C-3 Dropped Spindles???
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Wesley Chapel North Carolina
C-3 Dropped Spindles???
I'm building a 69 Restomod with an LS3/6 speed Tremec Magnum trans. The front susp has Van Steel coil overs/tubular a-arms with 500 lb coils. My front tire/fender clearance with 18" front wheels is 4". I have the coil overs adjusted all the way to the bottom of threads. My question is there a vendor that sells 2" dropped spindles? Also if I change the front coils to 400 lbs would that drop my clearance to the 2" range ? Please advise and thanks in advance for your input!
Le Mans Master
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
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I too have the Van Steel coilovers all around-I spoke with the guys at Van Steel a while back re spindles-
I think they abandoned the idea...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...le-poll-4.html
I think they abandoned the idea...
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...le-poll-4.html
Race Director
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From: South Western Ontario
Check out the CPP CP30101 spindle. It fits 65-70 B-bodies. You can swap C3 spindles onto those cars to change to disk brakes, so that spindle certainly swap onto a C3. I'm not sure how the brakes would work though.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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can yo upost pics, theres something not right for sure
Le Mans Master
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Just sayin- I haven't seen it done...and Vansteel abandoned it....
Here's the differeces-69-70 Impala w/ Disc Brakes
Stock 69-82 Corvette-
Race Director
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From: South Western Ontario
All I can tell you is that a C3 spindle DOES 100% direct swap onto a 65-70 full-size GM by using the full-size steering arm. So, if that spindle is a direct swap onto one of those cars then it must also mount on a C3 and the C3 steering arms must also bolt to it. So, if you really badly want drop spindles then do the research and take it home by figuring out how to get a suitable hub and brakes onto it.
To note, CPP does have some rather pricey Baer brake kits that do fit that spindle.
To note, CPP does have some rather pricey Baer brake kits that do fit that spindle.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Oct 6, 2019 at 08:29 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
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All I can tell you is that a C3 spindle DOES 100% direct swap onto a 65-70 full-size GM by using the full-size steering arm. So, if that spindle is a direct swap onto one of those cars then it must also mount on a C3 and the C3 steering arms must also bolt to it. So, if you really badly want drop spindles then do the research and take it home by figuring out how to get a suitable hub and brakes onto it.
To note, CPP does have some rather pricey Baer brake kits that do fit that spindle.
To note, CPP does have some rather pricey Baer brake kits that do fit that spindle.
I just know Vansteel dropped the idea-
Quotes from Dan @ Vansteel- who actually tried it...
"Already looked and tried the Impala spindles. The pin for the hub is for the smaller 63-68 hubs and you have to run a big brake kit. Early steering arms are the only ones that clear the lower a-arm as well. Late steering arms would have to be ground down."
Last edited by Richard454; Oct 6, 2019 at 10:04 PM.
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So they actually would work, just not up to your standards?
From what I recall, there is about a 1/2" difference in the upper boss between the drum and disc spindles. The drum spindle boss is not parallel or even even with the front face of the spindle. It's close to even with the back side of the steering arm bolt bosses.
And the manifold comparison is rather stupid since you can bolt any small block manifold to any small block engine.
From what I recall, there is about a 1/2" difference in the upper boss between the drum and disc spindles. The drum spindle boss is not parallel or even even with the front face of the spindle. It's close to even with the back side of the steering arm bolt bosses.
And the manifold comparison is rather stupid since you can bolt any small block manifold to any small block engine.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Oct 6, 2019 at 11:45 PM.
Le Mans Master
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From: Watkinsville, GA and Glen Cove, NY
The Ridetech system uses a dropped spindle and they now have a bracket to use stock brakes. Doubt you would want to spring for it since you already have the Van Steel.
Le Mans Master
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The manifolds will bolt right on- but the alternator/AC/power steering bracket has to be changed - and the exhaust pipe...
My point that just swapping the part is one thing- connecting it to the rest of the car is another...
OTHERWISE wouldn't the engineers/manufacturers/bean counters just use the same part from the beginning if the cost was close?
Richard
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Racer
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From: Wesley Chapel North Carolina
Race Director
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From: South Western Ontario
Like I said- I haven't see anybody do it...and Vansteel who started a poll/thread and made up some prototypes- dropped the whole idea for the Corvette as it just wouldn't work correctly- so yea that's my standards...
The manifolds will bolt right on- but the alternator/AC/power steering bracket has to be changed - and the exhaust pipe...
My point that just swapping the part is one thing- connecting it to the rest of the car is another...
OTHERWISE wouldn't the engineers/manufacturers/bean counters just use the same part from the beginning if the cost was close?
Richard
The manifolds will bolt right on- but the alternator/AC/power steering bracket has to be changed - and the exhaust pipe...
My point that just swapping the part is one thing- connecting it to the rest of the car is another...
OTHERWISE wouldn't the engineers/manufacturers/bean counters just use the same part from the beginning if the cost was close?
Richard
Interesting claims as a mind reader...
Here's mine, right from the thread you linked it was posted by VanSteel that their requirements for the dropped spindle was that the dropped spindle they offered had to use stock C3 brake components..So my mind reading would say they ruled out the full-size spindle because it didn't allow use of the stock C3 brakes.
A stock 1970 full-size single piston caliper brake setup is a bolt-on for a C3, if you really wanted to bolt it on. You can try to make out how it's different and only kind of bolts-on, but that's BS because it the same damn spindle. The 2 changes between the 70 spindle and the earlier drum spindle are the bearing size and the upper boss being about 1/2" longer and that dropped spindle is based on the earlier drum spindle. So, there is nothing about those differences would make it not work on a C3, if you really wanted to use it.
Last edited by lionelhutz; Oct 7, 2019 at 11:28 PM.
Le Mans Master
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Interesting claims as a mind reader...
Here's mine, right from the thread you linked it was posted by VanSteel that their requirements for the dropped spindle was that the dropped spindle they offered had to use stock C3 brake components..So my mind reading would say they ruled out the full-size spindle because it didn't allow use of the stock C3 brakes.
A stock 1970 full-size single piston caliper brake setup is a bolt-on for a C3, if you really wanted to bolt it on. You can try to make out how it's different and only kind of bolts-on, but that's BS because it the same damn spindle. The 2 changes between the 70 spindle and the earlier drum spindle are the bearing size and the upper boss being about 1/2" longer and that dropped spindle is based on the earlier drum spindle. So, there is nothing about those differences would make it not work on a C3, if you really wanted to use it.
Here's mine, right from the thread you linked it was posted by VanSteel that their requirements for the dropped spindle was that the dropped spindle they offered had to use stock C3 brake components..So my mind reading would say they ruled out the full-size spindle because it didn't allow use of the stock C3 brakes.
A stock 1970 full-size single piston caliper brake setup is a bolt-on for a C3, if you really wanted to bolt it on. You can try to make out how it's different and only kind of bolts-on, but that's BS because it the same damn spindle. The 2 changes between the 70 spindle and the earlier drum spindle are the bearing size and the upper boss being about 1/2" longer and that dropped spindle is based on the earlier drum spindle. So, there is nothing about those differences would make it not work on a C3, if you really wanted to use it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2017
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Dear 1Rad....I think you misunderstood.
The ground clearance on a C-3 Corvette is 4.5" from the factory...usually measured at the lowest spot on the car, which is typically the exhaust pipes.
Dropping that 2" reduced that number. suspension height is not germaine here...it's ground clearance.
At least dropped spindles keep the control arm geometry 'parallel' to the ground. If they are not, then BUMP-STEER will be your constant companion.
unkahal
The ground clearance on a C-3 Corvette is 4.5" from the factory...usually measured at the lowest spot on the car, which is typically the exhaust pipes.
Dropping that 2" reduced that number. suspension height is not germaine here...it's ground clearance.
At least dropped spindles keep the control arm geometry 'parallel' to the ground. If they are not, then BUMP-STEER will be your constant companion.
unkahal
Drifting
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As someone else has said, you have a problem somewhere if the car is sitting that high. I'd concentrate on finding that problem! These cars actually have better A arm geometry when lowered, so a drop spindle doesn't make sense - they are normally used in applications where lowered suspension causes terrible geometry problems.
Le Mans Master
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