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I doubt there are any restored/repro complete, original front end, plug and play, kits (e.g. dog bone with all the parts...)
So you need to answer the question above...
Tom Parsons (DZAuto) has written a "how to" article on a complete restoration process of the original system or there are aftermarket options several here have used.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 03-07-2019 at 08:09 AM.
You have to watch out for the imported parts on these cars. We just had a customer that used a kit from a supplier... the king pins were not the correct size, the upper outer shafts wouldn't lock down due to a size issue and the upper inner shafts were complete junk. I had some (and still have some original Moog stuff pieces here and bailed him out).
Here is an example of the imported upper inner shaft I did a few years back and if you install this shaft in the car you'll tear up your backside washer in the spring tower. The picture should say... above on the right is the original shaft and you can see the size difference. Install the one on the left and you'll have a repair to do that I'm sure you don't want.
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; 03-07-2019 at 05:43 PM.
When did the crap imported stuff start hitting the market? 5 years ago, 10 years? 15 years?
Doug
It's been an issue for a long time Doug... that upper inner shaft was something that would make an issue out of any installation. The front edge of the threads were the same size as the rear end. So when you installed it it would screw up the rear washer and you as well as I know the rear can't have play and it must measure 1 1/8" from the outer edge of the washer to the end of the shaft. Unfortunately for me, when I did my 62 frame in 1980, the washer wasn't available and my driver side washer was worn out.... I'm afraid to say I was a young whipper snapper then and so I installed that shaft and welded it to the washer so it wouldn't move. (god help the next guy that try's to replace this)... But then again even after I welded it, alignment wasn't an issue and I've only put 3200 miles on the car since 1980. (it's like a cat... lay's around, gets feed, and sleeps until awaken). Then I slip into the driver seat and turn 16 all over again.
I called my customer named is Scott just a few minutes ago. . He said he believed he got the kit from of all places.... Kanter. But I have no way to prove it one way or the other. But what I can do is mic original parts.
Please don't hold me to this and I'm not knocking them by any means.... but I think possibly I should put the micrometer to the original shafts and the original Moog shafts that I have here... That would give the customers a good idea of what is a good product and the correct size... Scott had so many issues with this car and we installed original Moog outers and the locked down fine, the ones in his kit wouldn't.
Ernie
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; 03-07-2019 at 06:38 PM.
IIRC I heard about this issue at least 8 years back, somebody had the identical problem, RIch Mozzetta (rich5962)? and alerted me to it.
Fortunately my 61 was fine and I never had to deal with this nonsense...
I hate to say this but the lack of quality parts and the expertise to work on the old systems is going to result in more and more first generation Corvettes going the restomod route for those that actually drive them. Fuss about it if you want, but I firmly believe that. Either turned in to total restomods or done piecemeal with upgrades wiper systems, suspensions, brakes, electronics, engines over time..
That "weld" stopgap was not as rare as you might think and my 75 year old alignment guy told me about it...
I was told at Lakeland that Billy Dawson of Corvette Corrections sells two C1 restomod chassis setups per WEEK. I said, "You mean per month". No - it was per WEEK!
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 03-08-2019 at 10:34 AM.
The reason I asked was I rebuilt my front end in 1995 and all the stuff came in Moog boxes. No problems
I replaced the spindle supports several months ago with 1953 lowered supports and changed the upper outer bushings with repop parts that i purchased oh, 6-8 years or so ago (I take my time getting to projects).
The new upper outer bushings wouldn't stay tight in the control arms, they wouldn't torque down, so i used some JB weld, which seemed to work.... (I knew Bubba personally)
Maybe the control arm threads were over size from having too many rebuilds, or maybe the bushing were under size, I don't know. At least JB weld will loosen with some heat, and I have spare upper control arms if I ever need them. The eccentric shaft being locked down inside the support, can't come loose so i can't get catastrophic front end failure even if both bushings fell out. At ~1000 miles per year, I am sure as long as I keep them greased, they will out last me.
The reason I asked was I rebuilt my front end in 1995 and all the stuff came in Moog boxes. No problems
I replaced the spindle supports several months ago with 1953 lowered supports and changed the upper outer bushings with repop parts that i purchased oh, 6-8 years or so ago (I take my time getting to projects).
The new upper outer bushings wouldn't stay tight in the control arms, they wouldn't torque down, so i used some JB weld, which seemed to work.... (I knew Bubba personally)
Maybe the control arm threads were over size from having too many rebuilds, or maybe the bushing were under size, I don't know. At least JB weld will loosen with some heat, and I have spare upper control arms if I ever need them. The eccentric shaft being locked down inside the support, can't come loose so i can't get catastrophic front end failure even if both bushings fell out. At ~1000 miles per year, I am sure as long as I keep them greased, they will out last me.
Doug
Doug,
Typically if you can't get the upper outer shafts to lock down the issue is the shaft and what you describe is exactly the same issue Scott had. We switched the upper outer shafts to the original moog shafts that I have and the problem was solved.... I think I mentioned this above but if not (Like I tell my wife, if I'd told you this already please stop me,,, sometimers).
But Scott had issues with the upper outer shafts, he also had issues with the size of the knuckle shaft (king pin shaft) being undersized. Both sides were way under size. I told him to message me the sizes last night and hopefully he'll do so soon... Scott also had an issue with one of his supports and he makes parts for me so I donated an original drive side spindle support. So in all, I gave him two original king pin shafts, two upper outer shafts and a spindle support... now he's on the road again.
I hope this helps but I think your issue is probably the upper outer shaft is too small. If so, snag a couple of them that I have up on eBay... I don't have a large supply but I feel sure they'll solve your issue.
As to the gentleman that emailed me today.... I'll look on Monday to see what other original Moog items I have. Back in 1992 I had all of the items on the shelf in moog... only problem is the building burned down so I tried the best I could to salvage this stuff but I don't remember what I have of it.... I hid it in the other building after the fire.... I just found the upper outer shafts the other day when looking for parts for Scott. So I'll take a look on Monday and see what I can find. I have a general idea of where this stuff is but I'm also good at forgetting where I left my car keys..
I am looking for an up grade . I only looked a little and saw a front end online by Jim . There was also another company, Mark ? ,which one is better?
Bob
I used both Tom Parsons and Aaron obrien’s write ups on the front end rebuild. A big thank you for these. Several pointers on dealing with parts that don’t quite fit
From the research and communication I did last year, the Jim Meyers kit seems to be the way to go. Does require some spot welds, even though they advertise reversible, but honestly, who's going to remove an IFS front end and replace it with original. If you were going for a numbers matching car I don't think you'd be asking this question. Check out the JM IFS front end.
If you are going to do it yourself look at Jim Meyer and Martz Chassis in Bedford PA (closer to you), but if you are willing to spend a little more you can get a C4 front suspension. I had Coffman Corvette in Mansfield, OH do that and it is outstanding, you have the advantage of power steering, larger disc brakes and all corvette parts.
Just an other option You will not believe how well the car will handle.
Just remember, if you go with a C4 or later corvette suspension in the front or the back or even an aftermarket chassis with this later suspension incorporated at all four corners, you won't be able to run old school deep dish wheels........it requires the more modern flush face mags.....which is a trade-off I can't accept. I like the old school look and I will go with the JM IFS sometime in the next year. I don't know about the Martz IFS customer service or quality, but there are a lot of JM IFS front ends under C1's on this forum and hope some of the owners will chime in.
I didn't want to reinvent the wheel so wanted to find out what other people have done that want the same look of the stock car . Sounds like having all corvette parts is good but I don't want to change my wheels, just greatly improve the handling. Have you smithed out your front end ?
Bob
03-06-2019, 08:51 PM
(it's like a cat... lay's around, gets feed, and sleeps until awaken). Then I slip into the driver seat and turn 16 all over again. 
I just found the upper outer shafts the other day when looking for parts for Scott. So I'll take a look on Monday and see what I can find. I have a general idea of where this stuff is but I'm also good at forgetting where I left my car keys.. 
