Wanting new control arms- discs on my 68, a few questions!!

[sy2767]

I'm a totally new to this so please educate me. I am wanting to swap the original control arms and drums on my 68 to some newer style control arms and discs. Can this be done without changing the crossmember? What needs to be done to put new control arms in? Does a vendor or company sell all required parts? ( i know i will not find anything locally and i don't want to put 30 plus year old parts on my truck.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by sy2767

I'm a totally new to this so please educate me. I am wanting to swap the original control arms and drums on my 68 to some newer style control arms and discs. Can this be done without changing the crossmember? What needs to be done to put new control arms in? Does a vendor or company sell all required parts? ( i know i will not find anything locally and i don't want to put 30 plus year old parts on my truck.

Yes, arms can be swapped w/o touching the original x-member. The later arms that had disc brakes used thicker diameter u-bolts the secure the lower shafts to the x-member. If using the thicker (stronger) u-bolts, the holes in the original x-member will need to be drilled out. The original drum brake u-bolts will hold them in place as well (they just won't be as strong as the thickers units).

Dorman products sell 'new' a-arms through your local auto parts house (I know O'Reillys sell them). But for the cost, I would look into aftermarket arms that can give you geometry inprovements for a little more investment.

New arms & discs will possibly require other steering parts as well unless specific 63-70 disc brake conversion spindles ure used.

[SIXT8LOU]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Yes, arms can be swapped w/o touching the original x-member. The later arms that had disc brakes used thicker diameter u-bolts the secure the lower shafts to the x-member. If using the thicker (stronger) u-bolts, the holes in the original x-member will need to be drilled out. The original drum brake u-bolts will hold them in place as well (they just won't be as strong as the thickers units).

Dorman products sell 'new' a-arms through your local auto parts house (I know O'Reillys sell them). But for the cost, I would look into aftermarket arms that can give you geometry inprovements for a little more investment.

New arms & discs will possibly require other steering parts as well unless specific 63-70 disc brake conversion spindles ure used.

Do you think that the old 68 U bolts are that weak? , are the newer stronger ones necessary? I am at that point of installing the lower A arms (68) after i installed new crosss shafts and 72 disks...was going to put the old ones on?? just saw a new set of thicker bolts for 44 bucks online!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by SIXT8LOU

Do you think that the old 68 U bolts are that weak? , are the newer stronger ones necessary? I am at that point of installing the lower A arms (68) after i installed new crosss shafts and 72 disks...was going to put the old ones on?? just saw a new set of thicker bolts for 44 bucks online!

They're not weak; just not as strong as the thicker diameter units. The drum brake u-bolts will work w/discs.