The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Front suspension issues

Since I bought the 63 truck I have wanted to do something about the suspension. Not sure who lowered it before I bought it but they used the "good old" torch method. The springs looked like pretzels.

I ended up buying spindles and a 1" spring for the front and 2" springs and 2" blocks for the rear. I was waiting for the blocks to come in (back ordered) so I put the rear springs in. I only sit's 1/2" higher than it was. I thought it was going to be a bit higher. I have yet to add the blocks.

I started in on the front end today. After having to heat the spindles and ball joints the spindles broke free. As I was putting the new spindles on I realized the ball joints are too long. The cotter pin hole is about 1/4" above the top of the nut when bolted down The next thing I notice was the diameter of the tierod end is bigger than the hole in the spindle.

I vaigly remember the guy that sold me the truck say something about using parts off a Camaro when doing the 5 lug conversion. Everything is 5x5 bolt patern. The bearings fit the spindle just fine and the caliper lines up with the disk. I'm assuming if the spindles are Camaro's they are from a 70-81 as they are front steer.

Anyone know if the geometry from a Camaro spindle would be the same excluding the balljoint and tierod issues I am having?

I'm thinking I need to order new balljoints and tierod ends.

Are you sure they did not use 71-72 Chevy pu spindles for the 5-lug conversion. That is what I have always used for those trucks. They use the original control arms, but use different ball joints (I can't remember the exact difference). You might check that out. The easiest way to tell if you have the original control arms is to see if they still have the steel bushings (hex shaped parts in the shafts) instead of later model rubber bushings with washers and bolts to retain them.

Hmmm I'm prety sure I saw rubber bushings. I'll be down there tonight and take a closer look.

I was planing on doing ball joints, inner outer tie rod ends ect at some point. Do you know if all the balljoints are interchangeable between Camaro's and the trucks.

How are the ball joints mounted in to the control arm? I spoke to someont at Classic Performance today as I was ready to drop the hammer on their ball joint/tierod kit. He said he thinks the Camaro ball joints are taller.

I hope this doesn't turn out to be a bad situation.


Shaun

I don't know about the interchangeability between Camaro's and pickups for the ball joints. Another possibility is that they used 73-87 pickup control arms, spindles, etc. if the bushings are rubber. That is another easy conversion. It uses the crossmember and all out of the later model pickup. I am just guessing that with the 5 on 5 pattern, it is most likely not Camaro.

The ball joints are usually riveted to the upper control arm and pressed in the lower arm. Replacement upper ball joints are usually bolted in.

It sounds like you might be spending a little time figuring what parts the previous owner used to make the conversion.

Good luck.

Camaro ball joint do not interchange with the full size truck, they do interchange with the S 10, though.

I took a spindle down to a local parts store. The 63-70 ball joints were dead on. They only had the later tierod ends 71-72 so I grabbed them (I know the owner so I could swap quickly if need be). They fit the taper on the spindle great but the diameter going in to the adjuster sleave is small on the new tie rod ends. So I'm gonna see if the earlier ones have a different diameter on the threaded shaft or pick though his parts shelf till I find one. Wish me luck..