Thread: Bad Ast Astro Van Build

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That's what I need right now. Lets build it to run good, work out the bugs and THEN start playing with the power band.

what Ujoints do you want to run 1310 or the big 1350

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

what Ujoints do you want to run 1310 or the big 1350

What would you do? I am thinking I probably want to go big... If I get serious about hooking it up with slicks that would be a good idea right?

i never lost a 1310 hd joint but i run all 1350 U joints now on the street . a custom shaft will have to be built. i get you the 1350 yoke ?

I have been burning the late evening oil working on the 4 link design. I ran the geometry points thru a 4 link calculator so I know the suspension is good. It will work and has adjustability.
http://images110.fotki.com/v109/phot..._4link1-vi.jpg
Rear view from drivers side.
http://images108.fotki.com/v360/phot..._4link3-vi.jpg
I have ordered the tubing and Johnny Joints and will get the plate for the brackets ordered after I have the details complete tonight. The hardest part of the whole design was getting a panhard bar in the right location that worked and looked decent.
http://images15.fotki.com/v223/photo..._4link4-vi.jpg
Right now I have the frame hardpoints for the panhard on the passenger side. in your guys experience is there a difference between one side or the other? I know it effects off corner bite but is there any rule of thumb for a street suspension?
http://images57.fotki.com/v256/photo..._4link5-vi.jpg
I have a few more tweaks to make for brackets and such but the design is 90% right now.
Thanks for looking.
Mark

Hey Pat,
I got all of the new rear suspension brackets detailed this past weekend and will start fabbing them up tonight. What do you want to do to get the housing brackets installed? If I get them all made this week can I bring them up Saturday morning? Is this something we can do in your shop or would you prefer I just take the housing home to do it.
Thanks
Mark

Originally Posted by astroracer

Hey Pat,
I got all of the new rear suspension brackets detailed this past weekend and will start fabbing them up tonight. What do you want to do to get the housing brackets installed? If I get them all made this week can I bring them up Saturday morning? Is this something we can do in your shop or would you prefer I just take the housing home to do it.
Thanks
Mark

well yes we can do that.. just Pm you

After detailing rearend, frame and panhard bar brackets all weekend I started cutting out housing brackets last night. I got the uppers roughed out and will get the lowers done tonight. Wednesday will be slated for drilling holes and cleaning up the shapes. I will be taking the brackets up to Pat Sunday to get them welded on before he cuts the housing.
I talked to him yesterday and he said all of the new parts came in Friday so I'll get to check those out to.
My Currie order arrived yesterday also. I am using their Johnny Joints in the forward bar attachments. These things look great and they are HUGE! I am still waiting for the tubing to come in but it should be here this week.
I'll get some pics of the brackets and suspension hardware tonight.
Thanks for looking.
Mark

Here are some pics of what I've been doing in the shop at night... Making brackets, ESPECIALLY ones with a lot of holes in them takes time.
Here are the 4 upper housing brackets. These will carry the upper link bar.
http://images107.fotki.com/v780/phot...MVC017F-vi.jpg
These are the two "big" plates all laid out. They will carry the lower links, lower shock brackets and, on the drivers side, the panhard bar bracket.
http://images108.fotki.com/v360/phot...MVC013F-vi.jpg
This is the drivers side with all of the holes drilled. The large expanse of metal on the right is what will carry the panhard bar bracket.
http://images50.fotki.com/v399/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
This is the front lower Johnny Joint. 2 1/2 x 1 1/4 thrd. I sure hope they strong enough...
http://images112.fotki.com/v110/phot...MVC009F-vi.jpg
Here is a shot of the weld bung and a short piece of mock-up tubing. This will make up the two lower bars. I will use the mono-balls in front with a rigid poly bushing in the bar, on the housing.
http://images51.fotki.com/v103/photo...MVC013F-vi.jpg
I have to do a lot of clean up work on the brackets yet. Rounding corners and straightening up bandsaw cuts but that's the easy part...
Thanks for looking
Mark

Mark,
Yrs ago while Jeg's chassis shop was still in operation we stopped by after a Indy Drag Racers auction to pick up a rolling 9.90 chassis.I watched them cut out four link brackets on a plasma jig.Told me how the hard work was the jig guides.That thing was popping them out like butter.

Hey Gary,
Yea, I had most of the original brackets laser cut by a shop in Grand Rapids. I just don't have the time to wait for quotes, fab time and delivery dates. It takes time to do this but my time is cheap and the brackets will be ready to weld to the housing Sunday. I still have to make the frame and panhard bar brackets but I won't do that until I have the housing back in the shop so I can verify locations.

Got all of the housing brackets cleaned up, radiused and beveled tonight.
These are two of the upper bar brackets.
http://images15.fotki.com/v235/photo...MVC005F-vi.jpg
The lower right hand bar and shock bracket mocked up with the matching inner bracket.
http://images59.fotki.com/v683/photo...MVC002F-vi.jpg
The LH lower bar, shock and panhard bracket and it's matching inner to the left.
http://images58.fotki.com/v156/photo...MVC007F-vi.jpg
Tomorrow I will work on the gussets and go to a car show here in Byron...
Thanks for looking
Mark

you will not have to bevel that plate much as my Tig can blow threw 1/4 plate EZ it will get full penetration with no bevel and use less filler rod

Hey Pat, they are already beveled... I am just used to doing that, didn't even think about it.
Is there anything you can think of I need to bring Sunday? I will bring all of my set-up stuff of course and a grinder just in case.

i have all the tools needed to do this job so we are ok there. make sure to take one of you rod ends or a set up block so we have the right spacing for the brackets what size is the bolt holes we will need set up bolts if 5/8 i do not have any bolts /nuts for setup