Xmember install progress

[Slammed67]

Did '73+ trucks have such a spacer on them from the factory?? That's the only explanation I could come up with.

[rancid]

can you just send your stock crossmember to a shop and have them do a notch and mail it back.

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

Knockin' the dust off of this one. I re-read this whole thread and the details of the mods required to make everything work after the re-install are a little hazy other than a few steering mods, and the drilling of new bolt holes for the upper x-member mounts. What else needs to be done to complete?

That's about it as far as I can tell. You will need to grind a fair amount of the front lip of the cross member as well to clear the tie-rod ends. Everything else is just re-assembly.

Originally Posted by rancid

can you just send your stock crossmember to a shop and have them do a notch and mail it back.

Capt Kaos used to do them. Send him a PM to see if he still does.

[PrerunnerRob]

Hey guys, just following your posts here, look at the inside of the thinner(domed) spacer, it has serrations on it to grab the upper arm mounting shaft studs, them the dished spacer goes on the outsideof that. I believe it is 2 parts so it can correct it self to lay flat when allignmnet shims are used?

By the way, here is the crossmember I built.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=228976

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by PrerunnerRob

..... By the way, here is the crossmember I built.

Nice budget job. Nothing wrong w/doing it yourself it you have the skills.

[2nd_wnd]

Originally Posted by PrerunnerRob

Hey guys, just following your posts here, look at the inside of the thinner(domed) spacer, it has serrations on it to grab the upper arm mounting shaft studs, them the dished spacer goes on the outsideof that. I believe it is 2 parts so it can correct it self to lay flat when allignmnet shims are used?

starting form inside out mine was flat washer then the shims then the domed spacer, then the a-arm rod.

Is that what you mean?

[fastbagged68]

The Spacers I had on my crossmember where dished on one side and flat on the other. about 1/4" think. I had them on both studs.

[sixty8c10]

looks great

[fastbagged68]

Here is something to give you a baseline for your steering.... It's not the best but it could point you in the right direction... http://www.ifcustom.com/projects/projectpics/k-m/marissa's%20suburban/marrissasubdrop/subdrop36.jpg

[XXL]

Originally Posted by fastbagged68

Here is something to give you a baseline for your steering.... It's not the best but it could point you in the right direction... http://www.ifcustom.com/projects/projectpics/k-m/marissa's%20suburban/marrissasubdrop/subdrop36.jpg

Good pic. This is what I was thinking. I've been on the phone with Borgeson this afternoon. Ultimately it'll just be a matter of throwing time and money at the problem

[XXL]

Originally Posted by XXL

Parts to do this kind of linkage are on the way. Borgeson ain't cheap

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by XXL

Parts to do this kind of linkage are on the way. Borgeson ain't cheap

Well, I tried to re-post the pic that had the u-joint linkage between the column & steering box but for some reason it won't let me open the attachments.

Are you doing the 3-universals + 2 intermediate shafts like the previous pic or what? I'm not sure how I feel about that set-up from a strictly visual aspect.

Am I alone in my observations?

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I'm not sure how I feel about that set-up from a strictly visual aspect.

Am I alone in my observations?

No, your not alone, BUT you need 3 to get it up over the upper control arm.

Here is another twist of the same. This is SmashingChucks truck:

[lolife99]

Is it true that you can use a "VAN" steering box? Like a early to late '70's model? Something about the box being taller, to help clear the upper arm. Seems like "fiveeightchevy" posted. Anyone?

[fastbagged68]

Bill Dermond (aka roadsurfer) said you can...but you need to fab a few things up to make it work. Need to also make sure it is the right box. ie. doesn't turn the oppsite you turn it. It raises you box up like 3 inchs. i think. And if you want to find Bill Dermond...goodluck!

[fastbagged68]

Bill Dermond (aka roadsurfer) said you can...but you need to fab a few things up to make it work. Need to also make sure it is the right box. ie. doesn't turn the oppsite you turn it. It raises you box up like 3 inchs. i think. And if you want to find Bill Dermond...goodluck! go to sportruck.com and look for it there. heposted about crossmember drop there over a year ago.

[Shane]

Lookin' good ....

It appears that I am gonna have to pack up and move West in order to get my "bucket of bolts" completed.

Good work fellas ... yer makin' me proud!

P.S. Kenneth ... please clean those wheels.

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Shane

P.S. Kenneth ... please clean those wheels.

It took a LOONNNNGGG time to get them to look that way in the first place. If I cleaned them, I'd have to start all over. It's all about the look

Originally Posted by SCOTI

SCOTI I've put effort into cleaning up the visuals under my hood. I want to camouflage whats there or make it smooth. That set-up doesn't look like it would work w/my theme.

Ditto, but I've got to do it... or plan my trips very carefully so as to avoid all turns. So... I'm contemplating a formed "shield" to fit over it once it's all in place. Stay tuned.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by XXL

Ditto, but I've got to do it... or plan my trips very carefully so as to avoid all turns. So... I'm contemplating a formed "shield" to fit over it once it's all in place. Stay tuned.

We discussed options w/the inner fender. Possibly trying to use some of it to hide stuff but won't know until I put more stuff together.

[XXL]

Time to move the exhaust...

[Captkaos]

Lookin' good. Got an ETA on the Borgensen joints yet?

[XXL]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Lookin' good. Got an ETA on the Borgensen joints yet?

They are "en route." I should have specified overnight shipping

On a side note, for a preview of a future rant... I spent some time on the phone this morning with Jason at Air Ride Technologies. For all of you who've seen me give ART props for their customer service for the last 5+ years, blehhhhh. Apparently they sold all their customer service and now they're relying on their devilishly low prices... or not. I've bought from them exclusively (save the bags I recently got from Captkaos), and paid their high prices, all because I bought into what was a very strong customer service experience. Today, in one single phone call, that has been wiped out. Congratulations to Jason at ART for your accomplishment.

[fastbagged68]

ART is over priced! They make nice stuff but not worth the money.... A little trick...instead of buying there upper arms- flip your over and flip the ball joints and flip sides.....This corrects ball joint angle. To get creative cut out the center and weld in what you want!

[Slammed67]

Ok, I e-mailed XXL progress pics from last night but apparently he is actually busy working for a change today so I'll post them

I installed the Borgeson joints/Double-D shafts last night along with a bracket that I fabbed up. I still need to finish welding the bracket pieces together (there are just tacked now). The steering shaft now clears the upper a-arm, even when the front end is lowered all the way. I used 1/2" copper piping to mock up the double-D shafts before cutting the actual shafts to length to prevent waste/incorrect lengths.

All I have left to do is bleed the brakes and install the new front shocks (I'm waiting on some lower shock studs from ART).

[Slammed67]

On a side note, the Borgeson joints/shafts are a little pricey, but are very high quality. True, they don't come with cool decals like the ART stuff, but the joints are engraved with the Borgeson name and part number