63/64 Rear Spindle

[William V.]

Question? Can 65/82 spindle's be used on the 63/64. If not where is the best and least expensive place to get one?

[Tom D.]

Re: 63/64 Rear Spindle

My 63 has the later style spindles. Don't know how that happened, but one of the old trailing arms was for a 427 car also. I now have repro trailing arms, but...

Be very careful - See below for my experience (last night) with a reproduction shock mount.

Send me an e-mail for more on the spindles.

[Joe L.]

Re: 63/64 Rear Spindle

Bill-----

The spindle flange for the 63-64 Corvettes with drum brakes is different than the flange for 65-82 Corvettes with disc brakes. As far as I know, they are NOT interchangeable.

Bairs has a lot of good, used spindles in their inventory. They might be the best place to get one.

[Chris D.]

Re: 63/64 Rear Spindle

My '63 is currently running with one of each. The critical characteristics (wheel mounting surface and bearing location step) are identical. On the later spindle, the center section that pilots the drum and wheel is deeper to accommodate the thicker disc. Likewise, the original wheel studs are longer. So the later spindle will function on our early cars. Without the wheel cover, the visual cues are obvious: center section protrudes .25" through the wheel and the studs show more thread past the nuts. The very center of the center section is "hollowed out" unlike the early version with a flat face and two shallow holes orbiting the machine center. I know nothing of judging so see what others have to say on that. How much of this can be seen I imagine depends on the wheel cover. '63 covers it all up. The slots on a '64 might give the judge a peek.

[Craig S.]

Re: 63/64 Rear Spindle

Also - Tom at International Axle makes the correct drum spindles......Craig

[William V.]

Re: 63/64 Rear Spindle

Thanks Chris

I'll be rebuilding the bearing assemblies on my 64 and suspect I may bave a bad spindle. I have replaced many 65/82 rear bearings but never a 64 or 63. I have several good 65/82 used spindles laying around and because the car is not NCRS judged I only wanted to be sure a mechanical problem would not develop.