Please Help, having issues with front end...

[tomlamb]

I am doing some work on my 66 (ball joints, tie rods, etc) and discovered that the PO just used 66 tie rod ends on a later model drop spindle (at least 3-4 years old) and it doesn't fit will at all. The spindle does not have any markings on it so I don't know what it is (66, 72, or 73 type) though it does have calipers and hoses that look like the 73' type on it. The 66 ball joints wouldn't work as there is not enough thread to bolt with a cotter, but the 73 type looks to fit (I didn't have a 72 type ball available to try). I believe the lower ball joint is the same for 71-86 but the upper is listed as different between 71-72 and 73-86 so I am not 100% sure the I am using the correct upper. Anyone know if the 73-86 style ball joint fit or looks like it fits in a 72 style spindle? I don't want to be running the wrong one in my daily driver!

I am hopeful the outer tie rod connection will shed some light on what style drop spindle I have as they look to have 3 different sizes.

65-70 outer is 7/16" with a .856 taper length going between .593 and .623
71-72 outer is 1/2" with a .612 taper length going between .521 and .623
73-86 outer is 9/16" with a .924 taper length going between .593 and .747

As for tie rod ends, I believe it is running the 66 center section and the new idler and pitman look ok but I need to get a good tie rod arrangement . I think I found a good setup if my spindle is a 73+. Using an old chassis book I found that the 73-77 El Camino uses an inner tie rod with the same taper and bolt sizes as the 66 inner but with 11/16" left threaded rod so it will mate up using the 73 outer tie rod and adjusting sleeve. Has anyone tried this? Captainfab?

73-86 C10 outer Moog # ES409RT
Adjusting Sleeve Moog # ES2004S
73-77 El Camino inner Moog # ES2020RLT

If this works, it could be a good solution as parts look to be in stock items at Auto Zone/O'Reilly type stores for a combined price less than mating adapters that a couple vendors sell. If the spindle is a 71-72 style I am not sure what may be an easy fix, suggestions?