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

[Joe L.]

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

I also did some further research on trailing arms (bare arms without spindle supports). I found that the small block trailing arms used from 1965 to 1977 were of GM #3864035, lh, and 3864036, rh. These arms did not have the holes for the rear stabilizer bar. They may also have been used on 1965-67 big blocks (with the St. Louis addition of the holes). The big block trailing arms were GM #3874769, lh, and 3874770, rh. These are the arms with the holes. The arms without the holes were replaced for SERVICE by the arms with the holes in November, 1965 but both sets of arms were used in PRODUCTION until 1977.

Since there were different part numbers for the arms with and without the holes, the trailing arm ASSEMBLIES (i.e. with bearing support, calipers, etc.) would also have had different part numbers with and without the holes even if the holes were the only difference.

[Patrick B.]

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

Patrick------

The first two photos, below, are the known original spindles from my September, 1969 build, original owner 1969 Corvette with 300/350. The second two photos are from a pair of SERVICE GM #3872476 spindles that I purchased in about 1980. The photos that I will post in the next post (because of photo posting limits) are from a pair of GM #3872476 spindles I purchased in about 1996.


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Joe: The #3872476 spindles in your photos are exactly like the spindles I would expect in 1970 LT-1s and big blocks. Your late 69 spindles without the marks are very close to answering the question whether most 1970 350 4 speeds used a spindle with different markings than those used in big blocks (and sold for service). Pictures of 350 4 speed spindles just a few months later than yours would still be of interest.

I did not dream up the idea that there was a difference. The 1970 dealers album lists the heavier duty spindle support arms. I can take a photo of that page if it would help. Also, every original LT-1 I looked at in the 70's (admittedly not a great population) had the big block trailing arms with the sway bar holes. Why would they use them without the need for sway bar attachment? Does Terry's original LT-1 have trailing arms with holes and spindles with marks?

[Dick W.]

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

The following are photos of the 3872476 spindles I purchased about 1996:


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I also did some further research on the spindles and I found that there was another part number once used for the spindles but it had nothing to do with "heavy duty" or "non-heavy duty". It seems that ALL 1965 and early 1966 Corvettes used spindles GM #3865904. Later 1966 and all later Corvettes used GM #3872476 which also replaced the 3865904 for SERVICE in March, 1966. I do not know what the difference was between these spindles.

One difference noted is the two top were made by Rockwell while the lower had no manufacturer logo visible

[Michael H.]

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

One difference noted is the two top were made by Rockwell while the lower had no manufacturer logo visible

Yup, I could be wrong but I'm not convinced that the markings had anything to do with unique options on Corvettes.

The hub/flange portion of a Corvette spindle looks a lot like a standard passenger car axle. I have to guess that there were several sources for this piece before machining and it would probably have unique markings to ID the source.

[Jim T.]

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

Jim, if it has the sway bar holes, it may well have the HD spindles also. Send us a picture of spindle end. Does it also have the big block style rear end with caps instead of u-bolts on the half-shaft flanges?

Patrick I do have the caps instead of the u-bolts. I would look at the the spindle ends but being the original owner of my 1970 I took my 70 which had a 5 year 50,000 mile factory warranty in for some abnormal noise from the right rear and the Chevy dealer's shop replaced the spindle and bearings. Later the drivers side was serviced for bearing noise. Original spindles were replaced before August 1975.

[Mike E.]

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

For the record one of the spindles for my '65 had that mark on it. I bought the car in 1977 and it was on it when I got it. My guess would be it was a service replacement. Very few part in on the rear suspension of this car I've found to be original.





Mike

[Terry M.]

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

Joe: The #3872476 spindles in your photos are exactly like the spindles I would expect in 1970 LT-1s and big blocks. Your late 69 spindles without the marks are very close to answering the question whether most 1970 350 4 speeds used a spindle with different markings than those used in big blocks (and sold for service). Pictures of 350 4 speed spindles just a few months later than yours would still be of interest.

I did not dream up the idea that there was a difference. The 1970 dealers album lists the heavier duty spindle support arms. I can take a photo of that page if it would help. Also, every original LT-1 I looked at in the 70's (admittedly not a great population) had the big block trailing arms with the sway bar holes. Why would they use them without the need for sway bar attachment? Does Terry's original LT-1 have trailing arms with holes and spindles with marks?

My 1970 LT-1 does have the spindles with marks, and i am pretty sure the trailing arms have holes, but I will have to verify the holes for you. My LT1 is vacationing elsewhere for the winter, but I will check that. FWIW: As I posted earlier every LT-1 I have seen (regardless of year) with known original spindles as well as LS-6s have those marks on the spindles and a white splotch of paint. I also believe the reference to heavy duty support arms for LT-1 is in the AMA specifications, but it has been a while since I have looked at those. Since the Heritage Center has them on-line that should be easy to verify.