A Little Help With Steering Pleeeeaaassseee

[JPSAUTO]

Here's the problem, 69 2wd with p.s., I'm using later 1/2 ton (73 -87) spindles on the 69 control arms. All parts are new and power coated for the steering. I have 69 draglink, steering box, idler arm, inner tie rod ends and sleeves. I was going to use the later outer tie rod ends to fit the spindles but in assembling the steering I found one thing I forgot to check, the diameter of the sleeves the 69 measures .615 the 73+ measures .685. I guess the first solution is to replace everything with the later components a large expense, is there any cheap way out, could the outers be cut down and re-threaded or are there sleeves made to accept both sizes???? Any suggestions ????

[Sweet72]

Take the spindles to a machine shop and have the outer tie rod holes machined larger to fit the '69 outer tie rod end.

[JPSAUTO]

The problem is not with the bore in the spindle but the threaded shaft diameter.

[Sweet72]

Yea I know, 73-87 spindles with a '69 drag link, '69 sleeve... With my suggestion he could use all four '69 tie rod ends. If he has the tie rod end cut down and re-threaded to fit the sleeve he's gonna have to do that again when the tie rod end wears out. The spindles are a more permanent fix IMO.

[Harold Shepard]

Golden State when Seth Daulton owned it, had Brian McCormick do a write up on the same swap (same model truck, same basic components). According to the article the swap was relatively painless. They moved the old outer tie rod (69-70) to the inside position and replaced the outer tierods with 73- up inner tie rods, they used 73- up dropped spindles and replaced the upper and lower balljoints in the 69-70 with 73- up models. They did not mention anything about problems or drilling etc. other than modifying the location of brake line/ hose attachment. I am planning on the same swap for my project truck, keep me informed.

[JPSAUTO]

Harold, the threaded ends that go into the adjusting sleeves are different diameters. That's the rub.

[Tx Firefighter]

Several vendors sell an adapter tie rod sleeve, one thread on one end, different thread on the other end.

I'll see if I can find one on the web somewhere. Sit tight..

[JPSAUTO]

Thanks TX

[Tx Firefighter]

Here is a thread where they discussed the whole deal. Some years are different, but the problem and solution are the same. Remember, 63-70 was basically the same parts as far as steering and suspension pieces go.

CLICK HERE FOR THE OTHER THREAD


CLICK HERE FOR THE CPP WEBPAGE THAT SELLS THE SPECIAL SLEEVES

and here is the part number and description:

CP4SC Custom Tie Rod Adjusting Sleeve, Pair $49.00

[Sweet72]

That's a much easier and cheaper solution Tex. Didn't realize they sold anything like that.

[JPSAUTO]

Thanks for the research Tx, looks like the easiest solution.

[lolife99]

Make sure you use '73-up ball joints with those spindles. They are different.