Center link question

[Todd68Chevy]

Is there a chart or a thread anywhere that states what center links are the same as others. I have a guy looking for a center link to convert his 1968 C10 with ram assist power steering to a regular power steering box set up. He says it has disc brakes? I assume it must be disc brakes on 68 spindles? I have the following center links:

1. 1967 C20 non- power steering
2. 1968 C10 non- power steering
3. 1969 C10 non- power steering
4. 1971 C10 non- power steering
5. 1972 C10 power steering
6. 1972 C20 power steering

Does anybody know or where I can find out, if one of these will work or what he needs to look for. I think the 1968 C10 one should work but not sure if it will fit the p/s box pitman arm. Thanks for any help.

[lolife99]

Todd,... you need to find out which spindles he has.
The center link is in direct relation to the inner tie rod.
Which are also a different diameter thread after the 1970 model year.

I believe the center link should be the same from 65-70.
The 71-72 centerlink is by itself.
Then the 73-87 is different yet.

[lolife99]

Does he have conversion spindles?
65-70 style?
Is the truck running and driving now?
Or does he just have disc brake parts waiting to be installed?

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Todd,... you need to find out which spindles he has.
The center link is in direct relation to the inner tie rod.
Which are also a different diameter thread after the 1970 model year.

I believe the center link should be the same from 65-70.
The 71-72 centerlink is by itself.
Then the 73-87 is different yet.

So as far as you know the power steering (gearbox style) and manual steering systems use the same center link? Do you know if C10 and C20 of the same year use the same one also? Thanks for the help and advise.

Originally Posted by lolife99

Does he have conversion spindles?
65-70 style?
Is the truck running and driving now?
Or does he just have disc brake parts waiting to be installed?

I do not know if it is driving at this time but he is trying to change from ram assist steering to a power steering box set up so I would think it would have to have 67-68 tie rods/ spindles but I know what "ass u me"ing does also. LOL

Thanks

[poway]

Todd: The truck came with drop spindles (I should have mentioned that in my earlier post) and disk brakes. It looks like whoever did the drop spindle/disc brake conversion used the same center link and tie rod ends as they look like they are original. The ram assist and related components look original as well. In another post I read that the integral power steering was a bolt up conversion from non-power steering. I can find C20 center links here in San Diego, but I’m not sure they will fit. The diameter of the center links on my trucks: C10 (.880) and the C20 (.940). The one thing I noticed is that the pitman arm on the ram assist where it attaches to the center link is a female connection. The new pitman arm where it attaches to the center link is male. I also had to order a new rag joint as the manual steering gearbox is ¾ input and the new integral gearbox is 13/16 input. The C10 truck is not fitted with a sway bar.

[lolife99]

C20 centerlink is different.
(because the inner and outer tie rods from C20 are different)

I wish I knew what your spindles were.
Outer tie rods have to match the spindles.
Inner ties rods have to connect to the outer tie rods and then connect to the centerlink.
It all has to go together.

65-70 tie rods are 5/8" diameter.
71-72 and 73-87 tie rods are 11/16" diameter.

Just because the centerlink looks old doesn't mean it's original.
They might have robbed everything from a 71-72 disc brake truck.

Can you post any pics?

[lolife99]

The only reason I ask for pics,... I once tried helping a member for days.
When he finally posted pics,... it was obvious that the truck had been swapped to 73-87 parts.
Even a 1987 front end is 25 years old.

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by lolife99

The only reason I ask for pics,... I once tried helping a member for days.
When he finally posted pics,... it was obvious that the truck had been swapped to 73-87 parts.
Even a 1987 front end is 25 years old.

No problem, I understand that you can not answer a question correctly with out the correct information to begin with. Thanks for the help and answers that you have already provided. I am just trying to help poway find what he needs and also figure out what the center links I have fit so if I list them for sale I can be accurate. It just does not do anybody any good to sell them the wrong part. Thanks again lolife99

[poway]

Originally Posted by lolife99

C20 centerlink is different.
(because the inner and outer tie rods from C20 are different)

I wish I knew what your spindles were.
Outer tie rods have to match the spindles.
Inner ties rods have to connect to the outer tie rods and then connect to the centerlink.
It all has to go together.

65-70 tie rods are 5/8" diameter.
71-72 and 73-87 tie rods are 11/16" diameter.

Just because the centerlink looks old doesn't mean it's original.
They might have robbed everything from a 71-72 disc brake truck.

Can you post any pics?

Yes, here they are.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85527120@N06/

I finally was able to pull off the center link tonight after work. Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance for all of your help.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by poway

Yes, here they are.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85527120@N06/

I finally was able to pull off the center link tonight after work. Let me know what you think. Thanks in advance for all of your help.

OK.
I looked at the pics.
Sorry for the last post.

[lolife99]

Pitman arm,...
http://www.performanceonline.com/196...ng-Pitman-Arm/

[lolife99]

The centerlink is the same from 65-70.
You will have to determine which spindle you have or inner tie rod.
I'm guessing the spindles are 65-70 conversion spindles.

Sorry I didn't see the pics correctly before I posted.
You will still need the correct P/S pitman arm and idler arm.

[poway]

Todd: I was able to purchase a '67 center link from a guy in Victorville, CA. I decided to install a new pump, tie rods and hoses. I put it all back together and had it running and driving on Labor Day. Now I have to get it aligned. So much better than the ram assist steering. Thanks for all of your help!

[Todd68Chevy]

Originally Posted by poway

Todd: I was able to purchase a '67 center link from a guy in Victorville, CA. I decided to install a new pump, tie rods and hoses. I put it all back together and had it running and driving on Labor Day. Now I have to get it aligned. So much better than the ram assist steering. Thanks for all of your help!

Great to hear.