1969 vs. 1970 Spindles

[Taranis]

Hi All,
I have the front end of my 69 Mach 1 torn apart right now and am seriously contemplating the TCP coilover kit. The question I have is: while the car is apart right now, should I upgrade to the larger 1970 spindles or are the 69 spindles OK? I plan on using the car as a weekend warrior with maybe a couple of pulls down the track. Any help would be gratly appreciated.

 

[chepsk8]

If I recall correctly, the 70's are better, thanks to the BOSS 302 program, with larger OTR specs and bigger wheel bearings.

Can someone confirm?

 

[rbohm]

yep the spindle size was upgraded in 1970. larger spindle, larger bearings, longer duration for racing on the trans am circuit. that said however, unless you already have a set of 1970 spindles, or know where a set is, you dont need to bother with trying to find a set. just use the spindles you have, as they are strong enough unless you are going pro stock style racing with a big block.

 

[Clark]

Chepsk8 is correct that the 70's are better, they use a larger spindle diameter and associated bearing. But this is where you have to make a decision. From your description on how you are going to drive your car, I would say that the 69's are alright.

I have 69 spindles and bearings and have not seen any issues and if I ever had to change them I would go with a 70 one. Heavier duty is always better but how many 69's have a bearing or spindle problems?

 

[chepsk8]

I used to open track the mACH 1, all 428 cubes. It killed the shock towers, not the spindles!

 

[Taranis]

Sweet. Thanks for the info, guys. I'll stay with the 69 Spindles

 

[fvike]

If you plan to upgrade to aftermarket brakes later, most kits uses the '70 spindle.

 

[wild70stang]

I though all spindles were interchangeable on early model mustangs? So if the 70's are larger, what kind of granada spindles will fit my 70 mustang?

 

[Taranis]

If you plan to upgrade to aftermarket brakes later, most kits uses the '70 spindle.

Very good point since I want to upgrade to the Bear Track front disk setup. Kit 4261080 comes ready for the small bearing spindles of the 65-69.

 

[degins]

I though all spindles were interchangeable on early model mustangs? So if the 70's are larger, what kind of granada spindles will fit my 70 mustang?

All 67 and up Mustang and related car spindles including Granada are interchanable in steering geometry, and basic mounting parameters.

 

[Route666]

Degins did you get on top of the differences between the 70 and 71-73 spindles?

Chepsk8 that's reassuring, knowing you gave a big block 69 a good workout with zero (spindle and knuckle) problems.

 

[Sicarius428]

Chepsk8- was your shock towers reinfoced like the ones that come with the Q or R code? You got me worried hehe. Thats something I wanna do someday for giggles but not at the expense of my factory reinforced shock towers. Thanks
Kevin

 

[RGS0907]

A 1969 with the larger spindles

If I recall correctly, the 70's are better, thanks to the BOSS 302 program, with larger OTR specs and bigger wheel bearings.

Can someone confirm?

I always wondered why my car seemed to be a one-off. My GT500 is titled as a 1970 but we all know that they were '69's. Also my serial number shows it to be a fairly early 1969. So why do I have the larger spindles & rotors? I bought the car from the original owner in the '70s & I needed to replace my rotors back in the early 1980s & I had the hardest time finding the larger bearing rotors.

Anybody have any ideas?

 

[chepsk8]

RGS

Since the 1970 Shelbys are in actuality 1969 Shelby's, I think it would be a good guess that your car will be to 1969 specs. But, then again, the Shelby's seem to break the rules!

 

[degins]

Degins did you get on top of the differences between the 70 and 71-73 spindles?

Chepsk8 that's reassuring, knowing you gave a big block 69 a good workout with zero (spindle and knuckle) problems.

Sorry no, I'm busy with the new spindles.

 

[chepsk8]

Hard Running

Chepsk8 that's reassuring, knowing you gave a big block 69 a good workout with zero (spindle and knuckle) problems.

Thanks! It was a regular sight at SAAC conventions being pounded hard. Wide open on the Back stretch, and compressing the suspension fully in the banked turns at Charlotte, tossed with reckless abandon all over Lime Rock! I must say that before every event, I checked everything out, greased the suspension, re-packed wheel bearings, and gave it a thorough checking before running it. (I will admit to some cleverly disguised brake and suspension upgrades though... )

 

[bnickel]

RGS

Since the 1970 Shelbys are in actuality 1969 Shelby's, I think it would be a good guess that your car will be to 1969 specs. But, then again, the Shelby's seem to break the rules!

IIRC, the shelby's used the same spindles, etc as the boss 302 cars.

 

[LMan]

Anybody have any ideas?

It's Ford Motor Company