1968 3/4 ton to a 1/2 ton

[stsalvage]

Can u use spindles from a 1986 Chevy truck on a 1968 3/4 ton A arm.Trying to convert my 1968 long horn to a 1/2 ton pick up.I have a chance to buy a 1986 Chevy 1/2 ton pick up with running motor trans and rear end.

The rear end is not a problem its a leaf spring and so is the 3/4 ton rear axle so that should match up quit nicely.What i really looking to do is Keep the 3/4 ton front end A arms with the screw in bushings And use the 3/4 ton ball Joints and hone out the 1/2 ton spindles to take the 3/4 ton ball Joints.

I feel I will have to use all the 1986 front end linkage Or do you thing i could use the 68 heavier linkage .

What i don't want to end up doing is messing with any of the A frame or A arms the Alinement is dead on in this truck. so messing with that front end other then Pulling the 3/4 ton springs and spindles off then putting the 1986 springs and the spindles.Any help would be nice

Ya i know the 1968 longhorn is a rear truck But a 1/2 ton makes better sense when the 1986 has a 350 with a 700R4 just rebuilt

[dmack91]

I don't believe you can swap the spindles. The easiest thing to do is swap the entire front crossmember. Something like 14 bolts and the entire front end drops out. Then 73-86 will bolt straight in with only having to elongate one hole.

[leddzepp]

You can swap the spindles over, but you will need the correct ball joints and outer tie rod ends. You will also need adapters to connect your "new" outer tie rod ends to your original inners. If it were me I would probably swap the whole clip out as described above.

[stsalvage]

Ive tryed it on my 1965 I have too much caster or not enough It feels like the tires are riding on a bubble to quick steer and likes to follow the crown in the road Tried to adjust it

this is my problem with this whole set up on the 68 longhorn I like the screw in bushing Plus there are like 2 shims on ether side of the 68 on this 86 it has almost 4 on ether side

Would brand new Bell Drop or stock after market spindles work I like a stock truck but rather just have to put a spindle Tie rods and 1/2 ton ball joins in But the 68 Arms have bigger holes I've been told i can Hone out the holes on the spindles and put the 3/4 inch ball joints in there stronger I know the Dirt track guys use 3/4 ton ball joints in there oval track dirt car's They hone out there spindles they say the ball Joint is stronger Even on the Hydraulic Impala's that thAt bounce they use truck ball joints cus they can take a beating more then the car's

Even some of the Baha trucks use 1 ton ball joints they hone out there spindles i will talk to one of the builders for hot rod custom trucks to see if i can buy a set of custom stock or drop spindles and used the 3/4 ton ball Joint so i don't have to change the front end it rolls down the street at 85 mph and its dead on and the handling is so Perfect

[bodydropped68]

use all of the suspension components from the 86 steering brakes upper and lower control arms the 3/4 ton ones on the longhorn have a larger lower ball joint and the 1/2 ton ones will not fit in the 3/4 ton lower control arms but all of the 1/2 ton parts will bolt up to your cross member no need to swap it you can even use the motor mounts from the 86. good luck with the swap

[stsalvage]

I've had problems with ball joins with one other 1/2 ton truck there not strong enough.By honing out the spindle holes to take the bigger ball joints Wont hurt here the spindles its not like you cutting away massive amounts of metal And if you have a lathe you can be dead on.I'm checking with CCP that makes spindles if they have one that is not a drop spindle

[catch2otwo]

I have a almost complete 77 front end that you could swap over. Cross member, a arms, spindles. All half ton stuff. Trade you for something. Ill be headed to san bernardino for thanksgiving so pm me if you want me to lug it down.

[stsalvage]

I'm going the cheep way spindles every thing else bolts up No more swapping front ends and opening bolt holes Using stuff from another year and having to remember at the parts house what pit man arm i used and Tie rods.It just made things easier 2 spindles and i use my 1968 3/4 ball joints 1968 tie rods 1968 pit man Arm 1971-72 Disc brake caliber 1971-72 5 lug Roter 71 72 brake shield 1971 72 brake pads

That is a hole lot easier then trying to go to Napa and tell them i did a swap from a 1968 to a 1977 or a 1984 or a 1988 only need 1971-72 for the brakes the rest of it is 1968 3/4 ton factory truck