L body spindles

[cwilliiams]

I have 5 lugs and minivan brakes on my Rampage. Would I still have stock Rampage spindles? I have a spindle that is damaged where the balljoint connects.

TIA,
Charlie

1983 Dodge Rampage
2.2 Liter Maserati crate motor
Stage II Chysler Maserati chip
52 mm throttle body
Spearco front mount intercooler
Custom aluminum radiator
LSD
Centerforce clutch
leather LeBarron power seats
Custom door panels and tonneau cover
Shelby nose, hood, wheels
2.5" downpipe
3" exhaust
Rhino lined bed
Chrysler CD radio w/ removable box speakers on shelf
Grainger, diode - running 17lbs. boost
Built by the late Dave Grove, Louisville, KY
Engine and engine management supplied by Rick Diogo


photos -

http://community.webshots.com/user/cwilliiamsphoto

Charlie Williams
1626 Windsor Place
Louisville, KY 40204
502-458-6668

email me direct at
cwilliiams@aol.com

[cordes]

You probably have the stock knuckles yes.

[cwilliiams]

That would be great as I found a nice Duster at the junkyard. I had lost the bracket that is under the bushing on the steering rack and it loosened and moved around - I think this damaged the spindle. I got the bracket today - guess I go back for a spindle.

charlie

[cordes]

The knuckle off of a duster is not going to be interchangable with the one off of your page. You need a knuckle off of another L-body.

[cwilliiams]

This is the Duster L body - looks just like a Charger. 84, I think. I rarely see them, but there were 2 at the yard. Guess they are all there.

[cordes]

This is the Duster L body - looks just like a Charger. 84, I think. I rarely see them, but there were 2 at the yard. Guess they are all there.

Ok, I have seen ONE of those too. Seriously, there was a guy who lived in my area that had one when I had my charger. That thing is rare.

[2.216VTurbo]

I swear Charlie, every time I see pics of your truck I HAVE to look at them again:wow1: Tonight I'm noticing the changes you've made this year and they are all good:thumb: Some painted IC piping, the A/C bracket has been pulled for a much cleaner look, and you have rear wheel skirts now, sweet! Are those Direct Connection/Cal Look ultra rare skirts?? They look like it as they are a bit wider than the GLHS/SC pieces. rear bumper looks good on there too:D

Are you still sure you don't want to trade for a TIII/568 Rampage? ;) There would be some cash in the deal too:eyebrows:

BTW L bodies have 'press in' hubs and all others have 'bolt in' so you should be able to tell if Dave swapped em out for something else.

[rbryant]

The 84 will have 4 lug hubs so it won't be the right thing for you...

I have a couple of 5 lug GLHS hub/knuckles if you need one.

I thought I once saw that you could make a hybrid setup from an lbody knuckle and another car's hub by pressing it onto the lbody spindle but I am not certain about that.

-Rich

[cwilliiams]

Alan,
Thanks, I will look into the press in hub thing.
Yea, the skirts are real - tough to find. I go them from California. It is getting there. The interior door panels are one of my favorite additions - they have foam in them and are real soft. Send me a pic of your Rampage.

Charlie
cwilliiams@aol.com


I swear Charlie, every time I see pics of your truck I HAVE to look at them again Tonight I'm noticing the changes you've made this year and they are all good Some painted IC piping, the A/C bracket has been pulled for a much cleaner look, and you have rear wheel skirts now, sweet! Are those Direct Connection/Cal Look ultra rare skirts?? They look like it as they are a bit wider than the GLHS/SC pieces. rear bumper looks good on there too

Are you still sure you don't want to trade for a TIII/568 Rampage? There would be some cash in the deal too

BTW L bodies have 'press in' hubs and all others have 'bolt in' so you should be able to tell if Dave swapped em out for something else.
__________________
Alan

[cwilliiams]

Rich,
I will let you know if I need the hubs.

Thanks,
Charlie

The 84 will have 4 lug hubs so it won't be the right thing for you...

I have a couple of 5 lug GLHS hub/knuckles if you need one.

I thought I once saw that you could make a hybrid setup from an lbody knuckle and another car's hub by pressing it onto the lbody spindle but I am not certain about that.

-Rich

[cwilliiams]

All fixed - thanks for the help. Wrong balljoint apparently gnarled up the spindle. I used an 84 L body spindle from the yard and it fit.

Charlie

[2.216VTurbo]

You wnat to let us in on your trick for getting that press in hub in place? I put my knuckle on the stove and the hub in the freezer for a while, then drop the hub in and let them get to know eachother:eyebrows: Problem is with that way everything has to be off the car and totally clean or the grease off the knuckle smokes up the kitchen:bolt: Got another way??

[cwilliiams]

I don't know. My tire/alignment shop got everything to work, but they said they had to mix and match the bearings to the spindle I found. It was a puzzle, but it works. Feels real good now.

Charlie

[rbryant]

a 60 dollar 5 ton harbor freight press works ok...

The 10 ton one that goes on sale for $110 works ok but was a bit rickety. The 20 ton that goes on sale for $179 seems solid.

-Rich

[tryingbe]

I took my new bearings and hubs to the machine shop and have them press it in for like $15 a piece.

[rbryant]

What fun is that compared to buying a new tool?

-Rich

[tryingbe]

Fun will be bolt it on and it will work. No more messing with the press, brackets, adaptor for 3 hours and then find out you just trashed the $55 bearing.

[2.216VTurbo]

Yeah, I have the 20 ton and I've also trashed one bearing during my 'learning curve' in pressing them. They have to be set in and started very strait:o The one I thrashed was 'sort of strait' I thought the press would just straiten it out as the bearing went in-it did that and more:mad:

That's why the last couple times I've done the heated knuckle/frozen bearing method. The hubs are just a tough bearing for me to press:banghead:

[bobr19]

You wnat to let us in on your trick for getting that press in hub in place? I put my knuckle on the stove and the hub in the freezer for a while, then drop the hub in and let them get to know eachother:eyebrows: Problem is with that way everything has to be off the car and totally clean or the grease off the knuckle smokes up the kitchen:bolt: Got another way??

I've done 5 or 6 of them--no problem--clean is the trick for me--make sure spindle assembly is spotless--use sandpaper or die grinder to clean inside spindle completely free of rust--light coat of white grease inside spindle--I found a 4 by 3 bell reducer is tall enough and works perfect to clear the spindle arm and press base--it also helps start true alignment by keeping things level--probably no more than 2 to 3 tons has been required to bottom it out--Clean and straight--it works good:thumb: --bob