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Looking for some NCRS help idenifying the control arm spindle supports on my October, 31 1968 build '69 Coupe. 350 ci/ 350 Hp motor with M-21 4-speed and 3.70:1 positraction with standard suspension. The spindle supports on my car do not look like the spindle supports that I have seen in the 1968-1969 NCRS Tech Info and Guiding Guide. Mine also do not look like the photos in the 1953-1972 Chassis Restoration Guide p. 48. NCRS point values are (6) originality and (6) condition under the Chassis Rear Strut Rods & Trailing Arms so I am at a cross roads on whether to replace the spingle supports or just leave these on the car? I am not sure what I have? GM Service Replacements?
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
GM Service Replacement??? Hard to make out but these clearly do not have the stamped three lines of identification like the Chassis Restoration Guide.
Example in Chassis Restoration Guide book:
3820643 NF
1 25 8
GM 1
Hey Lou,
Good eye. I took a closer look and it is a cobweb. I did a complete inspection on all sides and no cracks on either the LH or RH control arm spindle supports. You can see where someone at the factory looks like they touched up where the part separates down the middle when it was cast. Some grinder markes at the seam.
Very hard to see and make out the casting numbers but I only see one line of numbers, not three lines of numbers and letters as described in the 1953-1972 Chassis Restoration Guide book.
LH Side looks like 8740 2 and is cast into spindle support just below the spindle on the inboard side.
RH Side looks like 8732 2 and is located in the same place just below the spindle. Really hard to be certain about the 8 7 3 , very hard to read
The 63 supports were open until late into production then they were webbed till 1982.
The bores had a “well” in them but they changed to a through hole.
They all were date coded the one pictured looks like an 8 as the last digit so it would be a 1968 or 1978,the large “heads” shown were used around 1973-74 so that pictured would be a 78. Plus it’s a straight bore.
If you have good arms then you have to decide if it’s worth rebuilding them and buying correct supports if needed
[QUOTE=caskiguy;1606112055]Just found this spindle support on EBay 63-74
I took a look on eBay also. There are some options out there if I go the route of replacement with something that would be more NCRC correct than what I have on the car now. Part of my hesitation is the overriding concern that I am in over my head. I am not a mechanic and replacing the spindle support seems like a really complicated task that could go very badly if not done (perfect) right. I do want to make the car NCRS correct with the hopes of getting it judged one day.
Not sure what to do? I am not sure what is on the car now?
Now this is a quick look but the way the cotter key is bent, the bright finish still on the brake dust shield and shiny metal shield under the yoke flange. Someone has been here before and may have painted the spindle support a gray color. How many miles on the Corvette?
Does the brake dust shield have this log and part number stamped in them?
...If you have good arms then you have to decide if it’s worth rebuilding them and buying correct supports if needed
The trailing arms on the car are in pretty good condition, just some surface rust, bushings are fine, no cracks or broken welds. Pretty certain that the trailing arms are original to the car. No issues except that I am sure the control arm spindle supports are not NCRS correct. Spindles, brakes, dust shields all look pretty new and in excellent condition compared to the trailing arms so I'm pretty sure some things have been replaced over the years.
[QUOTE=PJO;1606112665]Now this is a quick look but the way the cotter key is bent, the bright finish still on the brake dust shield and shiny metal shield under the yoke flange. Someone has been here before and may have painted the spindle support a gray color. How many miles on the Corvette?
Does the brake dust shield have this log and part number stamped in them?
Hey PJO,
Car has 57,175 miles on it. I agree with the accessment that someone has been here before.
I know that this car was hit in the rear end at some time in its life. Gas tank replaced, blue GM Service Replcement stickers on RH rear bumper supports, bumpers replaced, gas tank support bent and missing anti-squeak pads, bolts wrong and put in upside down, welding and repairs to LH rear frame behind the wheel well, both stut rods were 1974 or later 3/4" rods, both shocks were Sear's aftermarket, etc. Someone was definately here before.
Rear brake dust shields do not have any stamp log or Delco Moraine PN info stamped on them. They are cad plated and plain.
The spindle supports the only NCRS issue would be the color as they should be of a natural steel finish. They are most likely reproduction supports as these have no numbers or a different number sequence then originals. Seeing those numbers during judging would be impossible to see them on the ground.
The spindle supports the only NCRS issue would be the color as they should be of a natural steel finish. They are most likely reproduction supports as these have no numbers or a different number sequence then originals. Seeing those numbers during judging would be impossible to see them on the ground.
Good Morning PJO,
10-4 on the natural steel finish for the spindle supports. As they sit today, I would assume point deductions under CDCIF for Finish if I left them gray color. I believe I would also be right assuming CDCIF point deductiions for Configuration since the bottom of the spindle supports do not have the flat bottom like I have seen in the NCRS book?
As they sit today, the rear brake dust shields would also be point deductions under CDCIF for Configuration since they are missing the Delco Moraine PN stamp and then also point deductions for Finish since mine on the car today look to be cadmium finished rather than galvanized steel. I just took a look under the car and the front brake dust shields are correct with the PN stamps 3953423-L and 3953424-R stamped on the inboard side of the dust shield.
As for the flat bottom in judging odds are in your favor for a judge to even notice it if the finished was natural. But the gray would standout making the judge look a little harder just human nature. Must judges most of the time on the dust shields may not notice the missing stamping. As the rears are harder to view then the fronts. Also on the fronts were made by someone for GM or in house at GM the rears were Delco. Original front part number stamps were about 1/8" tall but the Repops are about a 1/4" tall.
As for the flat bottom in judging odds are in your favor for a judge to even notice it if the finished was natural. But the gray would standout making the judge look a little harder just human nature. Must judges most of the time on the dust shields may not notice the missing stamping. As the rears are harder to view then the fronts. Also on the fronts were made by someone for GM or in house at GM the rears were Delco. Original front part number stamps were about 1/8" tall but the Repops are about a 1/4" tall.
Agree - the gray will stand out like a sore thumb. Now I just have to come to grips with how to proceed. I do not believe I am mechanically capable of taking the rear trailing arms, spindles, spindle supports, brakes and dust shields apart and then reassembling all that correctly with the right parts and getting it all back together so it runs and drives perfect. Have to think about that. Leaning toward finding someone in the Carolinas who could help me do this work.
Interesting and thank you for the details on the front brake dust shields. Looks like I have repop dust shields on the front, since the stamp numbers are about 1/4"
NCRS Question - Early '69 Trailing Arm
