down grade from the Chevelle front end in strength and disk brake size. On the budget side, and barely compete with my parts stash for any thing under $5000.

I have the Chevelle clip with a nearly complete Corvette brake swap. Or I could dig out my C10 brakes, and mod the arms to accept the ball joints for the swap. Or just narrow the C10 cross member and have a easier swap kit. Although I would likely have to narrow the arms too. Either way alot cheaper then a basic M2 kit. As I have way more time, and $10,000 worth of tools to play with

[leegreen]

What would you do for steering on a narrowed crossmember?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by leegreen

What would you do for steering on a narrowed crossmember?

Narrow the steering parts as needed, and fab up a way to mount the box.

[scottofksu]

I wish I lived closer to you, my brother! We have very similar inclinations. My youngest boy is desperate for a tri-five for his first car... I have found Buick Specials to have the best price point for this platform (e.g., $2-3k for 4 doors and 3-5k for 2 doors in Nebraska). I spent a couple hours on Tuesday calculating how to improve the weight distribution from 60/40 to lighten the load on the front end. As was noted, these cars ARE pretty light at approximately 3700lbs, but I feel their handling can be improved by providing more balance in weight distribution given a tendency to understeer when pushed hard through corners and without the benefit of a decent engine to compensate with some oversteer - at least the engine he will have in his won't help much here! LOL Given the light weight of these vehicles compared to modern ones; it doesn't take much weight transfer to improve the balance - which is fortunate because there isn't a ton to move or delete in this pursuit!

Maybe move the battery to the trunk (-40-45lbs), switch to an aluminum radiator (-40lbs), and consider an aluminum 5.3 (-140) over the iron engine. This alone would get the vehicle to approximately 55/45 balance a 5% linear or 8.3% proportional improvement to balance.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Unfortunately this project is DOA.

I gotta call yesterday from the guy who owns the 54. His wife and kids want him to keep it as they love cruising as a family.

Only brightside was I sold a Th700r4 to him.

So I will deal with something for my boy later.