Drop Spindles For C20

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by jcramsey

Those are for a 71-87...would you still have to swap the crossmember/control arms to use them?

Should just be able to swap ball joints and possibly tie rod ends. I think they list them that way because '71 was the first year they had factory disc brakes. They would bolt on reusing all of your original equipment.

In this day and age of parts, no one should ever need to swap a crossmember for any reason.

[allytle]

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

In this day and age of parts, no one should ever need to swap a crossmember for any reason.

So I would be wasting my time with the crossmember? I think I'm going to jump on this 75 that's near by and was going to switch it all out. The engine is coming out anyway.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by allytle

So I would be wasting my time with the crossmember? I think I'm going to jump on this 75 that's near by and was going to switch it all out. The engine is coming out anyway.

Yes, swapping crossmembers is a waste of time and effort. ALL of the later model stuff will bolt on outside of having to drill new mounting holes for the pass. side idler arm. You want to get all of the steering linkage and swap that over as well (really just need the center link if you replace all of the wear items that likely should be replaced anyways).

[Captainfab]

When converting a '63-'66 C20 to a C10, you must change the crossmember as well. You can not simply bolt up any later model lower control arms as there are no saddles to locate them with.

Changing the entire suspension including the crossmember is not a big deal at all if the engine is out of the truck. You can easily have the suspension changed, power steering box bolted up and the later model idler arm mounted should you choose to go that route, in a weekend.

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

When converting a '63-'66 C20 to a C10, you must change the crossmember as well. You can not simply bolt up any later model lower control arms as there are no saddles to locate them with.

Changing the entire suspension including the crossmember is not a big deal at all if the engine is out of the truck. You can easily have the suspension changed, power steering box bolted up and the later model idler arm mounted should you choose to go that route, in a weekend.

Really??? The set of lower control C20 control arms I had at one time looked like they had the same cross shaft as the C10 and mounted the same. Maybe I had some '67-'72 arms. Hummm.....

[Captainfab]

Here is a pic of a '63-'66 C20 and C30 lower control arm. Notice the shape of the shaft and the 4 mounting holes.

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Really??? The set of lower control C20 control arms I had at one time looked like they had the same cross shaft as the C10 and mounted the same. Maybe I had some '67-'72 arms. Hummm.....

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Here is a pic of a '63-'66 C20 and C30 lower control arm. Notice the shape of the shaft and the 4 mounting holes.

Alrighty, I guess the 3/4 ton arms I had were from a '67-'72 truck, because the definitely did not have that cross shaft.

[allytle]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

When converting a '63-'66 C20 to a C10, you must change the crossmember as well. You can not simply bolt up any later model lower control arms as there are no saddles to locate them with.

Changing the entire suspension including the crossmember is not a big deal at all if the engine is out of the truck. You can easily have the suspension changed, power steering box bolted up and the later model idler arm mounted should you choose to go that route, in a weekend.

That's kinda what I was thinking I was going to do. I watched a video of a guy doing it and it seemed like a piece of cake. Had the tires on and everything. He just rolled it from one truck to the other.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by allytle

That's kinda what I was thinking I was going to do. I watched a video of a guy doing it and it seemed like a piece of cake. Had the tires on and everything. He just rolled it from one truck to the other.

Won't your donor parts be wore out?
Or do you plan to rebuild everything first?
Balljoints, tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm, and a-arm bushings.

[allytle]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Won't your donor parts be wore out?
Or do you plan to rebuild everything first?
Balljoints, tie rods, idler arm, pitman arm, and a-arm bushings.

I do plan on rebuilding it, yes. I was just talking about how easy the swap was.

[Captainfab]

Before someone buys those spindles, I would suggest checking to be sure that the '71-'87 lower ball joints will actually press into the '63-'66 C20 lower control arms.

Originally Posted by chevy_mike

Should just be able to swap ball joints and possibly tie rod ends. I think they list them that way because '71 was the first year they had factory disc brakes. They would bolt on reusing all of your original equipment.

In this day and age of parts, no one should ever need to swap a crossmember for any reason.