Mid Year Lower Control Arm Cross Shaft

[Page C.]

In the process of installing new bushing in the control arms and noticed that my early 1965 has the two different types of lower cross shafts. Both are the #505 castings. One is the flat type that you see quiet often and the other is the "I" beam type. Car shows no evidence of any damage in the front end. Found one post in the archives back in Sept. 2004. Wondowed if anyone has seen this "I" beam type in original cars or any more updates.
Regards,
Page Campbell

[Joe L.]

Re: Mid Year Lower Control Arm Cross Shaft

Page-----


This situation has been noted on many original cars. Both configuration lower shafts were used in PRODUCTION and available in SERVICE. Both had the same forging number and, as far as I can tell, both had the same part number.

In PRODUCTION, the lower shafts were supplied to St. Louis already assembled to the control arms. So, it's very possible that the left and right arms were assembled at different times wherever they were made and they used whatever shafts were in the bin at the time.

However, this situation has come up often enough that I wonder if there wasn't some other "method" involved here. For example, maybe the different configuration shafts were used to enable easy identification of left and right side arms. That's just a guess, though. Both lower arms on my 1969 were the "flat" style.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Mid Year Lower Control Arm Cross Shaft

.... Wondered if anyone has seen this "I" beam type in original cars....
Regards,
Page Campbell

Page --- just checked my early '65 #014xx and it has I-beam type on driver side, round on passenger. 99% sure that it's all original (no-hit car, owned by me for 28 years). First time I ever noticed this. The things we discover !

[Page C.]

Re: Mid Year Lower Control Arm Cross Shaft

Thanks Joe & Wayne,
The "I" beam cross shaft that is on my car is is on the drivers side like Wayne's car. This is the second time that I have replaced the upper and lower bushings and it was the first time I had noticed the difference in the cross shafts. Maybe Joe L. is on to something. Plan on leaving it like it was. I feel to many little things get changed on these cars to make them fit the ever changing Judging Guides.
Thanks,
Page Campbell