73-87 lift spindle installation in the 86 Custom Deluxe

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by silverado_men

I want do the same on my 87 silverado. Problem is I'm Germany and to get the right parts is very hard. My question is wehre can I get the 4" lift spindles? Is there a link? Can I use these ones?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/260606807174...1#ht_561wt_922

Thx for your help :-)
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Yes those will work but remember that those spindles require brakes and rotors off a 92-98

[silverado_men]

Can I use brakes and rotors Out of an 1994 K1500 or only from an c1500?
Thanks for your help.

Another question my Upper Ball Joints are Not mouted with screws they are with mounted with rivets. Is that normal? Looks like they are the factory ones out of 1987!!!

Why you dont use Ball Joint spacers für the upper control arm to get more space
between the frame and the upper control arm.
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[bucannon]

Originally Posted by silverado_men

Can I use brakes and rotors Out of an 1994 K1500 or only from an c1500?
Thanks for your help.

Another question my Upper Ball Joints are Not mouted with screws they are with mounted with rivets. Is that normal? Looks like they are the factory ones out of 1987!!!

Why you dont use Ball Joint spacers für the upper control arm to get more space
between the frame and the upper control arm.
Posted via Mobile Device

You cannot use K1500 parts because they are 4wd trucks.

The factory did rivet the upper ball joints, they can be a pain to remove but dont hesitate as it can be done with a cutting wheel and air chisel. cut an x shape in each rivet head and then chisel the head off. this is much easier with the upper control arm on a workbench as opposed to mounted on the truck.

I chose not to use ball joint spacers as they increase the risk of ball joint failure in my opinion. also the lift attained from the spindles does not affect suspension geometry while ball joint spacers will. The change in suspension geometry can cause irregular stress on any parts that were not replaced which can also lead to premature failure.

[trout]

nicw keeping this in mind

[HighG20]

Hello, I been looking to do something similar to this, but on a 93 Chevy van G20. Since I am new to this forum, can you guys give me any ideas. Before after pics, measure before and after height, and/or any other ideas. Thanks in advance.
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[slammed427]

How thick of a spacer did you use on this wheels? I'm going to 6 lug swap my 74 when I lower it and want to use those wheels.
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[bucannon]

Originally Posted by slammed427

How thick of a spacer did you use on this wheels? I'm going to 6 lug swap my 74 when I lower it and want to use those wheels.
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I think it was a 1 1/2" spacer

[slammed427]

Originally Posted by bucannon

I think it was a 1 1/2" spacer

Thanks!
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[76stepsidechevy]

Hey, Just read through you thread and saw your pics of the chewed up posi carrier. I had the same marks on mine and thought it had been blown up and new gears installed at some point. when I took it apart I found the gears were stamped GM and 76 so they were probably original. Looks like a bad pinion bearing was allowing the pinion to contact the carrier while in reverse but being pushed away due to the gear design wile driving. I heard a strange noise while backing up sometimes and spent a while trying to chase it down and that ended up being the noise.

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by 76stepsidechevy

Hey, Just read through you thread and saw your pics of the chewed up posi carrier. I had the same marks on mine and thought it had been blown up and new gears installed at some point. when I took it apart I found the gears were stamped GM and 76 so they were probably original. Looks like a bad pinion bearing was allowing the pinion to contact the carrier while in reverse but being pushed away due to the gear design wile driving. I heard a strange noise while backing up sometimes and spent a while trying to chase it down and that ended up being the noise.

yea mine had a bad pinion bearing too. but the noise was constant and very noticeable haha

[bucannon]

heres a picture of the truck and what has recently been swapped in, 350 vortec

[Suburban_Tyler]

Do you have any pictures of the wheels cut all the way so we can see the clearance between the fender, fender well and tire?

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by Suburban_Tyler

Do you have any pictures of the wheels cut all the way so we can see the clearance between the fender, fender well and tire?

I dont have any now, but next time im home ill flex this thing out somewhere and take pictures

[86shortchevy]

I did the same swap on my 86 c10. Im getting a pop/clunk in the front end when turning sharp. You have any problems like that? I lowered the swaybar 2 inches as well. i feel like its my tie rod hitting but theres a good bit of clearance between the two..

[vazquezguitarras]

HELLO, I AM ARIEL DE ARGENTINA, I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF THE BRAKES TO USE THE (88-98 Chevy GMC CK Pickup 2wd 4 inch lift spindles). MY TRUCK IS A 1981 SILVERADO 10. MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by vazquezguitarras

HELLO, I AM ARIEL DE ARGENTINA, I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PICTURE OF THE BRAKES TO USE THE (88-98 Chevy GMC CK Pickup 2wd 4 inch lift spindles). MY TRUCK IS A 1981 SILVERADO 10. MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

I do not have a picture, but the brakes off of 6 lug 2wd 88-98 truck worked. i believe there is an 11" rotor and 13" 8 lug rotor. The 11" rotor is what my spindles were made for.

[bucannon]

latest pictures, painted the front bumper with bedliner when i had it and the front clip off for the most recent engine swap....

Also got a new sawzall so i was able to finish trimming the fenders.

it is an never ending project and i couldn't be happier!

[Hankster]

Originally Posted by bucannon

latest pictures, painted the front bumper with bedliner when i had it and the front clip off for the most recent engine swap....

it is an never ending project and i couldn't be happier!

Looks good, I been thinking about six lug swapping my 86 ..

[Twistedvegas]

Resurrecting this old post for an update. 92-98 8 lug spindles ARE different. Different upper AND lower balljoints. I reamed out the lower with a 2.0 reamer until I got the right fit and the upper I had joints custom built because I found no one had that oddball size prebuilt without significantly modifying the upper control arms. Tie rod ends fit up GREAT and leave plenty of room for the stock sway bar to hook up. I'm currently waiting on a rear disc brake kit for my Eaton but will post pictures and alignment notes once I get those on.

[y5mgisi]

Well thats mostly pretty cool then! How did you manage to get custom made ball joints?

[Twistedvegas]

I did a lot of searching for a capable machine shop with a C&C and heat treating capability that, a) I could trust, and b) was willing to put in the time with me to develop this correctly and would not blow me off because they were looking to build off of someone elses CAD work. There are tons of manufacturing shops here in Dallas/Fort Worth because of all of the military contracts that are held in this area. It's really quite unique from what I can tell. The company I went with is owned buy a guy who builds custom jet boat parts as a hobby for his buddies. He was excited when I told him about the project and had a blast working with him. I never knew how to work CAD or been around a C&C or messed with the science around heat treating but he explained everything he was doing with the reasons and theory behind it. I'm not claiming that I could do all that by myself next time by any means. Hell, from what I've heard about C&C machines, I'm sure I was standing next to a multi-million dollar machine that he has had thousands of hours of experience with. I know just enough to really appreciate the R&D process and how it is done.

[79 blue monster]

Is there a way to keep my 3/4 ton truck a 34 ton and use the 88-98 lift spindles?

[bucannon]

Originally Posted by 79 blue monster

Is there a way to keep my 3/4 ton truck a 34 ton and use the 88-98 lift spindles?

yea, doing this swap required me to use 3/4 ton lower control arms so your half way there. but question is 6 lug or 8 lug.

Am i correct in assuming 3/4 ton can be 6 or 8 lug?

[79 blue monster]

3/4 ton is always 8 lug, and thats what id like to keep it. I just need to know if my hub will fit on the spindle I guess. Id hate to have to get a 1/2 ton rear axle, wheels, etc.. If i dont have to.

[bucannon]

what you will need to find is 3/4 ton 88-98 lift spindle. go to the auto parts store and ask to look at a 1990 3/4 ton front bearing set. this should give you some ideas on what will fit