Does anyone have a definitive answer as to why Henry changed the design from "round-backed" to "square-backed" for the '42 model year spindles? It almost had to be a costly change in tooling, and it's well known that Henry didn't like wasting $$$. The "round" feature performs every function as the "square" feature that I can think of. Any part that the factory bolted to a spindle will bolt to either design. I'm aware that the two spindles use different king pins. Even that cost Henry additional $$$. So WHY did the design change on these beloved ol' chunks of steel? Maybe Bruce L. has a pretty good answer. DD
It had to be to save money. It may not be obvious why the square back would be less expensinve to manufacture, but there would have been no other reason for the change.
...but there's more to the change than just the shape, isn't there? Aren't the kingpins for the '42 and up spindles a different length?
I always thought that they were changed to increase the king pin bushing length, so they would last longer since the cars had gotten heavier.
I'd second this. And notice the square spindle doesn't have the outer edge machined. So maybe they were able to save $.02 on each pair.
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