Frame help!

[bbcmudtruck]

Here you go. Is this a good enough picture, or do you need a better shot?

[Tx Firefighter]

That picture is fine.

You have stock, non dropped, spindles.

You'll need to buy spindles for 73-87 application. Measure your brake rotor thickness to see if it's 1 inch or 1.25 thick.

[bbcmudtruck]

They are 1 1/4" rotors near as I can tell. The dang brake shields are in the way to get a good measurement.

[bbcmudtruck]

So, do I need to order spindles and springs for 73+ correct? Just double checking before I click the purchase button! I want to drop the front 5". So 2.5 drop spindles and 2.5" springs should do it? As for shocks, you recommend that I keep the current shocks I have?

[Tx Firefighter]

I'd do 3 inch spindles and 2 inch springs. It will ride a bit better. You best make sure of your rotor thickness. If you get it wrong, you're gonna be in for a hassle with returning parts.

Yes. everything on the front of your truck is 73-87. I have spoken of the shocks in earlier posts. They're good ones.

[jjzepplin]

Good thing you are replacing those springs! WOW. These guys are the best. I just have one thing to offer. I noticed what seems to be a 5/16" bolt in your Idler arm. Get the right size and make sure it's grade eight. Including any bolts and lock washers. Also install any missing bolts(cradle) and make sure THEY are grade eight. If the PO skipped quality here then you better check it ALL out.

[bbcmudtruck]

I can't thank you guys enough. Sorry for the redundant questions, I just want to be sure this gets built right! If it was all 1969, I wouldn't have near as much trouble. I will make absolute sure on the rotors and I plan on going through the suspension as soon as the spindles and springs get here. I'll get the grade 8 bolts in place as well. I ordered up 170 dollars worth of ball joints and bushings last night from rockauto for the arms. I will get the spindles and springs ordered today after making sure of the rotor thickness. I'll post pics of the progress as it happens! Thank you guys!

By the way, here is what has been occupying my time the last few weekends. Its not a truck, but just about everyone here is a gear head and appreciates muscle.

1970 ss 396 4 speed car. Original survivor!

[jjzepplin]

Nice car! You have good taste!

[PanelDeland]

Nice car!! Don't worry about the parts questions but do start a notebook with a list of what you find that's been modded so you'll have a reference.The disk brakes are enough of an upgrade to be worth the trouble you're having sorting it out.

[bbcmudtruck]

Yes sir, I have been keeping very good notes on what has been changed and what has not. So far, the list of changes is alot longer than the original parts list! I will post up some good pictures of the rebuild progress and hopefully save some newb like me the headache and worry of ordering the correct parts. I've searched several times about the newer suspension on the older trucks and just couldn't come up with the specific answers I needed. So hopefully, I will be able to put together a good thread of how to for the next newb. Thank you guys for all the help!

[bbcmudtruck]

Heres what I ordered. The spindles are for 1 1/4" rotors and are 3" drop. The springs are 2" drop and the c-section kit, well, is a c-section kit! As soon as all the moog ball joints and bushings arrive, I'll be spending a weekend making a new ride! Thank you for all the help!
Your Order
Purchased Items
Part #ItemStatusPriceQtyLine Total
BEL-3100
Belltech Sport Trucks 3100 - Belltech Sport Trucks Front Spindles

Order this item and get free delivery and handling on your entire order! Offer excludes truck freight fees. Valid on orders shipped in the contiguous United States.
Ready to Ship
$311.50
1
$311.50
BEL-4702
Belltech Sport Trucks 4702 - Belltech Sport Trucks Lowering Coil Springs

Order this item and get free delivery and handling on your entire order! Offer excludes truck freight fees. Valid on orders shipped in the contiguous United States.
Ready to Ship
$155.70
1
$155.70
MMC-63167
McGaughy's Suspension Parts 63167 - McGaughy's C-Section Kits

Order this item and get free delivery and handling on your entire order! Offer excludes truck freight fees. Valid on orders shipped in the contiguous United States.
Ready to Ship
$145.97
1
$145.97
Part Subtotal $613.17
Order Subtotal$613.17
Ending Balance$613.17

[bbcmudtruck]

Well the suspension fairy showed up! I hope to get all this stuff bolted on next weekend or sooner. I will post up pics of the install and final ride height. A big thanks to all of you guys for helping me out on this so far!

[bbcmudtruck]

Also something else just occurred to me. I went ahead and bought the bbc motor mounts before I knew I had a different cross member. Will I still need these or will I need a different set for the 73+ cross member? In the past, I just bolted the bbc into the 73+ engine bay and had no issues. However I was using body lifts and several other componets that wouldn't go down under the cab. So which motor mounts will I need for the 73+ cross member, in a 69 cab?

[bbcmudtruck]

I got started on installing the front suspension today! I just wanted to say thanks to all the guys who helped me figure out my frankenstien front end. I got the front upper arm off and completely rebuilt today. It took quite a bit longer than I thought it would. I also got new wheel bearings as well as new brake pads to put on it. I figured while I had it apart, I might as well strip it and give it a fresh paint job. What kind of paint are you guys using on control arms? Something durable and semi gloss black would be great! I also need to figure out if the bbc motor mounts I bought for the 69 will need to be used, or will I need bbc mounts for a 73" cross member? Thanks for the help. I'll get some pics up tomorrow of the progress.

[Tx Firefighter]

Rebuilding the control arms is a beating. I think its the worst part of building these trucks. I consider myself pretty fast at working on these and I plan a weekend to do control arms. Getting those lower u bolts off is killer when the engine is still in the truck.

Every 73-87 crossmember I've ever swapped into an earlier truck, I just used early model engine frame stands. They line right up with the bolt holes on the crossmember.

[bbcmudtruck]

Right on, thanks for the help TEX! I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought the control rebuild was a nightmare. I only got one upper arm done today, and that took me about 4 hours from the time I took the wheel off till the time I got the arm done! I haven't even started on the lower arms yet.... If the weather holds up, I should be able to at least get the left side done tomorrow. I feel a little more comfortable now that I have one done and under my belt. My buddy loaned me a ball joint press kit, I don't know how the hell I would have done it without it! I had a hell of a time just pressing in the bushings!

[bbcmudtruck]

I did luck out a little bit though. The p/o had replaced all the steering tie rod ends and bushings! So at least I don't have to fool with those. Also, how bad is the c section kit going to be? Would it be ok to torch it out, or better to use cut off wheels?

[Tx Firefighter]

The torch question will cause a firestorm I'd imagine. Lots of folks are adamant that a torch should never touch a vehicle frame. Other folks are fine with it.

If you're good with a torch and you can cut quickly and smoothly, that's what I'd do though. My opinion only.