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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 46
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Control Arm question
Well I have been lurking on her for a few months now and have tried to find as much information as possible but one question still eludes me. I bought a 63 short bed fleet side a few months back and noticed that the passenger side lower control arm had tried to make friends with the curb at some point. So I decided to pick up a 73 Chevy front end and I want to keep my drums but upgrade the control arms. So my question is can I use my stock spindles with the upgraded control arms if I use 63 ball joints?
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Houston, tx
Posts: 99
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Re: Control Arm question
I did a crossmember swap on my 63.
As I recall, the 63 has a different style of bushings. I have no idea why you would want to keep the drums You might as well cut a hole in your floorboard and use your feet like Fred Flintstone. The newer control arms allow you to use the 73-87 sway bars. But yea you can use your control arms. |
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#3 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hayes Va
Posts: 4,569
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Re: Control Arm question
Just do the split on the brakes and go to the disc using all the stuff you got. You will be glad you did once you see how much better the truck will stop.
Jimmy
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60 to 66 Chevy and GMC window decals http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=661131 Good friends, good food and a hotrod what else do you need? 1966 BBW long fleet Daily driver 1965 BBW short fleet Sold and going to a good home 1965 Suburban 2003 3500 Duramax 2005 Ultra Classic |
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#4 |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: Control Arm question
Short answer is yes. Put your '63 ball joints into the later arms and it will bolt up to your stock drum spindles. You will want to replace both lower arms to keep everything even.
__________________
. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Santa Maria, CA
Posts: 46
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Re: Control Arm question
Thanks for the short answer chevy_mike. I figure if tractor trailers and school buses can stop fine with drums the truck should have no problem.
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hayes Va
Posts: 4,569
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Re: Control Arm question
I got my first one of these trucks in 1976 and they do stop OK. Have wrecked one over a line failure on a single pot system. Had power drums on the 66 for a while and now the disc brakes. I would say the power disc setup stops 25% shorter with a lot more control than the power drums. With most cars on the road having 4 wheel disc and anti lock, anything we can do to improve the stopping power of these trucks ads to the safety when others around you panic and they can stop much faster than you can. I also have modern 3 point belts in the truck. Its also been a long time since tractor trailers and bus's have had front drum brakes.
Jimmy
__________________
60 to 66 Chevy and GMC window decals http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=661131 Good friends, good food and a hotrod what else do you need? 1966 BBW long fleet Daily driver 1965 BBW short fleet Sold and going to a good home 1965 Suburban 2003 3500 Duramax 2005 Ultra Classic |
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#7 |
60-66 Nut
![]() ![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Posts: 23,247
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Re: Control Arm question
I will disagree. I haven't been under a 2015 class 8 truck yet but a 2010 class 8 truck still has drum brakes all around. However there is a big difference between hydraulic drum brakes and air operated drum brakes.
__________________
Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE |
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hayes Va
Posts: 4,569
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Re: Control Arm question
I know Peterbuilt went all disc on the front in 2011 and Freightliner has been disc on the front of the big motorhome and bus chassis for a while. I agree that you can not compare the stopping power of the air drums and our trucks. I still feel that splitting the brakes is a must and if you can go disc do it.
Jimmy
__________________
60 to 66 Chevy and GMC window decals http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=661131 Good friends, good food and a hotrod what else do you need? 1966 BBW long fleet Daily driver 1965 BBW short fleet Sold and going to a good home 1965 Suburban 2003 3500 Duramax 2005 Ultra Classic |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Louisville KY
Posts: 622
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Re: Control Arm question
Quote:
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Bruce 1964 C10 SWB #Junk 1979 C10 utility #cargopants (sold) 1971 GMC Sprint (sold) 1974 GMC Grande Sierra (sold) |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ogden, Utah
Posts: 149
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Re: Control Arm question
hey guys i have a similar situation.. only opposite.. I have a 66 crossmember and upper and lower control arms. I already cupped my 66 lower control arms for my airride but want to put my 85 spindles and disc brakes on it. can i just put in 85 ball joints in the 66 arms? thanks guys
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1960 short bed fleetside factory 4x4 1960 panel 454 NV4500 Daily driver 1961 Short Bed BBW Fleetside 5.3 th400 swap in process |
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#11 | |
60-66 Nut
![]() ![]() Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Posts: 23,247
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Re: Control Arm question
Yes, just change the balljoints and install the spindles, etc.
Quote:
__________________
Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE |
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#12 |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: Control Arm question
Just remember, the outer tie rods on '73+ are larger threads (and I believe taper). To use the later spindles, you will need to either convert all the steering parts to the '73+ style or by conversion tie rod adjusters that have the two different sized threads (inner smaller, outer larger).
Other than that issue, it's all bolt on.
__________________
. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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