spindle swap on a 68 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tripp · 03-22-2003, 01:53 AM

does anybody know if you can put '72 spindles on a '68 with no further modifications? I have a '72 frame with all the gear and those spindles and discs would sure be nice on my '68. I don't want to have to swap the a-arms. do i need to upgrade the ball joints and tie rods for the '72? i need help, thanks.

72c10 · 03-22-2003, 04:16 AM

I beleive the tie rods and everything else are diferent sizes, do a search on the subject I know its been asked before, even though you dont want to you would save some headeach to change over everything from the 72

Blue Beard · 03-22-2003, 09:16 AM

I'm under the impression that you can unbolt the 72 complete crossmember..........and swap it right into the 68..............

Do a search, I believe this issure has been adressed................

slogo · 03-23-2003, 10:33 PM

get new top and bottom ball joints and new tie rods for the 72 set up and you should be fine. no need to swap the A-arms or the crossmember. make sure to check all the bearings and since you got it down that far why not go ahead and resurface the rotors and get new pads.

dovoe · 03-31-2003, 12:27 AM

I would be interested in what you find out about swapping 72 front spindles to a 68... I just bought a 68 that supposedly has that swap, but has some problems with steering... It seems the out side wheel on a turn, turns sharper than the inside wheel..no matter which way you turn...Right or left...
I suspect it is the tie rod ends since the part numbers are different in the parts catalogs, but am not certain..yet..

Thanks...Don
slyca@yahoo.com

406 C-10 · 03-31-2003, 08:41 PM

Im doing the same thing on my 69 and yes you need new upper and lower ball joints and a diff tie rod.

tripp · 03-31-2003, 10:51 PM

thanks for all the posts and pms, guys. i think i'm on track.

dovoe · 06-19-2003, 01:41 PM

Hey Tripp........

Did you ever get your spindle swap to work on your 68 Chev???
I am in the process of changing the tie rod ends from 68's to 72's and wondered if I was on the right track.... What about the ball joints?? Do they have to be 72 also???

Thanks for your help in advance...

Dovoe

crazy4chevs · 06-19-2003, 04:06 PM

yes, the balljoints have to be 71-72 also.

tripp · 06-19-2003, 05:13 PM

i haven't been able to get to it yet. however, my front end man here in town tells me that all i need to do is swap the ball joints for 72 ball joints and change the tie rod ends for 72 models. he thinks that it may be necessary to swap out the entire steering linkage system to the 72 model to get the right setup because the steering ends that the tie rods screw onto are different sizes. there may be an aftermarket company out there that makes a tie rod adapter so the full linkage swap is not necessary. i don't know. hopefully, i'll get to it soon.

73stepside · 06-20-2003, 01:24 AM

to do the swap right you would need a master cylinder with proportion vavle for disc/drum, inner and outer tie rods, tie rod sleeves, upper and lower ball joints, center link and brake lines and hoses from a 71/72 truck. you will also need to grind down or dent the steering stops. grinding them on the spindle would be the easiest but i'm gonna dent the steering stop on the a arm of my 70 to swap in disc brakes. classic performance products does sell adaptor parts for this change over i believe.

dovoe · 06-21-2003, 05:39 PM

Thanks 73 stepside....

You have told me more than I have learned in the four months since I bought my 68.... I knew there was more to it than what I had found so far.. I sure am glad there is a site like this for novices like myself...

I do have the outter tie rod ends, but it looks like I will need a few more parts to complete the job... I guess this will take a bit longer than I originally thought...

Thanks again for your input... It will finally get me on the right track...

dovoe

73stepside · 06-22-2003, 10:25 AM

i did a search on the board and found what the other guys had to do to put the disc's on and made a list. i still need to get most of the parts to finish mine, but i'm still sanding and painting

03-22-2003, 01:53 AM	#1
tripp Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Meansville, Georgia Posts: 218	spindle swap on a 68 does anybody know if you can put '72 spindles on a '68 with no further modifications? I have a '72 frame with all the gear and those spindles and discs would sure be nice on my '68. I don't want to have to swap the a-arms. do i need to upgrade the ball joints and tie rods for the '72? i need help, thanks.

03-22-2003, 09:16 AM	#3
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,831	I'm under the impression that you can unbolt the 72 complete crossmember..........and swap it right into the 68.............. Do a search, I believe this issure has been adressed................ __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

03-31-2003, 12:27 AM	#5
dovoe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	I would be interested in what you find out about swapping 72 front spindles to a 68... I just bought a 68 that supposedly has that swap, but has some problems with steering... It seems the out side wheel on a turn, turns sharper than the inside wheel..no matter which way you turn...Right or left... I suspect it is the tie rod ends since the part numbers are different in the parts catalogs, but am not certain..yet.. Thanks...Don slyca@yahoo.com __________________ Just Don

03-31-2003, 08:41 PM	#6
406 C-10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Lincoln NE Posts: 20	Im doing the same thing on my 69 and yes you need new upper and lower ball joints and a diff tie rod. __________________ 69 C-10, 406 small block, double hump heads, performer intake, 750 holley, headers, dual 2 1/2 exhaust through glasspacks, yet to move 88 cheyenne tbi 4.3 daily driver

06-19-2003, 01:41 PM	#8
dovoe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Hey Tripp........ Did you ever get your spindle swap to work on your 68 Chev??? I am in the process of changing the tie rod ends from 68's to 72's and wondered if I was on the right track.... What about the ball joints?? Do they have to be 72 also??? Thanks for your help in advance... Dovoe __________________ Just Don

03-22-2003, 04:16 AM	#2
72c10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: burlington KY Posts: 175	I beleive the tie rods and everything else are diferent sizes, do a search on the subject I know its been asked before, even though you dont want to you would save some headeach to change over everything from the 72

03-23-2003, 10:33 PM	#4
slogo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Morristown,TN Posts: 481	get new top and bottom ball joints and new tie rods for the 72 set up and you should be fine. no need to swap the A-arms or the crossmember. make sure to check all the bearings and since you got it down that far why not go ahead and resurface the rotors and get new pads.

03-31-2003, 10:51 PM	#7
tripp Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Meansville, Georgia Posts: 218	thanks for all the posts and pms, guys. i think i'm on track.

06-19-2003, 04:06 PM	#9
crazy4chevs Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Des Moines WA. (Kent, area) Posts: 668	yes, the balljoints have to be 71-72 also. __________________ 70 chev c10 swb fleet 72 grill, sb 400, 2/4 drop. 68 chev c10 swb fleet Early classic 4/6 drop with 4wheel disc brakes 9"rear 67-8 buckets tilt and A/C Classic GM Truck Club of Washington .

06-19-2003, 05:13 PM	#10
tripp Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Meansville, Georgia Posts: 218	spindle swap i haven't been able to get to it yet. however, my front end man here in town tells me that all i need to do is swap the ball joints for 72 ball joints and change the tie rod ends for 72 models. he thinks that it may be necessary to swap out the entire steering linkage system to the 72 model to get the right setup because the steering ends that the tie rods screw onto are different sizes. there may be an aftermarket company out there that makes a tie rod adapter so the full linkage swap is not necessary. i don't know. hopefully, i'll get to it soon. __________________ 68 SWB Stepside 72 Cheyenne 20 72 SWB Fleetside 72 Suburban 72 2wd Blazer

06-20-2003, 01:24 AM	#11
73stepside Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Moore OK 73160 Posts: 974	to do the swap right you would need a master cylinder with proportion vavle for disc/drum, inner and outer tie rods, tie rod sleeves, upper and lower ball joints, center link and brake lines and hoses from a 71/72 truck. you will also need to grind down or dent the steering stops. grinding them on the spindle would be the easiest but i'm gonna dent the steering stop on the a arm of my 70 to swap in disc brakes. classic performance products does sell adaptor parts for this change over i believe. __________________ 04 GMC Sierra RCSS 70 CST LWB 04 HD Sportster 1200 Custom

06-21-2003, 05:39 PM	#12
dovoe Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tucson, Az Posts: 7	Thanks 73 stepside.... You have told me more than I have learned in the four months since I bought my 68.... I knew there was more to it than what I had found so far.. I sure am glad there is a site like this for novices like myself... I do have the outter tie rod ends, but it looks like I will need a few more parts to complete the job... I guess this will take a bit longer than I originally thought... Thanks again for your input... It will finally get me on the right track... dovoe __________________ Just Don

06-22-2003, 10:25 AM	#13
73stepside Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Moore OK 73160 Posts: 974	i did a search on the board and found what the other guys had to do to put the disc's on and made a list. i still need to get most of the parts to finish mine, but i'm still sanding and painting __________________ 04 GMC Sierra RCSS 70 CST LWB 04 HD Sportster 1200 Custom

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