C20 to C10 ball joints

[renosixfive]

I have a six five C20 that I am working on. I am looking for info on changing out the front to a 5 lug. I tried the search option but for some reason it keeps saying "error" when I try and search. What are my options for using C10 drop spindles up front. Different control arms? Different ball joints? 86,87 or 88 cross member and suspension parts?

Is there a way to keep the 8 lug and have power disc brake and drop spindles?

[Captainfab]

Welcome to the forum


To use the most common '71-'87 C10 brakes and suspension on a '63-'66 C20, you will have to change the entire crossmember. This is because the '63-'66 C20's don't have the saddles to hold the later model C10 lower control arms. You can not just install C10 ball joints as the ball joint hole in the LCA is too big. There is another way to have the 5x5 lug wheel bolt pattern, but it is not so common. It uses the '88-'98 C1500 spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. The lower ball joints for those spindles will fit the '63-'66 LCA's. Yes it is possible to retain the 8 lug wheel bolt pattern with dropped spindles and disc brakes. There again you just use the '71-'87 C20 components, but the ball joints fit the LCA's. I have no idea who makes C20 dropped spindles, but I do know they are made. Someone else hopefully will chime in that does know.

There is a thread here on the forum that describes most everything you need to know about switching to front disc brakes.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=367260

There are also many, many, many other very useful threads in the '60-'66 FAQ section.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=450021

[CdM]

answered my own ?

[renosixfive]

Thanks for the info Captain.

[Mike Bradbury]

I converted my 67-72 C20 to a C10 5 lug with the conversion spindles. I still have the C20 ball joints and arms but Early Classics has a C 10 drop spindle bored out for the C20 ball joints that fit on the 63-70 years.
Go to this site and select Drop kits in the category menu. The conversion spindles are the last ones on the first page.
http://www.earlyclassic.com/home.aspx

[renosixfive]

Thank you for the info Mike.

[lolife99]

www.performanceonline.com sells C20 drop spindles.

www.earlyclassic.com sells a 1/2-ton drop spindle that allows you to keep your current 3/4 ton ball joints, tie rods, and a-arms,.

[renosixfive]

Thanks LoLife.

[CdM]

glad to see this since i just ordered c10 spindles.. just my luck

[renosixfive]

Cdm I am sure there are a lot of people that want to do this exact swap. I built another six five C20 last year. But I sold it before I got to the front end. I had an account on here when I was building my first C20 but I could not remember my screen name or password.... LOL. And I think I had all this info saved on my old account..... ha ha

[CdM]

Yeah im heading out with my spindles and lca's to orilleys right now. Gonna play the mix and match game. Hope i find something that will work.

[renosixfive]

Let us know what you find out....

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by CdM

Yeah im heading out with my spindles and lca's to orilleys right now. Gonna play the mix and match game. Hope i find something that will work.

What year spindles did you buy?
There's no need for guess work.
Buy ball joints and outer tie rods that match your "year" of spindles.

[CdM]

I guessing they are 73-87 westerns..seem to be the most common years they make for these kits. The only mix and match Im heading over to do is for the lca and steering linkage. Im sure ill get it to work.. its just time consuming when i have little to no time.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by CdM

I guessing they are 73-87 westerns..seem to be the most common years they make for these kits. The only mix and match Im heading over to do is for the lca and steering linkage. Im sure ill get it to work.. its just time consuming when i have little to no time.

Not any more.
The aftermarket now makes year specific standard disc brake spindles,... and drop spindles.
60-62
63-70
71-72
73-87
Western Chassis, Belltech, McGaughy's, Performance Online, ECE,... everyone!
Even CPP!

But CPP still promotes this stupid kit that makes you change to 73-87 spindles ball joints and outer tie rods.

No need to change ball joints and outer tie rods anymore.
That technology is 20 years old.

[CdM]

63-70 is what i got. but none of the linkage or ball joints match up.
ended up using a 88 outer tie rod and still working on the rest. the company says its a 73-87.. but like i said i cant find a whole lot working with them so far

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by CdM

63-70 is what i got. but none of the linkage or ball joints match up.
ended up using a 88 outer tie rod and still working on the rest. the company says its a 73-87.. but like i said i cant find a whole lot working with them so far

Your statement confuses me?
Who did you buy your spindles from?
You got a part number for them?

[CdM]

I got it. Thanks though lolife