60 GM suspension question

Hey guys I'm working on the front end of my 60 Pontiac Ventura. Does anyone know what parts if any will swap from and impala? I wanna use lowering springs instead of my cut ones. Also need ball joints and all the normal wear and tear parts. I know the frames were close to the same besides the wide track on the Pontiacs. Any info will help thanks guys.

Ryan

 

It's all different. The glass is the same in a Chevy, nothing else.

 

I saw that the moog oem replacement springs will fit all those gm cars I didn't know if atleast the springs would work

 

Pontiac suspension parts are readily available, no need to adapt something else. You can probably get most of what you need from Rock Auto, if not try the Pontiac specialists like Performance Years Pontiac or Ames Pontiac. Kanter Automotive also sells rebuild kits.

 

Thanks guys. Im sure no one offers lowering springs for a Pontiac I'm just not happy using the ones I cut because it took like 2 coils to get it 2 inches lower and it's still not where I want it

 

I believe you can get custom wound springs from http://www.springsnthings.com/ or http://www.eatonsprings.com/

 

is the lower coil thingy rivited to the a arm?? they cut the rivets and install spacers to lower the fronts
i got a 60 buick w stock steering and they used impala or some DB spindles, it all steers good and works
they took and droped the shock mounts at the bottom with some machined step downs

another thing to do is find a similar frame and take a caliper and measure the spring wire, find something smaller, we used to do that on stock cars and could usually find what was needed
but old cars are scarce now
keep trying something will work out

 

Unfortunately I'm on too tight of a budget to get custom springs wound. I don't thing the lower spring bucket is riveted on but I have thought about cutting them an welding in a strip of metal. But i don't wanna screw it up because it will be a pain to find a new a arm. I might buy the impala springs and see if they will work. I just don't wanna be out a $100

 

the 60 Chevy spring will work,but you wanna get a pair out of a 283 car they aren't as stiff as the 348 springs or the factory Pontiac spring and the same two coil cut will drop you about 3 1/2 in. the a arms and spindle are different not sure about the ball joints . Hope i helped

 

About the only things they share (or at least will interchange) are brake shoes and wheel bearings. 1960 is the last year that all the GM cars had their own frame - and while Pontiac and Olds share some parts, Pontiac is wide track where Olds is normal, so there are differences there too.

The last one I saw here that a guy had low, he had bags in it. Being a coil spring car, I would imagine it's not too hard to put those on it.

They drive so nice, stock, I'd be afraid to screw with it, frankly. I loved mine and drove the shit out of it, it was fun going around corners at speed and the thing would go around as flat as a Nascar road-racer.

 

Thanks! That's exactly what I needed to know. I'm goin to try some lowering springs for an impala, just feel better bout them then cut ones. I found a whole rebuilt kit for the front end.. So I guess I'll go that route. I got get the rear end straighter out first. Check out my build page on here.

Thanks again guys
Ryan

 

Hey guys I'm tring to figure out what coil over to use in the rear. Anyone know the rear weight of a 60 Pontiac of impala??? I need to know what kinda spring weight to use. Anything will help thanks guys!

Ryan

 

I think the 1960.... 2 dr hardtop Cat or Vent is right at about 4,000 lbs

 

From what iv found it's 3900 lbs curb weight. I think I'm just going to half that and go for it.

Ryan

 

as far as the ball joints and all that, go to your local NAPA. I rebuilt my whole front end on my 62 belair for under $250. and they are quality parts. IN STOCK...at least in my case.

 

Ryan Guy, a 2000 lb spring rate would be insanely high in this application.

 

I found a whole rebuild kit for the front end of mine for alittle over $300 so that's the way I'm going to go. The kit comes with everything I'm going to need.

I meant I was going to use half the weight to go off one of the charts iv found. Iv bought a pair now with a 300lbs spring rate. That's twice as strong as the ones under it now. Should work out good with those.

Thanks