1962 Valiant Suspension/Brake Swap Options with other A-bodies

And just to elaborate a bit and confirm my memory, I dug through my old Slant 6 News magazines till I found the September 1991 issue, with a write up on 60-62 Valiants and Lancers. In the part titled "Differentiating" the three model years 60-61 and 62, is this:

"The 60 and 61 suspensions are unique. The ball joints, pitman arm, idler arm, etc. do not interchange with any other models. Replacement parts are virtually impossible to obtain today. The 62's suspension was changed and carried on until 1966."

I'm assuming that the author meant that because A bodies were widened in 67, the engine crossmember (K frame) and center link changed in 67. Otherwise, pre and post 67 suspension components are interchangeable. I.e., upper and lower control arms, spindles and brakes all interchange 62-72. You match whatever brakes you're using, not the year.

Also this:

"While all three years came only with the 7 1/4 rearend, which was used until 1976, the 60-62's had different axle bearings (roller) which can still be located today with some difficulty. However, the whole 63-76 7 1/4 rear end can be bolted in, the only problem being the emergency brake cable hook ups."

No mention of a larger front bolt on the springs, so have no idea about that. Also, the emergency brake cables can be swapped. There are two versions: the earlier version had equal length relatively short cables coming out of the brakes, which tie into one long cable which loops around and hooks to a single cable not far from the trans crossmember; the later version has one long and one short cable coming out of the brakes, one crossing over to the drivers side, where both hook into a single cable going forward. You can go either way, as either will hook up to the the rear brakes. I'm running the later style in my 63 Valiant (with 7 1/4 rear) and 65 Barracuda (with 8 3/4 rear). Been a long time since I converted, so I can't remember if you have to change the frontmost part of the cable (coming off the emergency brake handle), or not.