Tie rod question

[jbice70gmc]

I have a 70 model 6 lug drum I'm converting to disc. I have the McGaughy 2.5 inch HD drop spindle for a 73-87. Will a 73-87 moog outer tie rod work with a moog adjustment sleeve and a 67-70 moog inner tie rod? Been on O'Reilley's web site and it looks to me like the threaded portion of these 2 tie rod ends have a different diameter and they are also 2 different lengths. Need a little help there Lolife. I've read your front end thread and you do specifically state to make sure I use the 73-87 outer tie rod but then I kind of get lost. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[jbice70gmc]

Ok I kept diggen and found out I could use a 71-72 centerlink or there is some sort of conversion adjuster. Maybe admin. can add this to Lolife99s drum to disc conversion thread. Is it possible that I may be able to drill the holes out in the centerlink to accept the 73-87 inner tie rods? Or would there still be a length issue?

[jbice70gmc]

May try a step bit to make the hole a little bigger. It may not work but its worth a try. Anyway if it don't I have other options.

[lolife99]

Ok here's what you have to do.
(sorry,... just found this thread)
PM me if you ever need an answer quickly.

See below,...

[lolife99]

First,... you should have bought "direct bolt on" drop spindles.
This would require you to change nothing.
(still can. Just buy 63-70 drop spindles)

Since you didn't,... here's all the problems.
Plan A:
1) You will need to change your upper and lower ball joints to the 73-87 style.
2) You will need to use 73-87 outer tie rods. (they are 11/16" diameter on the threaded end)
3) buy a $50 set of conversion tie rod sleeves.
(these adapt from your '70 tie rods that are 5/8" on the threaded end,... to the larger 11/16" 73-87 tie rods)
4) Your new inner tie rods need to actually be '70 outer tie rods so they wil be the correct thread direction to connect to your new 73-87 outer tie rods.

Plan B:
1) You will need to change your upper and lower ball joints to the 73-87 style
2) You will need to use 73-87 outer tie rods. (they are 11/16" diameter on the threaded end)
3) Use a 71-72 center link.
4) use 71-72 inner tie rods
5) use 73-87 outer tie rods
6) use a standard 71-87 tie rod connector

Plan C:

1) You will need to change your upper and lower ball joints to the 73-87 style
2) You will need to use 73-87 outer tie rods. (they are 11/16" diameter on the threaded end)
3) Use a 73-87 center link.
4) use 73-87 inner tie rods
5) use 73-87 outer tie rods
6) use a standard 71-87 tie rod connector

Plan D:
1) Buy 63-70 drop spindles from www.PerformanceOnline.com for $229 and bolt them on.
2) Change NO ball joints
3) Change NO tie rods
4) Change NO center link

[jbice70gmc]

Ok sorry you had to do that again. I read several different threads that you you had fairly lengthy post about this in but was still unsure. A friend of mine pointed me in the direction of those spindles and I already have them bolted up with the new balljoints in place. Everything is mounted including the front wheels. The A arms where powder coated so I had to go with new ball joints anyway. I think I should be able to find a 71-87 center link at a salvage yard for a decent price. Thanks again.

[jbice70gmc]

Oh one more thing the 73-87 tie rods are a small bit longer, is the center link narrower or the same width?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by jbice70gmc

Oh one more thing the 73-87 tie rods are a small bit longer, is the center link narrower or the same width?

The 71-87 tie rod connector is shorter.
That's what shortens up the overall length.

Edelbrock make a cool tie rod connector that is much cleaner than the oem style.

[jbice70gmc]

Ok the tie rod adjuster is shorter makes since preciate it.

[lolife99]

Here's link to the "conversion" tie rod adjuster sleeves if you decide to keep your 63-70 centerlink.

http://www.performanceonline.com/196...-SLEEVES-PAIR/

You still have to use a set of 63-70 outer tie rods (LH thread) in the inner location.
That way they will connect to the 73-87 outer tie rods (RH thread).

[lolife99]

If you try to drill out your centerlink,... make sure you do it with a tapered reamer.
If you don't already own one,... it will be cheaper to swap centerlinks.

[lolife99]

Yeah,... by reading your first post,... I didn't know what exactly you had or what you didn't.
I assume you are buying all new tie rods?
If so,... all you need is the centerlink for a '71-87 2wd truck.

I learned the hard what on my '69 swb.
I bought some 71-72 spindles for $100 and thought I was saving a ton of money.
It would have been way cheaper to have bought the correct spindles.
(I didn't have any 71-87 centerlinks to swap in at the time).

[gringoloco]

Loosely related: is a 71-72 center link the same as a 73-87?

[jbice70gmc]

Not sure but I do know the 73-87 center link is like 29.8" long if that helps any.

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by gringoloco

Loosely related: is a 71-72 center link the same as a 73-87?

No.
The inner tie rods are a different size,... so the tapered hole in the center link will be different.
But, both 71-72 and 73-87 tie rods take the 11/16" adjuster.
So either center link will get your 63-70 drum brake truck adapted to either 71-72 spindles or 73-87 spindles.
The inner tie rods HAVE to match the center link.
And the outer tie rods HAVE to match the spindles.

Still,... 63-70 "conversion" drop spindles is the easiest solution.

[jbice70gmc]

Ok I feel like a real dumb azz. I thought I purchased the 73-87 drop spindles so I bought new outer, inner tie rods and adjustment sleeves for the 73-87 spindles. Stopped by the salvage yard on the way home and picked up a center link for the 73-87 tie rods for 30 bucks. Come to find out I have the 63-70 drop spindles so I will have to take my tie rods back and get the smaller ones tomorrow and use my original center link. Out 30 bucks lesson learned ( I should be keeping receipts).