interchanging control arms

[Rusty Wrenches]

Quick question. I searched a while and am coming up with nothing. I would like to put 73-87 lower control arms on My 66, I know you can swap the whole crossmember but I was wondering if you could just do the lower arms? It looks like they bolt on the same way, any help would be appreciated!

[ERASER5]

I hung 73-87 arms on my '70, I believe a '66 would be the same.

[SCOTI]

Yes the arms can be swapped. The steering stops are different because the later arms use diff spindles but it's not anything that prohibits swapping.

[Rusty Wrenches]

Great- So heres what I plan to run. My 66 uppers with original ball joints, 73-87 lower arms with 73-87 ball joints and 73-87 drop spindles. Should have no issues with this combination correrct?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Rusty Wrenches

Great- So heres what I plan to run. My 66 uppers with original ball joints, 73-87 lower arms with 73-87 ball joints and 73-87 drop spindles. Should have no issues with this combination correrct?

You can run the 73-87 ball joints and 73-87 drop spindles on your current arms too... no need to replace unless the current ones are damaged.

[Rusty Wrenches]

the plan is to upgrade to a dropmember someday which would require the 73-87 arms, So i just want to be able to swap everything over. Sounds like I have a good plan put together, thanks for the help.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Rusty Wrenches

the plan is to upgrade to a dropmember someday which would require the 73-87 arms, So i just want to be able to swap everything over. Sounds like I have a good plan put together, thanks for the help.

Makes sense.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Rusty Wrenches

Great- So heres what I plan to run. My 66 uppers with original ball joints, 73-87 lower arms with 73-87 ball joints and 73-87 drop spindles. Should have no issues with this combination correrct?

66 uppers with 73-87 ball joints.....

Both upper and lower ball joints must be the newer style. You cannot use 66 ball joints either upper or lower with the later spindles.

[lolife99]

And you also have to use a 73-87 outer tie rod end,... which opens up another can of worms.

[lolife99]

From this thread:http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...57&postcount=3

63-66 truck with:

73-87 Crossmember Not Yet Installed:
1) This swap is almost a direct bolt in, with just a few holes to drill/elongate.

2) The preferred method is to use all of the 73-87 steering linkage:
* This includes the centerlink, inner and outer tie rods, idler arm and steering box. (A great way to gain P/S)

3) If you must use the 63-66 steering components, you will need to change the tie rods:
* The 63-66 inner and outer tie rods are a smaller diameter (5/8") vs. the 73-87 tie rods larger diameter (11/16").
* The 63-66 tie rods are also the opposite thread direction of the 73-87 tie rods.
* 63-66 inner is RH thread vs. 73-87 inner which is LH thread.
* 63-66 outer is LH thread vs. 73-87 outer which is RH thread.

3.1) So to connect the 73-87 spindle to the 63-66 steering centerlink you must use a:
* 63-66 outer tie rod (LH thread) in the inner location.
* connect that to a tie rod "conversion sleeve". (these are sold by many aftermarket suspension companies).
* use a 73-87 outer (RH thread) to connect to your 73-87 spindle.
* Again,... it's much simpler to use all of the 73-87 steering components.

4) Connecting the 73-87 rubber brake lines to the 63-66 steel lines, may require steel line fabrication, or brass "inverted flare" adapters.

5) You can also just swap all the components, from the a-arms out,... and leave your original 63-66 crossmember in place.
* This will require you to completly disassemble both the original 63-66 suspension and the 73-87 donor suspension.
* This is also a good time to clean, inspect, replace or rebuild any needed components.

[Rusty Wrenches]

Man it looks like I should just find a 73-87 crossmember to stick under my truck seeing how I need all new linkage already, hopefully I cab find one with everything. Any porterbuilt guys chiming in here? I need some of your junk! lol