Thread: 27 chevy p/u

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Originally Posted by jerry clayton

....I just read Rogers post and a specific item/area that I want to point out that even he will probably agree.....

Now that's either an outright insult or a backhanded compliment, not sure which.

Billy,
I did go back and scroll through the posts, and while I didn't say anything originally I did note at the time that Howard (hworrell) pointed out two things that I agreed would be a concern to me. First was welding the ladder bars to the rear end housing without wrapping the tube - Howard cited two personal failures due to the stresses of that joint causing the rear end tubes to fail. Second was the welded pitman arm without any gussetting or reinforcement - I thought I remembered posting some pictures of a method I'd seen on Jeeps, but it must have been on a different thread, but I recall that I agreed with Howard's comments. I think you said that you would pass on both thoughts to your friend doing the build, but from later photo's it appears he did not see them as problems, so you've made your choice.

I did notice two other things on the rear end that I would probably look at again if it were mine. On the coilovers, I'd really prefer to see a pair of mounting tabs welded onto the frame up top, with a Grade 8 bolt going through both and the upper eye. It'll probably be fine like it is, but it would be better with a second tab, or at least some healthy gussets on the single tab. Second is your front frame mount on the traction bars. That connection point sees pure vertical movement, as when both rear wheels rise & fall equally, but it also must allow a twisting movement, to reflect the full flex of the coil overs, one up fully, the other down fully, like a Heim Joint. From your pictures it appears that there is a through bolt on the tubing, which does not seem to provide anything other than a pure up and down motion without binding. I wouldn't think any of these things will be a concern for your Colorado trip, as I expect that you're going to be doing easy cruising over nice mountain roads, and not punishing the chassis. When you get home you might want to have a bull session with some of your car guy buddies, and see if they share any concerns with these three areas. The modifications for all three are relatively easy to accomplish, should you choose to do any of them.

Hope you have a great trip!

Originally Posted by rspears

Now that's either an outright insult or a backhanded compliment, not sure which.

Billy,
I did go back and scroll through the posts, and while I didn't say anything originally I did note at the time that Howard (hworrell) pointed out two things that I agreed would be a concern to me. First was welding the ladder bars to the rear end housing without wrapping the tube - Howard cited two personal failures due to the stresses of that joint causing the rear end tubes to fail. Second was the welded pitman arm without any gussetting or reinforcement - I thought I remembered posting some pictures of a method I'd seen on Jeeps, but it must have been on a different thread, but I recall that I agreed with Howard's comments. I think you said that you would pass on both thoughts to your friend doing the build, but from later photo's it appears he did not see them as problems, so you've made your choice.

I did notice two other things on the rear end that I would probably look at again if it were mine. On the coilovers, I'd really prefer to see a pair of mounting tabs welded onto the frame up top, with a Grade 8 bolt going through both and the upper eye. It'll probably be fine like it is, but it would be better with a second tab, or at least some healthy gussets on the single tab. Second is your front frame mount on the traction bars. That connection point sees pure vertical movement, as when both rear wheels rise & fall equally, but it also must allow a twisting movement, to reflect the full flex of the coil overs, one up fully, the other down fully, like a Heim Joint. From your pictures it appears that there is a through bolt on the tubing, which does not seem to provide anything other than a pure up and down motion without binding. I wouldn't think any of these things will be a concern for your Colorado trip, as I expect that you're going to be doing easy cruising over nice mountain roads, and not punishing the chassis. When you get home you might want to have a bull session with some of your car guy buddies, and see if they share any concerns with these three areas. The modifications for all three are relatively easy to accomplish, should you choose to do any of them.

Hope you have a great trip!

i did wrap the axle
i have a reversed corvair box with new pitman arm
that is a heim joint (it doesnt look like it in the pic)
and i will beef up the coil over mounts.
thanks for the concern/info/advice!

when i get back i will post some better pics of what is going on with everything.

Originally Posted by billy zz

i did wrap the axle
i have a reversed corvair box with new pitman arm
that is a heim joint (it doesnt look like it in the pic)
and i will beef up the coil over mounts.
thanks for the concern/info/advice!

when i get back i will post some better pics of what is going on with everything.

Good deal on the axle, pitman arm and front traction bar joints!! Hope your trip goes well, and that you and your girl have a wonderful time cruising the mountains. I'm currently getting very jealous of your trip!!