Help with ball joint and steering linkage

[JimboC10]

I have a 68 with front discs. I do not know what spindles and ball joints were used for conversion. I supplied 1975 upper ball joints and CPP lower control arms for 1973-1987. My local shop did the work. When I got truck back I see the nuts are so far down that the cotter pin hole is no where near the castle nut. The nut can back off now with no cotter pin to stop it. See pic.

Also they told me the steering center link was on backwards and they flipped it around. I have since researched this and it appears they were wrong. See pic.

Any ideas on what ball joints I should use and steering linkage setup?

Jim

[hugger6933]

It looks to me that the drag link itself may be upside down. Notice the upward angle of the tie rods. I think if the drag link were flipped it would be straight there. I had a truck [02] recently that I rebuilt and when I carried it for front end alignment he told me the draglink was on wrong he flipped it and the steering problems vanished. Now on the ball joints if they fit the spindle IF, I would use a machine washer on the bottom and two or three on the top to change the nut depth getting it closer to the castle hole. that may not be the best way but it is a way to improve on what you now have. Jim

[PGSigns]

It looks like the wrong ball joints top and bottom. They fit like they are both early model ball joints. The steering is all wrong. I dont have a picture on this computer but some one here should. I can't believe they put it together like that.
Jimmy

[lolife99]

Centerlink in the pics is on backward.
(flip it end for end)
The inner tie rods are attached from the back side of the centerlink, with the inner tie rod nuts on the front side.
You also have the wrong balljoints.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Centerlink in the pics is on backward.
(flip it end for end)
The inner tie rods are attached from the back side of the centerlink, with the inner tie rod nuts on the front side.
You also have the wrong balljoints.

x2 on this info.

Here's a pic (shows my original bent center link and the replacement). The bottom of the pic would be to the front of the truck and top to the rear. See that the tie rods are on the backside of the center link.

[JimboC10]

Thanks for the help.

Jim