Upper A-arm installation

[oldman3]

Keith, I'm back again with another question on front suspension. The pickup is a 68 GMC 2 wheel drive, in an earlier post you helped out showing it as a 73-87 setup. I have read your write ups on installing a 73-87 crossmember in a 68 frame, and just changing the arms, spindles, tie-rods, etc. This pickup came to me with many unknown questions about the front and rear suspension, which you and others have answered. The following pictures are how I received the pickup.

Pic 1 Upper A arm as it arrived, notice the dog leg or center section pointed to the front of frame.

[oldman3]

This is a better shot.

[oldman3]

The next pic shows how they had the brake hose attached to the crossmember. I know GM never made somthing like this.

[oldman3]

This is right after having the frame sand blasted clean. Notice the slot for the brake hose bracket is at the rear of the upper A-arm. The crossmember has the bracket for the hose, and the center section also has brackets for steel lines at the rear of crossmember. I would guess this is a 67-70 crossmember with 73-87 parts installed. I'm thinking that the PO installed the upper A-arms on the wrong side.

[oldman3]

Here are two pics showing other members build, but see how the center section or dog leg points toward the cab and shock mount.
The second pic shows dog leg toward the shock and the brake hose running along the front of upper A-arm and attached at the bracket slot.

[oldman3]

Am I right in that they mounted the upper A-arms wrong, and should be mounted as per the last two pics.

If they are mounted wrong, I can't see how they ever drove this thing???

Thanks...Jim

[67c10rustbuket]

Jim, they are on the wrong side. the dogleg shape is similar on the 67-72. My way to remember which way they go is the upper control arm bumper is closer to the rear. 67-72 arms have a round bumper hole and the 73+ have a rectangle slot. Another pointer for 73+ arms is that brake line slot on the vertical surface goes to the front. They are pretty easy to confuse if your not paying attention. I am sure the alignment guy had fun with that one

[oldman3]

Dan, thanks for replying back. I felt I was correct, just wanted someone else to look at it. I know they was a thread about mounting them on different sides for caster gain, but I think it didn't work out. In my case I think the PO just didn't know. Thanks again...Jim

[lolife99]

Dan is correct.
I didn't see this thread yesterday or I would have answered sooner.

You have all the details figured out.
67-70 crossmember.
73-87 a-arms.

Now,... what width rotors?
1" or 1-1/4"?

Those freshly sandblasted parts look really nice.

[oldman3]

Thanks Keith for getting back. Rotors are 1-1/4". Have already purchased new HD 2-1/2 dropped spindles,2" drop coils, 1-1/4" rotors, calipers, bearings, etc. from ECE. Frame and parts cleaned up nice, frame is painted chassis black an A-arms are painted silver. My son has been doing most of the work, I just keep him out of trouble...Jim