Front suspension odds and ends
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Front suspension odds and ends
1) the big bolt on the lower control arms has a weird serrated washer on it...but I can only find one of mine at the moment. Is that a normal hardware store item or am I going to have to order one from somewhere?
2) is there a specific up and down to the 460lb VB&P springs? They look symmetrical to me.
2) is there a specific up and down to the 460lb VB&P springs? They look symmetrical to me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I have seen the serrated cupped washers at hardware stores ...
gotta look through the metal drawers of unique hardware ... not a Home Depot item.
Size might be an issue ... recall seeing them up to 1/2" - not sure about larger.
Strange that the washer goes under the head of the bolt ... doesn't
seem to do much since the bolt fits the hole pretty well.
Perhaps it helps to keep the bolt from tearing through the hole.
gotta look through the metal drawers of unique hardware ... not a Home Depot item.
Size might be an issue ... recall seeing them up to 1/2" - not sure about larger.
Strange that the washer goes under the head of the bolt ... doesn't
seem to do much since the bolt fits the hole pretty well.
Perhaps it helps to keep the bolt from tearing through the hole.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
That washer goes on TOP??? That would explain it...I haven't been able to replace the D/S bolt because of the power steering pump. I need to unbolt the engine and lift it a bit. I'll check that in a little while...thanks!
Matt, I got a wild idea yesterday and worked on it from midnight to 3am...
Matt, I got a wild idea yesterday and worked on it from midnight to 3am...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
That washer goes on TOP??? That would explain it...I haven't been able to replace the D/S bolt because of the power steering pump. I need to unbolt the engine and lift it a bit. I'll check that in a little while...thanks!
Matt, I got a wild idea yesterday and worked on it from midnight to 3am...
Matt, I got a wild idea yesterday and worked on it from midnight to 3am...
Oh yeah...I've been there a few times, but lately I can't, with the lady friend wanting company around those times...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
I would image they are there to prevent the bolt head from tearing through the bracket. These bolts get torqued to 95 ft. lbs. and the bracket seem get alot of stress on it as youv'e seen a number of times where the entire bracket tears off the cross member due a crappy weld job at the factory. I just repaired this very problem on mine. Iwould get the washers and install them if it were me, they are there for a reason. Zip sells them I believe.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by supervette77
Iwould get the washers and install them if it were me, they are there for a reason. Zip sells them I believe.
I'll look into getting a pair...what would they be called for ease of searching?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
How I know they were on top to begin with ... note serrations in top of bracket:
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/in/front_gusset_06.jpg
Installed again (and slightly rusty):
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/in/lowerCA4.jpg
Note the large diameter bolt but washer has smaller than expected OD.
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/in/front_gusset_06.jpg
Installed again (and slightly rusty):
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/in/lowerCA4.jpg
Note the large diameter bolt but washer has smaller than expected OD.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
One day down the road I'm going to fully strip the frame, reinforce it, and have it dipped and powdercoated.
You'll need something bigger than you're little oven for that my friend...
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
From: Bel Air MD
I've done a complette mechanical rebuild of my 'vette and the only place I found cupped-serrated washers was for the transmission mount to crossmember bolts. I found it odd that they were located here, since the Assembly manual depicts just a lock washer for these bolts; but hey......if that's where they were, who am I to say......
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
One day down the road I'm going to fully strip the frame, reinforce it, and have it dipped and powdercoated.
You know, I was thinking about this a little more seriously last night, and a large oven for powder coating could actually be made. Let's speculate...
How hot will an average wood stove get? Maybe 450-500 degrees?
You could make a large wood chamber similer to a wood stove. Create a larger chamber directly above the wood fire chamber. Heat transfer and convection would heat the secondary chamber to an average temp close to that of the wood fire. Keep it fed and even, and the coals would keep it hot.
Sound good? Lets get started.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
For P-C large pieces, they use UV lights.
D-B:
Thanks for the compliment, but that framework was done
soon after getting my welder ... and it was high school since
I had welded previously. So, the gussets are nice - but the welds could use improving.
I do like my front jack plate, though ... quite unique:
http://NHvette.com/ftp/in/frame_paint_04.jpg
D-B:
Thanks for the compliment, but that framework was done
soon after getting my welder ... and it was high school since
I had welded previously. So, the gussets are nice - but the welds could use improving.
I do like my front jack plate, though ... quite unique:
http://NHvette.com/ftp/in/frame_paint_04.jpg