1965 drag link with 1979 spindles etc.

[PORKY]

I'm swapping disc brakes spindles from a 1979 C10 on to my 1965 C10.
I'm using the 65s control arms.
I'm using the 79s ball joints and inner & outter tie rod ends.
Does anybody know if the if the drag link & idler arm from the 65 will work or do they have to be changed or modified? I don't have either the drag link or idler arm from the 79?

Thanks.

[lmdangerous]

This will also change over to the 5 Bolt truck pattern- correct?????????

[PORKY]

Yes 5 bolt 5x5

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by PORKY

I'm swapping disc brakes spindles from a 1979 C10 on to my 1965 C10.
I'm using the 65s control arms.
I'm using the 79s ball joints and inner & outter tie rod ends.
Does anybody know if the if the drag link & idler arm from the 65 will work or do they have to be changed or modified? I don't have either the drag link or idler arm from the 79?

Thanks.

If you're going to use the '79 inner tie rods,... you have to use the rest of the '79 steering stuff. (centerlink, idler, and pitman arm).
If you want to use your '65 center link,... you will need a set of conversion tie rod sleeves, and replace your '65 inner tie rods with '65 outer tie rods. (mounted in the inner location)
After 1971,... the tie rods changed thread direction. RH vs LH.

[lolife99]

I think it would be cheaper to switch all the steering to the '79 parts.

[PORKY]

THANKS MUCH TO ALL FOR THE HELP EVERYBODY! I did want to go the all 1979 route but couldn't locate the 1979 center link. Since I first posted, I did a little research at my local Napa store and found a set of tie rod ends
#ES406L. These have the larger LH thread to fit the adjusting sleeve but have the smaller stud size to fit the center link. Cost less than $40.00 for the pair. I haven't yet had a chance to see if it'll all work, but I'm hopeful.
THANKS AGAIN,
Frank

[lolife99]

I would be interested in knowing if these will work.
Looks like the #ES406L is a 71-72 Chevelle inner tie rod.

I'm interested in the overall length of the of this tie rod compared to the truck tie rod.
Please post up your results.

[PORKY]

8.66" is the O.A. length according to the specs on the NAPA site. I'm not near them now. I found a lot of info @ http://napaprolink.com/, using "TAMS" as the temp. log in and password. The original outers are a bit over 7". I hope the sleeves can use this up. If not I thought maybe I could cut them. I'll be a week or so getting back to it. Now waiting for a lower control arm, mine was bent. I'll keep ya posted

[PORKY]

Originally Posted by lolife99

I would be interested in knowing if these will work.
Looks like the #ES406L is a 71-72 Chevelle inner tie rod.

I'm interested in the overall length of the of this tie rod compared to the truck tie rod.
Please post up your results.

Sorry it took me so long to reply. We did get the front end back together today finally, and the #ES406L worked fine. In order to be able to turn the wheel the same distance each way, & have the steering wheel centered, we did have to use up almost all the adjustment in the sleeve on the driver's side. If much more is required when the front end is lined up, then we'll have to cut a bit off one of the tie rod ends on the drivers side. All in all it went well. We bought a used set of spindles from a salvage yard. EVERYTHING else was new from a local parts store. We had about $600.00 in it, not including the booster and proportioning valve.

[BIG V]

Originally Posted by PORKY

I'm swapping disc brakes spindles from a 1979 C10 on to my 1965 C10.
I'm using the 65s control arms.
I'm using the 79s ball joints and inner & outter tie rod ends.
Does anybody know if the if the drag link & idler arm from the 65 will work or do they have to be changed or modified? I don't have either the drag link or idler arm from the 79?

Thanks.

use your oem centerlink and have a machine shop taper out the tie rod holes to fit the 79 tierod ends quick simple and no custom hard to find tie rod ends..

[PORKY]

Originally Posted by BIG V

use your oem centerlink and have a machine shop taper out the tie rod holes to fit the 79 tierod ends quick simple and no custom hard to find tie rod ends..

We considered that but that stock center link isn't all that beefy, so we hated to take anymore material off it. We still had to buy new tie rod ends anyway & these weren't that hard to find, they were cheap and bolted right in. Thanks for the input I love to hear how others do it.