The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1953 GMC, Detroit, Roadranger, disc brakes, and PS!

OK now, back on track with pictures and progress!

Edited August 2024 -- Grigg's Webshots, like so many others, can not be retrived. So, we've removed the link. This PDFs at the bottom of the post work.

Started on the front axle today, it needs disc brakes and a 6 lug Budd bolt pattern. First step was to remove all that including the spindles, but leave the I-beam axle.
The king pins drove out really easy (and not worn in the axle either) overall much easier than expected to get apart

Then if you remember I already have some pieces parts form a Spicer model I-60 axle...

Obviously the Spicer stuff is larger, but a few key things are the same as the old GMC stuff, king pin inclination angle (no camber problems), and the thickness of the I-beam where the king pin passes through.

The important to note differences are the king pin diameter and length.
Old king pin is 1.109" diameter and about 6-3/8" long
New king pin is 1.357" diameter and about 8" long

However it's not as bad as it sounds... check out these pictures of the Spicer spindle on the GMC axle (and really sloppy king pin bushings..)


But the axle thickness and space between the bores on the spindle works out nicely,

So the plan is to make thicker bushings for the new spindles.
Would like to find longer than original king pins, ideally 8"
Closest I've found on king pins other than custom making them is from a 73-78 Dodge truck of some sort with a 5,000 lb axle (NAPA kit # 262-1564). The dodge pins are 0.015" oversize (compared to GMC) and about 1" longer. Want to look some more and see what else I can find before deciding what to do.
Bushings I'll probably make thick bronze ones, or considering making steel adapter sleeves (about 1/8" wall thickness) and press them in place with some green loctite. Then an off the shelf GMC or Dodge king pin and bushing set would be easily available for a rebuild later on down the road.

Grigg

PS
For those that are curious, and for my future refference here are some links
Spicer Sales flier for the D-600 axle (newer version of I-60)
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/AXSL-0471.pdf
Application Guidelines for Spicer front axles
http://www2.dana.com/pdf/AXAG-0400.pdf
King pin kits and some other stuff http://www2.dana.com/pdf/HX500-QR.pdf
*** Complete axle parts list with choices and part numbers for different steering arms and tie-rod arms.