Spindle ID and tie rod/center link help!!!

[STOCKISH]

OK fellas, I am trying to figure out what the guy who built the chassis I now have did to the steering. The outer tie rod end fits in the spindle properly but the inner tie rod end taper is too small to tighten up in the center link. The large side of the taper in the center link looks to be 11/16". Is there a way to ID the spindle to see if he used 73-87 spindles instead of 71-72 and center link from something 67-72? The large side of the taper looks to be 5/8 if that helps ID them. There are no part numbers on the tie rods but at least they say MADE IN USA. Is the taper on the spindle smaller or larger for 67-72 than 73-87 etc... Please help me figure this mess out.

[STOCKISH]

Anyone?

[Classic Heartbeat]

The 11/16" is 72 and newer, the 5/8" is 63-70. That is if we are talking 1/2 ton. WES

[Classic Heartbeat]

I would personaly just change everything to one year. What you are discribing is going to require highbred adjuster sleeves and probably a few trips to the parts store. I would rather have everything that I know what is, than to have a mix of stuff that will be hard to remember a couple years from now. WES

[lolife99]

Outer tie rod brakedown:
67-70 (5/8" LH thread)
71-72 (11/16" RH thread)
73-87 (11/16" RH thread)

Sounds like you have a 67-70 centerlink.
The only way to correctly identify the spindle is with the upper ball joint.

Upper Balljoints breakdown:
67-70
71-72
73-87

Lower Balljoint breakdown:
67-70
71-87

[STOCKISH]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

I would personaly just change everything to one year. What you are discribing is going to require highbred adjuster sleeves and probably a few trips to the parts store. I would rather have everything that I know what is, than to have a mix of stuff that will be hard to remember a couple years from now. WES

Thats exactly what I am trying to do. I dont want a bunch of mix and match B.S. for sure. But I dont want to just go out and buy everything just yet until i find out what i have and NEED to buy.

[STOCKISH]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Outer tie rod brakedown:
67-70 (5/8" LH thread)
71-72 (11/16" RH thread)
73-87 (11/16" RH thread)

Sounds like you have a 67-70 centerlink.
The only way to correctly identify the spindle is with the upper ball joint.

Upper Balljoints breakdown:
67-70
71-72
73-87

Lower Balljoint breakdown:
67-70
71-87

Thanks buddy, I appreciate it. I too was thinking I may have a 67-70 centerlink. The idler arm and pittman arm bolt to the centerlink perfect but the holes in the link for the inner tie rod ends is way to big for the rod ends to tighten up! Do you know the break down for the inner tie rods?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by 1972SuperCheyenne

Thanks buddy, I appreciate it. I too was thinking I may have a 67-70 centerlink. The idler arm and pittman arm bolt to the centerlink perfect but the holes in the link for the inner tie rod ends is way to big for the rod ends to tighten up! Do you know the break down for the inner tie rods?

I had it backwards,... I thought the holes in the centerlink were too small.
The inner tie rod break down is the same as the outers.
The centerlink break down is also the same.
(67-70, 71-72, or 73-87)

You may have to buy some part and them return them after you figure it out.
You have to know what year the spindles are first.
(I assume they are drop spindles?)

[STOCKISH]

Yes, drop spindles. I am going to pick up some stock inner and outer tie rods and a centerlink for a 71 from a local board member to compare this weekend. I am now trying to find some pictures of 71-72 vs. 73-87 rotor backing plates to compare and see if I can identify the spindles that way too.

[STOCKISH]

OK, I went and bought Moog inner and outer tie rod ends and they are exactly the same as what I have. But the inner hole in the center link is definately the issue. Any chance the center link could be from a 73-87? Or maybe a 3/4 ton? Can someone measure the inner holes on a 71-72 center link if they have one off?