Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I’ve located an elusive set of fabtech 4.5” lift spindles for a 73/87 truck and Im going to use them on my 68. I know I can just swap the upper and lower ball joints out in my a-arms, my question is can I use a 73/87 center link also so I don’t have to use conversion sleeves and monkey around with adapting 68 tie rods to 73/87 outer tie rod ends? Will the 73/87 center link work in my 68, that way I can just use 73/87 inner/outer tie rods for simplicity? Thanks!

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Yes. I’ve don’t the conversion using a 71-72 centerlink and tie rods with 71-72 spindles.
Should be the same for 73-87 spindles and 73-87 centerlink and 73-87 tie rods.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Cool thanks. What about the idler arm and pitman arm? I looked up the part numbers on those and they are both different.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I used 71-72 parts.
Seriously the conversion tie rods sleeves is the easiest way.
Run your 68 outer tie rods at the INNER location.
Then use 73-87 outer tie rods with your lift spindles.
That’s what I would do.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Thanks, that does sound easier. Do you know who still sells them? The thread sizes are different also, so I assume one end of the sleeve is one size and the other end is the other size?

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

You are correct.
One end 5/8” LH thread the other end is 11/16” RH thread.
(That’s why you have to move your 68 outer tie rod in. )

CPP makes them.
I would use the ones from AZ ProPerformance.
Edelbrock and QA1 use to sell them also.
www.PerformanceOnline is another source.
Finding them in stock might be an issue.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Thanks Keith, going this route is a done deal. The 73-87 brake hoses are much longer too, hopefully long enough for the increased lift.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Lift spindles? What are the plans for your 68?

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

The center link changed around 83 for the Idler Arm. Make sure you pay attention. The stud went smaller into the link. 82 and down used the same Idler for many years.

Smitty

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I’m going to lift the front with spindles and the rear with coil spacers. Goal is to lift/level it for some 33” tires. It’s been done with 88/98 lift spindles, but you cannot use 15” steelies and that’s something I want to retain. In addition to that it requires purchasing more parts than using 73/87 stuff. The calipers, rotors, pads, bearings, etc that I already have on my 68 from a previous disc conversion will all bolt right over onto 73/87 spindles.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I think thats going to look very cool. There are a few trucks here on the board that are two wheel drive but up a little so they can fit bigger tires, very burly looking.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Yeah I looked for a K truck for a while with no luck. Looked for a K chassis to swap under my 68…no luck. I really don’t need 4wd, but I like a lifted longbed with bigger tires, and I use it like a truck so this is the way to go for me.

Performance online is local to me. I stopped by their showroom after work today and picked these up :metal:

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I used the same POL adapters.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I keep coming back to this thread ... Do you have a timeline on this or is it a long term kind of thing?

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

No real timeline other than I do want to get it done :lol: As soon as the spindles get here I’m going to get them cleaned/painted and ready to install. According to the seller they should be pulled and shipped out next week. I’ve been getting parts together so that I can get it done in a day whenever that day happens to be. I’m off work in a few weeks so I should be able to set aside some time to do it then.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

I used the parts below on my 69 C10 with 1986 spindles. Center link was from a 71-72 C20, but I think a 73-87 C10 center link is the same part. (73-87 C10s were much beefier than earlier years.)

Be aware that there were two different model spindles for 73-87 C10s (at least starting in the mid-80s). One was for 1" thick rotors, the other was for 1.250". The inner wheel bearings and calipers are also different. Pads are the same.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Mike,
Center links changed from 83-87. The Idler is not a K6096T. Idler is K6247T from 83-87. 82 and down uses the K6096T.

Smitty

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Smitty, thanks for the corrections. When I made that chart many years ago, I ASSumed that 73-87 parts were the same. For future reference I'll modify the chart to have three model year columns instead of two.

However, bottom line is I used the parts in red on my 69 C10 with 86 standard duty spindles.

BTW, I think the "T" suffix is simply the latest version with a powdered metal gusher bearing.

Another note: When I first did the conversion, I used adapter sleeves from Golden State Pickup Parts (remember them?), I always thought it was kludgy and might confuse a future owner or shop, so was glad to find the proper center link.

To the OP: You will probably have to hit some junkyards to find a center link, but the adapters will work in the meantime.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Spindles came in earlier than expected. Blasted and ready for paint, just need to decide on color. Took one down to POL to check fitment for brake dust shields. The counter guy told me they only fit OEM spindles and did not fit aftermarket or lowered spindles, they even have the disclaimer on the box :lol: These spindles were tapped and drilled so he humored me and pulled one out of the box for a test fit. They fit perfectly with no issues :metal: He was probably more impressed than I was :lol: He did say that he had never seen lift spindles for a square body before.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Mike,
No issue, I have no idea why they changed it, I think the newer one is weaker than the 6096. I also suspected they used the same center links on squares until I mounted this last crossmember under my 68. Had a 6096 ready to install when I found out the differences in them.

I think I may still have a GSP catalog in the cabinet, I'll have to dig through the piles and check...

Smitty

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

What's the final product look like? Thanks

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Just finished installing them this week, along with 1.5” spacers in the rear. Truck now stands level and high enough to clear 33’s. I’m very happy with how it sits.

Re: Best way to adapt 73/87 spindles to a 68?
 

Nice, I like it! I put 3/4 ton springs rear and 1" risers on the front lower springs. I had 15 x 31's on it...