1962 front spindles

[daniel cavendish]

Anyone know other applications for the front spindles on a 62? If so, is it exactly the same? Thanks..

[Joe L.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

daniel-----

The "other applications" that used exactly the same front spindle (steering knuckle) as 1962 Corvette were 1953-61 Corvettes. No other applications used the exact same spindle.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

joe: do you have the comparison dimensions for the c-1 vette versus the 49 to 54 chevy pass cars? i suspect the only difference is the offset and that the use of the pass car knuckle on a c-1 would result in the corvette standing a little taller in the front of the vette .mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

Mike-----

I don't have the dimensions. However, the passenger car and Corvette knuckles were not only different part numbers, they were different forgings. I do think that the passenger car knuckles can be used on a Corvette but they're certainly not exactly the same.

[daniel cavendish]

Re: 1962 front spindles

Thanks- I was hoping to get something less expensive than "corvette" spindles, but still correct. ( BTW Joe, when do you sleep? )

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

the 49 to 54 pass car spindles will bolt right in but i suspect the vette may sit a half inch or so higher than it would with corvette spindles.mike

[Verle R.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

Mike,

I think the passenger car spindle (upright) will set the Corvette an inch or more lower. Some of the racers way back when made that change to get the front lower without cutting the springs.

They are a direct bolt in, king pins will interchange, just change the ride height.

Verle

[Mike M.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

i "guessed" the pass would raise the vette. will have to get out in the barn and take a pass spindle off and compare with one of the c-1's i've got tore apart.your racer-mod story makes sense. regards, mike

[Terry D.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

Mike

I agree with Verle, back in the day the way to lower the front of the Corvette was to put passenger supports in, to raise it you made a thicker spacer between the suspension and frame. Of course this is relying on old brain cells damaged by a few pints.
Terry

[Paul B.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

I have also been told that the passenger car spindles will lower a C1 by one inch.
Paul

[Tom P.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

NO! NO! NO! NO!
You're mixing up the terminology of the parts!
One part is the spindle.
The other part is the spindle support (or upright as some prefer to call it).
The spindle and the spindle support are attached together by the kingpin and bushings.
The spindle is the part that the wheel bearings/wheel hub are attached to.
The spindle support is the upright part which is connected to the upper/lower A-frames (or control arms if you prefer).
The 49-54 pass car and 53-62 Corvette SPINDLES are totally, completely, 100% dimensionally and physically interchangeable. NOBODY WILL EVER KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.
The spindle supports (uprights) are totally, dimensionally, 100% interchangeable for 53-62 Vettes and 49-52 passenger cars.
The knuckle for the kingpin on the 53-54 pass car supports (uprights) is approximately 1in higher than the knuckle on 49-52 car and 53-62 Vette supports. THUS, if a 53-54 pass car support is installed on a 53-62 Vette, the front of the Vette will be lowered about 1in. This was a fairly common swap that was done by early day Corvette racers to drop the CG.
The spindles ARE NOT left or right, a spindle will fit either side.
The spindle supports ARE LEFT & RIGHT.
I hope this clears the confusion for everyone.
I have been rebuilding 49-54 pass car and 53-62 Vette frontends for about 40yrs.
If the front cross member is removed from the car, I have one engine stand that is dedicated to attaching a cross member for rebuilding.

[Paul B.]

Re: 1962 front spindles

My bad Tom,

When I said "Spindle", I was incorrectly referring to the entire spindle assembly in including the upright.
Paul

[daniel cavendish]

Re: 1962 front spindles

Thanks for taking the time to clear this up... It was the info I was hoping for. Dan