Spreader bar ordered!
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 155
Likes: 6
I agree I would not want to spread the frame.
My suspicion on the A frame dimension is that we are dealing with a welded assembly that was probably hand / welded fabricated from stampings in a jig. Thus the dimensions will depend on the assembler. No computers and no robots. As a reference point it will probably vary from car to car, don't know how much.
Yes, I agree the alignment is done with the weight of the car on the suspension. I agree with you on cutting the bar, but I would be concerned and I would have the frame checked for damage / twist.
The reason to jack up the car is to keep the A Arms against the mount. When I jacked Up my car the bar mounts were easy to install as the suspension stayed tight against the frame mounts.
When I started to loosen the A Frame bolts without jacking the car the A Frames started moving away from the frame. I immediately put a jack under the K member and lifted the car a few inches and the A Frame went back against the frame. I would suspect that this is what is causing a lot of issues. Which is probably what I should have said. Sorry it was late for me.
I removed the nuts and put the bar mounts ( angle iron ) on with no issue. I installed the bar and kept it loose between the A Frames.
When the car was on the ground I opened the bar against the eyes / rod ends by hand as much as I could - tightened the nuts and checked the wheel vertical angle (digital level). It did not change. I had rolled the car back and forth to get the wheels seated.
If the dimensions are moving a large amount I would think that you're alignment will never hold. Mine moved less than 1/16 of an inch on a car with 90K+ miles that was driven hard before I got it. Zero rust on the car.
As a Note : I rebuilt the front end last year and have approx. 700 miles on it. - original but all new, springs, bushings and joints.
I would not be cranking on the bar with a 3 foot pipe wrench.
My suspicion on the A frame dimension is that we are dealing with a welded assembly that was probably hand / welded fabricated from stampings in a jig. Thus the dimensions will depend on the assembler. No computers and no robots. As a reference point it will probably vary from car to car, don't know how much.
Yes, I agree the alignment is done with the weight of the car on the suspension. I agree with you on cutting the bar, but I would be concerned and I would have the frame checked for damage / twist.
The reason to jack up the car is to keep the A Arms against the mount. When I jacked Up my car the bar mounts were easy to install as the suspension stayed tight against the frame mounts.
When I started to loosen the A Frame bolts without jacking the car the A Frames started moving away from the frame. I immediately put a jack under the K member and lifted the car a few inches and the A Frame went back against the frame. I would suspect that this is what is causing a lot of issues. Which is probably what I should have said. Sorry it was late for me.
I removed the nuts and put the bar mounts ( angle iron ) on with no issue. I installed the bar and kept it loose between the A Frames.
When the car was on the ground I opened the bar against the eyes / rod ends by hand as much as I could - tightened the nuts and checked the wheel vertical angle (digital level). It did not change. I had rolled the car back and forth to get the wheels seated.
If the dimensions are moving a large amount I would think that you're alignment will never hold. Mine moved less than 1/16 of an inch on a car with 90K+ miles that was driven hard before I got it. Zero rust on the car.
As a Note : I rebuilt the front end last year and have approx. 700 miles on it. - original but all new, springs, bushings and joints.
I would not be cranking on the bar with a 3 foot pipe wrench.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 269
From: S.E. MI
St. Jude Donor '15
Wouldn't the Spreader bar assist with getting the alignment to stay the same? I'm guessing the issue with some of us needing to jack the car up on the front Cross member to spread the frame is likely due to sag in the frame from 40 years of use with no spreader bar? Seems to me, the best thing to do would be to install the spreader bar, THEN get the car aligned, and the spreader bar would only assist in keeping the alignment right. I am in the middle of rebuilding all of my suspension with new Poly bushings and VBP street and slalom components, so my plan is to get all of that back in the car, install the spreader bar, and then get it aligned right away.
The alignment guy is going to hate you with them on there.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 155
Likes: 6
Fair Point. Just figured you'd want to have the spreader bar in the mix for a proper alignment, but you're right, that would be a PITA for the alignment guy.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Pro
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 600
Likes: 110
From: Mainz
So after all of the great things I read about the "Speed Direct" Spreader Bar, I ordered myself this exact one, and got it shipped over here to Germany. I ordered the one for the Factory A - Arms, and it does NOT fit! I have a 1971 L48 SB with factory air and power steering. In my case the bar would hit the fanblades once installed. Fan is all stock. In my case I would have to open the Long holes on the A - Arm Mounts for the bar up, so I can slide it further back. I really dont want to that since it is supposed to fit as is. The Fan, clutch, pulley and everything that would have to do with the Position of the fan blades is stock on my Motor. Not sure what the Problem is?!! If i would live in the US I would just send it back to them, but shipping it back by itself would cost me $25 Dollars... I dont understand why it doesnt fit, everything is original on my car, and members that have factory air and powersteering have written in this thread that it would clear... The Problem in my case is really, that there is NO clearance towards the fan blades even with the Mount all the way slid back! Any Ideas??
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,743
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
So after all of the great things I read about the "Speed Direct" Spreader Bar, I ordered myself this exact one, and got it shipped over here to Germany. I ordered the one for the Factory A - Arms, and it does NOT fit! I have a 1971 L48 SB with factory air and power steering. In my case the bar would hit the fanblades once installed. Fan is all stock. In my case I would have to open the Long holes on the A - Arm Mounts for the bar up, so I can slide it further back. I really dont want to that since it is supposed to fit as is. The Fan, clutch, pulley and everything that would have to do with the Position of the fan blades is stock on my Motor. Not sure what the Problem is?!! If i would live in the US I would just send it back to them, but shipping it back by itself would cost me $25 Dollars... I dont understand why it doesnt fit, everything is original on my car, and members that have factory air and powersteering have written in this thread that it would clear... The Problem in my case is really, that there is NO clearance towards the fan blades even with the Mount all the way slid back! Any Ideas??
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
So after all of the great things I read about the "Speed Direct" Spreader Bar, I ordered myself this exact one, and got it shipped over here to Germany. I ordered the one for the Factory A - Arms, and it does NOT fit! I have a 1971 L48 SB with factory air and power steering. In my case the bar would hit the fanblades once installed. Fan is all stock. In my case I would have to open the Long holes on the A - Arm Mounts for the bar up, so I can slide it further back. I really dont want to that since it is supposed to fit as is. The Fan, clutch, pulley and everything that would have to do with the Position of the fan blades is stock on my Motor. Not sure what the Problem is?!! If i would live in the US I would just send it back to them, but shipping it back by itself would cost me $25 Dollars... I dont understand why it doesnt fit, everything is original on my car, and members that have factory air and powersteering have written in this thread that it would clear... The Problem in my case is really, that there is NO clearance towards the fan blades even with the Mount all the way slid back! Any Ideas??
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 9,434
Likes: 239
From: Powassan ON
Yes 
And I'd elongate the mounting bracket holes or what somebody else did in a thread somewhere on here is make a spacer out of a big washer and put it behind the fan blade mount. In essence you'd be moving the fan forward 1/8 of an inch.
I'd try the spacer first, if that's not enough clearance then I'd elongate the bracket holes.
I forget but are the brackets "offset" where the bar mounts to it? Try swapping the brackets from one side of the car to the other?
And I'd elongate the mounting bracket holes or what somebody else did in a thread somewhere on here is make a spacer out of a big washer and put it behind the fan blade mount. In essence you'd be moving the fan forward 1/8 of an inch.
I'd try the spacer first, if that's not enough clearance then I'd elongate the bracket holes.
I forget but are the brackets "offset" where the bar mounts to it? Try swapping the brackets from one side of the car to the other?
Last edited by Dodosmike; May 5, 2016 at 02:20 PM.
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Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,734
Likes: 2,582
1969 with same problem
So after all of the great things I read about the "Speed Direct" Spreader Bar, I ordered myself this exact one, and got it shipped over here to Germany. I ordered the one for the Factory A - Arms, and it does NOT fit! I have a 1971 L48 SB with factory air and power steering. In my case the bar would hit the fanblades once installed. Fan is all stock. In my case I would have to open the Long holes on the A - Arm Mounts for the bar up, so I can slide it further back. I really dont want to that since it is supposed to fit as is. The Fan, clutch, pulley and everything that would have to do with the Position of the fan blades is stock on my Motor. Not sure what the Problem is?!! If i would live in the US I would just send it back to them, but shipping it back by itself would cost me $25 Dollars... I dont understand why it doesnt fit, everything is original on my car, and members that have factory air and powersteering have written in this thread that it would clear... The Problem in my case is really, that there is NO clearance towards the fan blades even with the Mount all the way slid back! Any Ideas??
http://www.summitracing.com/search/p...d=fan%20spacer
Pro
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 600
Likes: 110
From: Mainz
Sorry about the Pictures, but when I noticed that it wouldnt fit, then i took the A Arm Mounts of again and packed it back up... I should have made Pictures right then and there... Just to put the brackets back for Pictures is too much of a pain. I just had a normal wrench and the screws from the A Arms didnt tur´n easy, the must be self locking. I will try a spacer for the fan Mount, thank your Feedback!!