lookin good!
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lookin good!
I get real excited about your project, knowing the amount of engineering you are doing to the suspension. then I see your photoshops, and am reminded it is...
a mini van..
heh heh. To each his own.
Please keep the updates coming!
Not much to update but the van is back in the yard minus motor, trans and fuel tank. It looks pretty forelorn sitting in the driveway.
I spent last weekend cleaning and straightening in the shop. And sorting magazines. I have too many old car mags...
Anyway, I hope to get most everything cleaned and straightened by this weekend so I can put my truck to bed for the winter and get busy on the van.
First up will be stripping both front and rear suspensions out of her and building a body cart/rotisserie. I'll keep you updated.
Mark
Just curious what your plans were for the front wheel houses. I've been involved with a few Astro build ups and it always seams to be a lack of front wheelhouse room when lowering these things. I have a shop Astro for hauling parts and trailer that has been lowered 2" with spindles and springover, it will bottom out easily. Do you plan on tubbing the front as well? Keep the photos coming.
I plan to re-work the front wheel houses also. Once I get the front suspension built I will install the cradle and cycle the suspension through jounce, rebound and right and left steer. I will only remove as much as is necessary to get about a half inch of clearance at the extreme tire positions.
I also plan to have "soft" contact surfaces where the tire will not see any sharp edges. Cutting out the original wheel house and re-using it is the plan with pieces added to get it where it needs to be.
Mark
Well, I have gotten a few things done on the computer the past week or so. I had to rebuild my big computer at and lost a lot of data in the process. I think it was a good thing though as I found a few more mistakes on my part... :mad:
After a big hiccup with geometry points earlier this year I have finally gotten the data where it needs to be. After plotting all of my spindle points from the actual parts I found my first design wasn't as far off as I had thought. It was off but only by 1/4" or so and not the 2" I had previously thought. I spent the last couple of days verifying my points are correct and redesigning the upper and lower control arms.
Here are a few pics of my 3D Data.
http://images19.fotki.com/v26/photos...rtsusp2-vi.jpg
http://images16.fotki.com/v31/photos...rtsusp3-vi.jpg
http://images19.fotki.com/v353/photo...rtsusp4-vi.jpg
Everything looks good right now. I need to rebuild the motion file to check clearances but this suspension isn't far off from the original so I'm not real concerned...
I also need to rebuild the front cradle and rear frame but those are pretty straight forward now that the front is complete.
Thanks for looking,
Mark
I've been following your gallery and your build, really nice workmanship. Your shop is sure a lot more organized than mine.:LOL: :LOL:
Don
Thanks Don, the kudos are appreciated. As far as the shop goes, getting it cleaned, painted and organized was an all winter project this past year... Before that there was only a path through the heated side... I love my shop now and it is really nice to go out there to work...
I have gotten a lot of 3D work done in the past week. Getting the front suspension done was top priority and, with the completion of that, I moved on to the front cradle and rear frame designs. I finished those up (to a point) last night so I snapped some pics...
This is the front cradle as it sits right now.
http://images19.fotki.com/v27/photos...sm_0001-vi.jpg
http://images17.fotki.com/v28/photos...sm_0003-vi.jpg
I plan to add some triangulation between the upper and lower rails but haven't decided how to do it yet.
This is an overall shot with the left front suspension in place.
http://images16.fotki.com/v31/photos...sm_0002-vi.jpg
And a close up of the cradle/suspension assembly...
http://images16.fotki.com/v29/photos...sm_0003-vi.jpg
I am hoping my back eases up a bit so I can get back out into the shop this weekend...
Thanks for looking
Mark
Can you believe it's been over 5 years since I started working on this van? Lots has happened from then till now. Layoffs, new jobs, massive O.T. and life I guess...
If there is any interest I can post up some of the build pics... I finally got this van off the computer and onto the jig tables. Starting the work in ernest on Memorial day weekend we have the chassis and front suspension 90% complete and the van is a gutted hulk sitting on the hoist waiting for the chassis to be stuffed into it.
Here are a few pics as she sits right now.
http://images50.fotki.com/v1526/phot...MVC021F-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v235/photo...MVC010F-vi.jpg
http://images110.fotki.com/v109/phot...MVC011F-vi.jpg\
http://images24.fotki.com/v764/photo...MVC019F-vi.jpg
Thanks for looking at all of my stuff.
Mark
This is one of the lower front shock mounts ready to be tacked to the arm
http://images12.fotki.com/v616/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
Mocked up and ready to tack. You can see the rear tab which wasn't as big because it didn't stretch out to the LBJ cup.
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...MVC004F-vi.jpg
The uper towers took a bit of set-up to be comfortable with the location and alignment to the lower mounts.
http://images15.fotki.com/v230/photo...jpg?1311548170
After tacking. EVI will get the job of finish welding these dudes. I know my limitations...
http://images52.fotki.com/v729/photo...jpg?1311548305
I mocked up the shock (no spring) and control arms for thr RH side. What do you think?
http://images56.fotki.com/v168/photo...jpg?1311548456
The lower arm brkts are not in place here but they were next on the list.
http://images59.fotki.com/v255/photo...jpg?1311548538
The outer brackets are shown in place. The two inners , seen to the right in the pic, needed to be fit to the center angled tube. I'll get better pics if anyone is interested.
http://images9.fotki.com/v114/photos...MVC005F-vi.jpg
Body mounts prior to cutting the mount hole
http://images115.fotki.com/v607/phot...MVC018F-vi.jpg
Thanks for looking
Mark
Here are some teaser shots of the van at approximate ride hgt. The front is too high as the van is level on the hoist and the actual stanch will have a bit of rake built into it.
http://images115.fotki.com/v607/phot...MVC005F-vi.jpg
http://images59.fotki.com/v255/photo...MVC006F-vi.jpg
http://images115.fotki.com/v607/phot...MVC004F-vi.jpg
What do you think? Look okay?
Mark
looks good. ever get your engine built ?
Hi Pat,
Man, I'm sorry I never got back to you. Right after I started talking to you I got a line on a motor from a co-worker. It took about a month of talking and researching but I ended up buying a complete BBC, which was exactly what I wanted, for a KICKAST deal. Included EVERYTHING but the intake manifold and flexplate... I just couldn't turn my back on it.
I should have gotten back to you but you know how time flys... Once I had the engine in my shop I just couldn't let the project lanquish any longer. A buddy got me committed to getting it started and we've been hitting it hard ever since.
I do need a rear end narrowed. Do you do that kind of work? Nine inch ford out of a '75 pick up.
Thanks Pat
i still have setup to narrow the ford 9.
What kind of cost? Can you work up a price for a package deal? Detroit TrueTrac, 3.90 gears and axles? Thanks
Mark
On my Astro build I found a shop the will build a Ford 9" exactly to the one of a kind Astro offset and copy the mounting.It is a alloy axle with a nodular center where you add your gears and posi with any bolt pattern you want.The shop's name is Spraker Racing in Schenectady,NY.Oh you have a choice of a 28 or 31 spline.Just got to provide them with a copy of stock Astro rear end.PM me if you want their phone number.I do think the price was in the range of $1,200 bucks which is a pretty good deal.
If you look at a Currie or Mosier,I do think you would spend more for them.In fact spend more with almost anyone else.Might worth a call just to shop it.These guys have been in the business in circle track deals for a long,long,time.Real quality product done right at a decent price.
BTW-have you done a search for Astro sites??.A good one is Astrosafrivans.
well i see guys like to talk you right out of talking to me :) ? to cut a ford housing down is $120 . and $20 to hot tank the housing out
You got two??.:LOL:How about the axles??.Flange any one you want??.
thats to cut down a 75 pickup rear end he has that is all
Pat do you respline??
Van does look somewhat like one that was on the Astro sites with a user name of Nitropro.Been awhile since I had seen it,but the last time it was in color.
no i send them out to mosier they would re drill for the 4.3/4 on 5 put new bearings and respline re face them for a very far price but some times you can not respline them has they are rolled splined and axles O.D are under size for them to cut less its very short over all
I always went to Mosier I just thought maybe you did them. They have a quick turnaround they just done the ones for my Nova
hard to beat there turn around and not far away from us. i had a customer drive down there and wait to have a set re cut it was a set of there axles shafts. i have some of the tooling to re hob them. i still would have a hard time to beat there turn around
Okay Pat, Work up a price like I asked before. Complete housing, using my core. Narrowed to 60 inches, center the pinion, new carrier and gears and new spring perches welded on. (I will set the axle and tack the perches before I give it to you.)Pm Me if you want.
Thanks bud.
Mark
hard for me to set the pinion angle .the spring perches should be welded on last so you can set the pinion angle under the truck with engine and trans were it will be with weight on axle .i work up a price axles on center . new iron N case . big bearing pin support .solid bushing with shim pack.new yoke.limited slip setup give me two days and i PM you
Sounds like a plan. I will set the pinion angle before I give you the housing. That will get done probably week after next.
I haven't done ANY car shows this year due to the van build but I plan on doing back to the bricks. You planning to come down? Maybe we could hook up Saturday.
well no i have never been there .my cars have not been out this year bad year so next year i hope??? my stuff is in town stuff price of gas to run down to the brick would kill me .we can met off I75 some were or my shop what ever works for you
I'll keep you in the loop. You will know when I am ready to do the rear end. Probably be a couple of weeks.
Got the rear end housing cleaned up and ready to narrow. I am taking the housing to a certain gentleman in Bay City to narrow and rebuild it. New bearings, yoke, True-Trac, nodular 3rd member w/ 3.90's and new axles from Moser. Assembled and ready for lube and paint.
I cut off all of the old brackets and ground everything smooth.
http://images107.fotki.com/v780/phot...MVC006F-vi.jpg
I sprayed it down with Simple Green, inside and out, let it sit for a few minutes then hit it with the pressure washer. Cleaned up nice.
http://images112.fotki.com/v355/phot...jpg?1314580364
I'll call you today Pat to set up a drop-off time.
Mark
The spindles are ready to go! Once these were ground down and smoothed out they look fantastic!
We also knocked off the caliper ears in preparation for the Corvette abutment brackets.
Outside view
http://images108.fotki.com/v191/phot...MVC016F-vi.jpg
Top View
http://images114.fotki.com/v145/phot...MVC019F-vi.jpg
inside View
http://images58.fotki.com/v511/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
Bottom View
http://images114.fotki.com/v145/phot...MVC017F-vi.jpg
Knocking off the old caliper "ears". We sawzalled the ears off at the felt pen lines.
http://images18.fotki.com/v329/photo...MVC009F-vi.jpg
All gone, blended and ready to drill and tap for 7/16-20 bolts.
http://images114.fotki.com/v145/phot...MVC011F-vi.jpg
This is the new abutment bracket in place before we did any cutting.
http://images107.fotki.com/v67/photo...MVC010F-vi.jpg
Thanks for looking.
Any thoughts on these arms?
Mark
I am open to all comments on these. I do have to admit they look very beefy. I do know there is a lot more weld and actual "arm" supporting the new location.
The chassis is on the rotisserie as of Sunday morning. Had to reconfigure the brackets I made last year to hang the '49 F1 frame.
http://images108.fotki.com/v191/phot...MVC001F-vi.jpg
http://images58.fotki.com/v511/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
http://images15.fotki.com/v245/photo...MVC017F-vi.jpg
http://images114.fotki.com/v74/photo...MVC018F-vi.jpg
This will work great for final welding, clean up and paint...
Thanks for looking
Mark
looks good... the 9 looks not to bad no barnacles hanging off it :)
Mark.... Been a long time man! How have you been doing ?
Hi Tony!
Yea, it's been a while hasn't it! Time flies you know... I've been very well thanks. Working a ton of O.T. the last few years and am now able to slow down a bit to get some "STUFF" done at home! I hope you and yours are doing well.
Your timing is impeccable bud. I need to talk to you about the rear suspension on this van. I am in a bit of a pickle with leaf springs and what not. I knew the stock Astro springs I had were too long but now I need to decide what I want to do to fix it. We need to talk and I am open to options. Can I give you a call?
Thanks man
Mark
The spindles turned out better than I had hoped. There is no way in hell these things are going to be an issue. Like Iron Mike told me when I dropped them off for welding, "the tierod itself will break before these arms will", and he is right.
Yesterday afternoon I hauled the rearend housing up to McCarthy Performance in KawKawlin (an hours drive north of me) for narrowing and rebuilding with new Moser 31 spline axles, Nodular center section and new gears, True-Trac LS, HD pinion support and new bearings and seals. I will put in fill and drain plugs when I get it home.
Thanks for doing this for me Pat. It was great to finally meet face to face and I will get you the rest of the info we talked about yesterday. I look forward to picking up that housing.
I talked to Tobin at KORE 3 about their 9 inch C5 caliper brackets. I will hold off ordering them until after I get the housing back from Pat.
Mark