66 trailing arm shims
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 353
Likes: 1
From: Sugar Land, TX
66 trailing arm shims
I'm replacing the trailing arms with rebuilds. The shim kit I purchased has two large long cotter pins. The holes in the shims are way to big for the cotter pin. Can someone tell me what the cotter pin for?
As always, advanced thank you for your help.
As always, advanced thank you for your help.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 489
Likes: 31
From: Hilbert WI
the originals were not slotted, the trailing arm bolt held them in place.
You would need to drill a small hole in the frame for the cotter pin and slide it in, thought the shims.
others can correct me if I am wrong.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 15,359
Likes: 2,728
From: Close to DC
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
It sounds like the kit you have has the large hole for the main bolt that secures the shims to the arm. The best kit to have is the one with slots for the arm and a small hole that is used to secure the shims. You must drill an appropriate hole through the inner lip of the body so it aligns to the end of the shim hole. If you use the kit you currently have, it requires that the main bolt be removed if any alignment changes are necessary. And that add $$ to you bill. 
Dennis
Dennis
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,882
Likes: 1,283
From: Horsham Pa
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If you're restoring the car for NCRS you must use the original type of shims with no cotter pin so what you do is you take A saw and you cut a notch in the bottom of the shim at the bolt side and you hook the shim over the bolt so that they can't fall out and no one will know there's a notch on that end and you get full credit and easy to align.
Last edited by 65 Pro Vette; Jan 30, 2017 at 06:28 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
If the shims have a slot in one end and a hole in the other they are suitable for use on a Midyear but not correct. They are correct for C3s. Just loosen the trailing arm pivot bolt and slide the slotted end of the shim in around the bolt. Then rotate the hole end down into the t-arm pocket. Tighten the bolt. Make sure the shims are really tight the pocket with no slop. I usually leave a thick shim out to install last. I drive it in with a hammer in the middle of the shim pack.
Correct
http://www.zip-corvette.com/63-69-tr...t-correct.html
Easier to use.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/63-82-tr...stainless.html
Tom
Correct
http://www.zip-corvette.com/63-69-tr...t-correct.html
Easier to use.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/63-82-tr...stainless.html
Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
What are your plans for the car?
NCRS judging? Bloomington Gold judging?
Depending on what your long range plans are...you can choose the shim that's best for you.
Originals had 2 holes... and the trailing arm bolt went through one of those holes. More difficult to align, but factory "correct".
Then you can use slotted shims or shims with a notch cut on the bottom to slip over the T arm bolt..
You can use the later C3 shims that require you to drill a hole through the frame to retain the shims.........
Maybe more variations...
Post a picture of what you have.
NCRS judging? Bloomington Gold judging?
Depending on what your long range plans are...you can choose the shim that's best for you.
Originals had 2 holes... and the trailing arm bolt went through one of those holes. More difficult to align, but factory "correct".
Then you can use slotted shims or shims with a notch cut on the bottom to slip over the T arm bolt..
You can use the later C3 shims that require you to drill a hole through the frame to retain the shims.........
Maybe more variations...
Post a picture of what you have.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Good read. Has pictures of the original "2 hole" shims, and pictures of an original 2 hole shim modified with a notch cut out.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...arm-shims.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...arm-shims.html
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