Control Arm Question ???

[Demonspeed13]

I have a 67 2wd I am working on and I already have the Cpp drop spindles and front end rebuild kit but I noticed several people talking about using the control arms from the 73-87 model trucks . I was wondering what all has to be swapped out in order to use them and if they will work with the parts I already have ? The spindle kit I have come with the 73-87 upper and lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends as an upgrade . The truck already has front disc brakes so the main reason I am interested is the bushings can be upgraded . I haven't found any upgraded bushings for my 67 .

[Allensracing]

is a rubber bushing an upgrade over a steel bushing?

[Demonspeed13]

You can get polyurethane bushings for the 73-87 but not the 67

[Allensracing]

the factory steel bushings in the 67 are better performance wise that polyurethane.

[Demonspeed13]

Ok I didn't know that they was metal . I have everything to rebuild my front suspension except upper and lower shafts and swap bar bushings but I saw a few people talking about swapping out the control arms . I didn't know for sure which would be better . Thanks for the info .

[Allensracing]

I have no clue why they swap them out. as long as there is no slop in the shafts, they are fine. make sure to keep them lubed. there should be a grease nipple on each cap

[Demonspeed13]

Ok cool thanks a lot for the help . I'm still learning a lot about these trucks lol . I'm glad I found this site .

[Tx Firefighter]

The reason to swap them out is financial. A shaft and bushing replacement on the early arms is much more expensive that bushings for the later arms. Last truck I built I used a set of later arms because it was a couple of hundred dollars cheaper to rebuild them than the early arms would have been.

If you have a set of tight early arms I'd run them. Steel bushings are very durable and do not deflect.

[Allensracing]

I live in california, and all the arms here are always in good shape. I can certainly understand the cost savings issue.
I circle track raced for a while, and the guys with monte carlos paid a lot of money to get steel bushings to replace the rubber ones

[Demonspeed13]

My bro in law works at a parts store and can get me the upper and lower shafts from Moog for $176

[Allensracing]

do they need to be rebuilt? if there is no slop, there is probably no need to replace anything. I picked up a brand new set of bushings for my 66 truck about 18 years ago, then when I took them off I found out the stock ones still looked really good.
I still drive the truck, and I still have the brand new in the box moog replacements

[Demonspeed13]

I'm not sure if they have any slop in them or not . The only time I got to drive my truck before I started taking it apart was a rough and bumpy ride due to the heated springs lol .

[lolife99]

Did your truck have 73-87 stock spindles on it when you got it?
Just wondered why you went with 73-87 drop spindles and balljoints?

[Demonspeed13]

The spindles are for the 67 -70 , It's an upgrade kit that Cpp sells . It comes with the drop spindle and then uses the upper and lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends from a 73-87 . Suppose to be better design than what the 67 used .

[Allensracing]

it sounds like a kit that changes over to a 73 style drop spindle...

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Demonspeed13

The spindles are for the 67 -70 , It's an upgrade kit that Cpp sells . It comes with the drop spindle and then uses the upper and lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends from a 73-87 . Suppose to be better design than what the 67 used .

Your upgraded spindle,... is really just a 73-87 spindle, then.
Depending on which inner tie rods you have you may have to buy the tie rod adapter sleeves to connect your new 73-87 outer tie rods.
The 65-70 inners are 5/8" diameter.
The 71-87 outers are 11/16" diameter with a different thread direction.

I've never heard of the 73-87 balljoints considered as an "upgrade",... although they are cheaper to sell.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Allensracing

it sounds like a kit that changes over to a 73 style drop spindle...

Exactly.
And that's not really necessary anymore.
(Now that they make "year specific" spindles)

[Demonspeed13]

Here is the link to the Cpp page for the kit I got . http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...ck/6370SSK.htm

[Demonspeed13]

I really just got this kit because it was the cheapest way to get the drop spindles and the other components to rebuild the front end .

[stepstep67]

does any one know if the 67 drag link will work with 73-85 inner tie rods? sorry i dnt mean to take over your thread. bt i dnt knw how to post my own

[Demonspeed13]

I think it would be a lot of work . The stock inner tie rods from the 73-87 are a lot bigger than the 67-72 . You would have to drill it out and prolly make some kind of spacer . I wouldn't think it would be safe . It turns out that my truck already had the 73-87 control arms and steering linkage and I didn't notice it til last night .

[stepstep67]

Thanx so it probally easier to change the drag link from a 73-85.. but will it fit the 67 pit and idler arms?
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[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by stepstep67

Thanx so it probally easier to change the drag link from a 73-85.. but will it fit the 67 pit and idler arms?

I used 73-87 steering parts (drag-link & tie-rods) w/my 68's factory idler & pitman arms.

[stepstep67]

Thanx scoti. And speed demon did u end up using your 67 arm or did u gt 73-85 ones? Which one r better?
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[Demonspeed13]

I didn't realize when I posted the thread that it already had the 73-87 control arms on it . I didn't look close enuf before posting I guess lol .