Disc brake conversion question
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Disc brake conversion question
I'm going to use some 78 bumpside spindles etc. on my '70. I'm wondering if the early tie rod ends will fit in the spindles. I think I read somewhere that the disc spindles require the later drag link etc.
I'm going to convert to power steering at the same time with a Bendix unit so I was hoping to keep as much of my linkage as possible.
If I have to go with the later tie rod ends can I install them on my existing drag link?
Or do I have to mount a later steering arm on the bendix steering gear and use all dentside stuff?
I want to keep the trips under the truck to a minimum. I can dream can't I !
I'm going to convert to power steering at the same time with a Bendix unit so I was hoping to keep as much of my linkage as possible.
If I have to go with the later tie rod ends can I install them on my existing drag link?
Or do I have to mount a later steering arm on the bendix steering gear and use all dentside stuff?
I want to keep the trips under the truck to a minimum. I can dream can't I !
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Do you own or have access to the whole 78 donor or just the spinals? What engine do you currently have in your 70?
You will come out miles ahead by buying a donor truck with the same engine and transmission that you currently have or want to upgrade to, and swapping the complete package to your truck.
My current 66 was born a FE 3spd on column, I bought a 76 FE C6, dropped and moved the complete I-Beam set, power steering, installed a fresh FE & C6 and saved a lot of headaches.
Stop take a deep breath, and start on a plan on how to make this happen in a single swap.
John
You will come out miles ahead by buying a donor truck with the same engine and transmission that you currently have or want to upgrade to, and swapping the complete package to your truck.
My current 66 was born a FE 3spd on column, I bought a 76 FE C6, dropped and moved the complete I-Beam set, power steering, installed a fresh FE & C6 and saved a lot of headaches.
Stop take a deep breath, and start on a plan on how to make this happen in a single swap.
John
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I already have the bendix box and steering column ready to mount so I'm stuck with what I have. 
I will run a cooler on it though.
I have a 300/6 with 3 on the floor in the truck that's serving me well.
I tried to get the steering arm off the Saginaw box while I was there but I didn't have a long enough persuader to coax the nut off
. That way I would have had all the steering linkage. I don't know if that arm would have fit on the Bendix box anyway. The donor truck is an hour away and I don't see me going back up that way anytime soon.
I've done the swap before on my '70 flareside with all the dentside stuff and although it was bolt off & bolt on I was never happy with the way the steering column turned out since I wanted to keep the original.
Leave it to me to find the hard way to do things.
I will run a cooler on it though.I tried to get the steering arm off the Saginaw box while I was there but I didn't have a long enough persuader to coax the nut off
. That way I would have had all the steering linkage. I don't know if that arm would have fit on the Bendix box anyway. The donor truck is an hour away and I don't see me going back up that way anytime soon.I've done the swap before on my '70 flareside with all the dentside stuff and although it was bolt off & bolt on I was never happy with the way the steering column turned out since I wanted to keep the original.
Leave it to me to find the hard way to do things.
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