Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

[Gary R.]

I'm doing a set of 71's now and would like to see where those markings are for the spindles, something about a tab on the center cast in lugs?ThanksGary

[Joe L.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

I'm doing a set of 71's now and would like to see where those markings are for the spindles, something about a tab on the center cast in lugs?ThanksGary

Gary------


IF there ever was any such thing as a "heavy duty" spindle, then I would expect that all GM SERVICE spindles would have been of the "heavy duty" variety. I cannot envision GM selling only "standard duty" spindles when some applications were originally fitted with "heavy duty" and only 1 spindle was ever available in SERVICE for 1965-82 Corvette applications. I can envision them selling only the "heavy duty" spindle in SERVICE for all applications. The latter sort of thing was done in several known instances.

However, to my knowledge there was never any such thing as a "heavy duty" spindle. Some folks may have inferred this for one reason or another but, as far as I know, it never happened.

[Richard M.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Gary, I hadn't heard of the "tab" on the lugs, but something else.....But after looking at the pictures below are those tabs on the inner lugs those in question? I don't see as many as you do. I seem to agree with Joe, however just for informational purposes......

Several years ago I was on a L71 project. A very original car that had all the L71 features mostly intact. Owned since 1968 when the owner was 19 years old. When speaking to the owner, I was told he never replaced the rear trailing arms but had the bearings changed at one point in their lives. And he was sure the spindles were original.

In the process of researching some of the hardware, I was asked by a L71 "expert" to look carefully at the rear spindle hubs for a telltale mark of a HD casting mark. Now I had never ever heard of this before, and I do not have any proof of this or not, but in fact this "mark" was obvious on these spindle hubs. On the flat periphery of the outer hub, there is a cast-in "O" on them. I was told this is the identifying feature of the Heavy Duty spindle used as part of the F41 suspension, which on the L71 is a required option.

I to this day am skeptical of this HD spindle identifying feature as I've researched and never seen documentation confirming it. P & A catalogs never show it as a unique part for the F41 as Joe stated. However, I've seen the differences in these spindles. Every time I see a spindle hub I look for the casting feature. None others seen yet in my limited observations.

Call it wives tale, call it rumor, or whatever you want, but until some documentation proves it I still don't believe it.

Rich

Pics below of the "O" on F41/L71 original spindle. Also the tabs on the lugs ???

PB290006.jpg PB290007.jpg PB290008.jpg

[Gary R.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Thanks guys, I believe I have rebuilt arms off every year, base to SHP models and never saw a difference in the spindles either. Since I figure it could be possible I wanted to ask seeing this would be the place someone would know. I have seen differences in the markings on the wheel studs, some spindles are double drilled for cotter pins, some are not. The biggest thing I see is damage to them from previous workers. One of these I have in appeared ok until I cleaned it up and found the threads were hammered on, crushing the cotter pin hole, and rolling the threads. Then to get the nut on, they ground a taper on the lead in thread. I couldn't save this spindle.

[Bob J.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Gary, in your collection of spindles have you seen a cast in "X" on 63 up spindles? Bob

[Patrick B.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

I think I am the guy you are looking for. Attached is a picture of the original spindle of an 38,000 mile 1970 LT-1 that I have owned since 1972. The rotor is still riveted on. Please excuse the 1976 aluminum wheels. The indented mark on the left ear I think signifies the heavy duty spindle for LT-1s and big blocks in 1970. Hopefully other owners of 70's with original spindles will offer more photos.

The Corvette section of the 1970 Chevrolet Sales Album has a chart on page 10 for "Equipment included with Optional V8 Engines." It lists "heavier duty rear wheel spindle support arms" as included with LT-1, LS-5 and LS-7, but not with L-46. I opined that this information matched my observation that orginal LT-1s had the holes in the trailing arms for rear sway bars, like big blocks, even though LT-1s did not have rear sway bars because they used the same big block trailing arm assembly. The parts books list spindles, supports and torque arms but not "spindle support arms", so I think this terms must refer to the assembly. I don't think there is anything heavy duty about the arm or the support on big blocks which leaves only the spindle as a possible heavy duty part. I have seen twisted spindles so I see the purpose for a HD part.

I don't know if my 67 L-71 still has its original spindles. They dIMG_0593.jpgo not have the same distinctive mark as the LT-1 spindle.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Gary, in your collection of spindles have you seen a cast in "X" on 63 up spindles? Bob

Bob -- re '63-4's: here's 2 pics I have off a Jan '64 car (not on the road since '68). I see what looks like a (partial) stamped "2" on one, and a "3" on the other. Might have been a rebuilder adder.

Also, also a pic of a '65-up that shows the two circular marks that the OP and others are discussing.

General request: on the 2nd pic, I can't get the drum off as the shoes are frozen to it. Any suggestions ?

[Terry M.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

I think I am the guy you are looking for. Attached is a picture of the original spindle of an 38,000 mile 1970 LT-1 that I have owned since 1972. The rotor is still riveted on. Please excuse the 1976 aluminum wheels. The indented mark on the left ear I think signifies the heavy duty spindle for LT-1s and big blocks in 1970. Hopefully other owners of 70's with original spindles will offer more photos.

The Corvette section of the 1970 Chevrolet Sales Album has a chart on page 10 for "Equipment included with Optional V8 Engines." It lists "heavier duty rear wheel spindle support arms" as included with LT-1, LS-5 and LS-7, but not with L-46. I opined that this information matched my observation that orginal LT-1s had the holes in the trailing arms for rear sway bars, like big blocks, even though LT-1s did not have rear sway bars because they used the same big block trailing arm assembly. The parts books list spindles, supports and torque arms but not "spindle support arms", so I think this terms must refer to the assembly. I don't think there is anything heavy duty about the arm or the support on big blocks which leaves only the spindle as a possible heavy duty part. I have seen twisted spindles so I see the purpose for a HD part.

I don't know if my 67 L-71 still has its original spindles. They d[ATTACH=CONFIG]49220[/ATTACH]o not have the same distinctive mark as the LT-1 spindle.

Original spindles on LT-1s and LS-6s have that "centering" mark on the tab. When I was NTL it used to be fun to ask the owners if we could remove the rear wheelcover to check. I got a lot of "interesting" reactions to that request.

[Gary R.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Hi PatrickYes that is what I was thinking of. The 71 I'm working I don't believe was a LT1, I could be wrong but I think it was either the base 350 or 365hp/454. The original spindle does have the sample dimple in it as yours does but I don't see anything obvious about it otherwise. More curious about these then anything else. In your picture the "wall" thickness of the ring is pretty uniform, many are not but that hasn't been a problem either.ThanksGary

[Gary R.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Hi Bob. Well I really don't have a collection just what is sent to me to rebuild. I have some cores I saved the spindles out of. I have seen some stampings on the hub face at times but don't recall and "X". The only time I saw that was on the pink connecting rods in the LT1 & L82 engines if I recall correctly.

[Bob J.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

63 X spindle.jpg

Hi Bob. Well I really don't have a collection just what is sent to me to rebuild. I have some cores I saved the spindles out of. I have seen some stampings on the hub face at times but don't recall and "X". The only time I saw that was on the pink connecting rods in the LT1 & L82 engines if I recall correctly.

Hi Gary, I wondered if you (or others) have seen a 63-64 spindle like the one pictured off Ricky's Z06 named Lady? I've seen the X on disc brake spindles also, but its usually on the outside lip of the center. Thanks,Bob

[Gary R.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

You know what I believe I have seen the "X" on the face of the hub on some spindles but those would have been 65-82 spindles, I don't recall seeing that on the 63-64 drum brake cars. The only 63 Z06 I worked on was a box and differential, I didn't have to do the arms.

[Dick W.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Bob -- re '63-4's: here's 2 pics I have off a Jan '64 car (not on the road since '68). I see what looks like a (partial) stamped "2" on one, and a "3" on the other. Might have been a rebuilder adder.

Also, also a pic of a '65-up that shows the two circular marks that the OP and others are discussing.

General request: on the 2nd pic, I can't get the drum off as the shoes are frozen to it. Any suggestions ?

BFH and Kroil If you have an air hammer, soak in Kroil, take the hammer and use a flat bit, shown in the picture, and work your way around the center, taking care not to beat on the studs. This bit is also very useful in removing stubborn U Joints

[Patrick B.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Hi PatrickYes that is what I was thinking of. The 71 I'm working I don't believe was a LT1, I could be wrong but I think it was either the base 350 or 365hp/454. The original spindle does have the sample dimple in it as yours does but I don't see anything obvious about it otherwise. More curious about these then anything else. In your picture the "wall" thickness of the ring is pretty uniform, many are not but that hasn't been a problem either.ThanksGary

Gary: If your spindle has the same mark as mine, I would think it came from a 454 car. Also, I am attaching a picture of a spindle with an "X" cast, not stamped, into it. It in on one side of my 67 L-71 but I cannot be sure it is original.

IMG_0597.jpg

[Gary R.]

Re: Who had the pictures of the "HD" rear spindles?

Patrick.I will have to check to see what engine is in the car. I have seen that "x" before enough times, just didn't pay much attention to it I guess.