1965 Buick Special drum to disc with 14"? possible? need help

CITSTNK

Newbie
I have a 1965 Buick Special convertible with the 225 V6 and 14" wheels.

I *thought* I could buy any drum to disc conversion kit for an A body and then buy the 14" wheels with the right back spacing from here-
http://www.ss396.com/chevelle/FM-1790AS.html
and the wheels - http://www.ss396.com/chevelle/NCE-8985.html

BUT - when I called them and checked to make sure, they said the reccomend using 15" wheels with that conversion kit. (I wanted the correct power kit that would look right for the car with the 11" booster, Delco etc) Then they said I might be able to use it if I grind a little off the caliper brackets to fit my 14" wheels, and maybe won't have to buy new 14s to begin with.

I believe that in 1965 power brakes with discs up front, drum rear was an option on the Special/Skylark/GS - but not sure about the wheel sizes. If you ordered the power setup, did the car indeed then come with 15" wheels? OPGI and YearOne claim to have a kit that will allow you to utilize your 14" wheels, but it doesn't look OEM to me at all.

Any thoughts or help on this is appreciated.

I also want to get a full front end suspension rebuild kit for the car, but now I need to go measure my lower control arm bushings to see if they are 1.9" or the bigger ones (so I can decide what kit to buy) Don't know what's on there, but I think I am going to go with 7/8 everything and regular bushings and hope it's right?

OH - and finding a good radiator for the car has been impossible as well. I don't want to get one of those plastic cheap-O ones and I figured that any of the 300-400 CU V8 brass/copper radiators will fit? TA Performance is expensive, but I also am looking at US Radiator models. Could use some help here as well.

So, brake conversion, suspension, and radiator are the 3 things I'm needing to get...just in info overload lately and the more I read from vendors...the more confused I am about what will fit, what won't, and what I really need.

TIA for your time here.

Cary
 
Your car is probably equipped with "drum only" 14" wheels.

There are other 14" steel wheels that will fit, however.

If you are near New England, I might have some that would work.

One of the best things I ever did for my car was have my local radiator shop build me a custom copper/brass radiator. It wasn't much money for what I got. (By the way, what I got was a custom-made five core radiator with 13" fins/inch that could cool a locomotive)

-Bob Cunningham
 
"drum to disc"

I have a 1965 Skylark 4.9L / V8 / 301. I'm thinking about doing the same thing "drum to disc". Any help with this project will do me some good.
 
"drum to disc"

I have a 1965 Skylark 4.9L / V8 / 301. I'm thinking about doing the same thing "drum to disc". Any help with this project will do me some good.
Did you do this project? I am looking to do the same and curious what kit you purchased and from whom.
 
I recently completed my power front disc brake conversion with a kit I purchased from Inline Tube. The kit was complete and had detailed instructions. The only thing not included was the tubing from the proportioning valve to each front brake and tubing from the proportioning valve to the rear brake splitter. I was able to purchase that at NAPA and shaped them myself.
 
I recently completed my power front disc brake conversion with a kit I purchased from Inline Tube. The kit was complete and had detailed instructions. The only thing not included was the tubing from the proportioning valve to each front brake and tubing from the proportioning valve to the rear brake splitter. I was able to purchase that at NAPA and shaped them myself.
Haloed,
Looking to do the same to my 65 Gran Sport but want to keep my 14 inch rally rims. I had ordered a kit for 14 inch rims from The Right Stuff, but its been on backorder for two months. Getting discouraged and trying to figure out a different way to do this! Did you use 14 inch factory rims??
 
Haloed,
Looking to do the same to my 65 Gran Sport but want to keep my 14 inch rally rims. I had ordered a kit for 14 inch rims from The Right Stuff, but its been on backorder for two months. Getting discouraged and trying to figure out a different way to do this! Did you use 14 inch factory rims??
I have 15" rims and my kit was for 15". Obviously I can't tell you what to do with your wheels but even my 15" look too small for the body. There are a few companies out there that make Buick rally wheels in 15x7 size you may consider or just some 15" steel wheels just to be able to drive it until you find a wheel you like. I am seriously considering a rally replica 16x7 or 16x18 if they fit.
 
im in Australia so USA parts are limited. I was able to use a local 1971 HQ Holden disc brake and caliper setup which fitted perfectly allowing me to use the existing 14" wheels. Currently has 17's on it but the 14's cleared fine.. Hardest job was finding bits to do a master cylinder / power booster swap as car had been converted to right hand drive.
 

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