Front end quandary - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

zellway · 11-22-2011, 06:56 PM

I wanted to know if the front "A" arms and spindles from a 1973 to 1987 C10 fit the C10 of the 1967 to 1968. There is a guy down the road from me parting out one and wanted to know what I might want to take off it to put disks on the front of my 68. I have been told that you could pull the ball joints out and installed the 73 to 87 and pop the spindle in and then you just have to get a adjuster for the tie rod from a place like CPP to use the 67 to 70 inner and the outer from the 73 to 87. Could I use the arms off the 73 to 87 without swapping the center brace? Any info would be great help.

68Gold/white · 11-22-2011, 07:41 PM

The control arms are not the same, will not swap. There's other things to think about, steering linkage stuff is different, also.

Installing a complete 73-87 crossmember , including the steering linkage, would be a do-able deal.
The only question would be, if you have manual or power steering.

I think the stock 73-87 pitman arm will connect to your 68 gear box, not completely sure though, both vehicles would need to be either manual or power steering. The manual steering box output shafts are smaller...

SOme of the stuff you are talking about I don't know about. 73-87 spindles can be swapped to your 68, but the outer tie rod end will be wrong. You will need disc brake (71, 72) ball joints also, for this spindle swap.

zellway · 11-22-2011, 07:52 PM

My truck has power steering from a 1970. The rest of my front end is stock. I don't know what this guy was thinking but he run the front crossmember in half when he was scraping the cab and bed for metal. I bet I could find that a better one I was just thinking I could get them for just about free from this guy.

SCOTI · 11-22-2011, 08:05 PM

68Gold/white, I'm not sure what issues you encountered & don't wish to minimize installation problems you might have encountered, but the control arms will swap (I've done it more than once). There are subtle differences but they'll swap.

The entire x-member can be swapped as mentioned, or, just the disc brake parts can be swapped over to a drum brake x-member. If you're just swapping the parts, you'll want to use the factory idler & pitman arm for the 'original' chassis. You also need to use the BJ's, center-link (drag-link), & tie-rod ends for the correct year of the spindles (71-72 or 73-87).

Check this out..... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823

**CC69Rat** · 11-22-2011, 08:20 PM

My 69 has the entire swap from an 84. I bought the truck, the PO had already converted it but it is really clean and you can run 1.25" HD (F44) rotors. I'd just get the whole Kmember .. is the engine out of your truck?

Hubscrub · 11-22-2011, 10:23 PM

yes the stuff will work, i just rebuilt the front of my wife's 67 with 86 model parts sprindles, tie rods, ball joints etc.....

zellway · 11-23-2011, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

My 69 has the entire swap from an 84. I bought the truck, the PO had already converted it but it is really clean and you can run 1.25" HD (F44) rotors. I'd just get the whole Kmember .. is the engine out of your truck?

I would like to get one with the full K member. My truck is a driver but it would not be to big of a deal to pull it all apart. As long as the studs for the upper A arms will fit from my 68 to the 73 up trucks that would save me some work.

SCOTI · 11-23-2011, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zellway

I would like to get one with the full K member. My truck is a driver but it would not be to big of a deal to pull it all apart. As long as the studs for the upper A arms will fit from my 68 to the 73 up trucks that would save me some work.

The studs are the same for 1/2 tons & larger on 1-tons. The 73-87 upper a-arm shafts do have a concave side that requires a matching convex spacer/shim to center the shafts vs. the pre-73's which are flat on both sides.

If you use the 73-87 upper a-arms, get those convex washers.

zellway · 11-24-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTI

The studs are the same for 1/2 tons & larger on 1-tons. The 73-87 upper a-arm shafts do have a concave side that requires a matching convex spacer/shim to center the shafts vs. the pre-73's which are flat on both sides.

If you use the 73-87 upper a-arms, get those convex washers.

Thanks! this is a big help. thank you guys.

chevytruckluver · 11-23-2011, 12:36 AM

Another vote for YES, here is alot of good stuff for you
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444815

11-22-2011, 06:56 PM	#1
zellway Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Arizona City, AZ Posts: 747	Front end quandary I wanted to know if the front "A" arms and spindles from a 1973 to 1987 C10 fit the C10 of the 1967 to 1968. There is a guy down the road from me parting out one and wanted to know what I might want to take off it to put disks on the front of my 68. I have been told that you could pull the ball joints out and installed the 73 to 87 and pop the spindle in and then you just have to get a adjuster for the tie rod from a place like CPP to use the 67 to 70 inner and the outer from the 73 to 87. Could I use the arms off the 73 to 87 without swapping the center brace? Any info would be great help. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------------- Erik My 69 suburban http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=530626 1970 C10 step Project Jiminy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=682647 RUST!? Thats just mother natures way of telling all of us.....MINE!!!!

11-22-2011, 07:41 PM	#2
68Gold/white Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ark City, Kansas Posts: 3,411	Re: Front end quandary The control arms are not the same, will not swap. There's other things to think about, steering linkage stuff is different, also. Installing a complete 73-87 crossmember , including the steering linkage, would be a do-able deal. The only question would be, if you have manual or power steering. I think the stock 73-87 pitman arm will connect to your 68 gear box, not completely sure though, both vehicles would need to be either manual or power steering. The manual steering box output shafts are smaller... SOme of the stuff you are talking about I don't know about. 73-87 spindles can be swapped to your 68, but the outer tie rod end will be wrong. You will need disc brake (71, 72) ball joints also, for this spindle swap.

11-22-2011, 07:52 PM	#3
zellway Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Arizona City, AZ Posts: 747	Re: Front end quandary My truck has power steering from a 1970. The rest of my front end is stock. I don't know what this guy was thinking but he run the front crossmember in half when he was scraping the cab and bed for metal. I bet I could find that a better one I was just thinking I could get them for just about free from this guy. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------------- Erik My 69 suburban http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=530626 1970 C10 step Project Jiminy http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=682647 RUST!? Thats just mother natures way of telling all of us.....MINE!!!!

11-22-2011, 08:05 PM	#4
SCOTI Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: DALLAS,TX Posts: 22,071	Re: Front end quandary 68Gold/white, I'm not sure what issues you encountered & don't wish to minimize installation problems you might have encountered, but the control arms will swap (I've done it more than once). There are subtle differences but they'll swap. The entire x-member can be swapped as mentioned, or, just the disc brake parts can be swapped over to a drum brake x-member. If you're just swapping the parts, you'll want to use the factory idler & pitman arm for the 'original' chassis. You also need to use the BJ's, center-link (drag-link), & tie-rod ends for the correct year of the spindles (71-72 or 73-87). Check this out..... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823 __________________ 67SWB-B.B.RetroRod 64SWB-Recycle 89CCDually-Driver/Tow Truck 99CCSWB Driver All Fleetsides @rattlecankustoms in IG Building a small, high rpm engine with the perfect bore, stroke and rod ratio is very impressive. It's like a highly skilled Morrocan sword fighter with a Damascus Steel Scimitar..... *Cubic inches is like Indiana Jones with a cheap pistol.*

11-22-2011, 08:20 PM	#5
CC69Rat Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Chattanooga TN Posts: 6,214	Re: Front end quandary My 69 has the entire swap from an 84. I bought the truck, the PO had already converted it but it is really clean and you can run 1.25" HD (F44) rotors. I'd just get the whole Kmember .. is the engine out of your truck? __________________ Chad 1967 C10 SWB - Project Savannah - 6.0/4L80 Currently underway 1968 C10 SWB - TOTY 2018, 50th Anniversary Tribute Project * Sold * Pride and Joy 1986 Silverado Short Fleet - Scarlet Sold 1985 Silverado Short Fleet Sold 2022 Jeep Gladiator Mojave 2001 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4 - Lifted, Built 1992 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4x4 - Lifted 2013 Honda Accord EX-L v6 Coupe 6spd (wife's ride)

11-22-2011, 10:23 PM	#6
Hubscrub Cruzin Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: on the road Posts: 2,835	Re: Front end quandary yes the stuff will work, i just rebuilt the front of my wife's 67 with 86 model parts sprindles, tie rods, ball joints etc..... __________________ Lime Wife's 67https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...wZEMODaS2d94u8 Back to the Fifties 59 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...NAeStpydfrcj_U Proverbs 3:5,6 "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything."Charles Kuralt In memory of our first baby daughter, daddy and mommy love you. Danica Grace 6/26/14

11-23-2011, 12:36 AM	#10
chevytruckluver Eat, Sleep, Drive a Chevy Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: the town of the cow, Texas Posts: 1,152	Re: Front end quandary Another vote for YES, here is alot of good stuff for you http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444815 __________________ Trey Silence may be Golden, but Duct Tape is Silver! 72 Short Step 57 "big window" short step



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