Cheap T Project

Quick update. Taking Donny Rays advise for the windshield posts. Got some 7/8 x .120 wall tubing from Mc Master Carr. Was 1/2 the price of my local metal supplier. Drilled the locations for the posts. Got the final coat of filler on the body. Just need to sand. Mocked up a seat. Sets about 7 1/2" off the floor. How high do yours set? So far I have plenty of leg room, foot room is a slight issue. Found my panhard mount on the axle was off by a few degrees so I cut it off and will reweld it. Things will be on hold until my son finishes his intake gaskets on his winter car.

 

Gee wiz guys! Hoping to get this thing going soon!!! Meanwhile….

 

I've finally got to working on the bucket after a 4 month vacation...yuck,ugh!! (Not really, just had other influences tearing at me) Got the new trans mount brackets ready to weld on. That'll be this weekend. Next is finishing the engine assembly. (motors are electric) so, it's engine assembly time. Anyone know about need for backing plates, front or rear? My rears are rusted badly. Can I omit them?? I'd rather not have them on the fronts, I think it looks better (cooler) Not certain about the rears. Don't plan on running it during any adverse weather!

 

What rear are you running? Just changed to disks so I have 2for a 9” Ford. They have the 1/2” retainer bolts. Yours for the ride.

 

Thank you. I appreciate the offer. I’ve got an 8.8 that is a disc brake rear from a 99 explorer. I’d really rather omit them but I’m not sure how necessary they are, if at all. Not certain if I need them as part of the assembly that holds the E brake parts in place.

 

Quick update. Started putting heads together and discovered that they weren’t redone as was told and they’ll need to visit the machine shop. Finally saved enough money for the front disc setup from speedway. Looks good. My spindles require a bearing adapter. It doesn’t fit. My spindles are about .010 smaller than the ID of the adapter. They’re supposed to be an interference fit. Sat on hold with speedway for a long time and finally gave up. And I thought this would be a fun thing to do….. I starting to think I’ve been kidding myself. Sorry for the whiny rant folks.

 

Called speedway. Tech support said, uhhh. Maybe a different kit….? So, their kit is correct and my aftermarket spindles are wrong... The spindle measures 1.273" and the bearing adapter ID is 1.282" Slips right on no hammer needed. Now I could just JB Weld it and use some shims and hope I have it center correctly. Since it's the front brakes I'd really hate to have a problem there when they're needed. I figure I need to find someone who can make a bearing adapter to fit my spindles. Which puts me exactly where I started before I bought the kit. I looked for bearing adapters everywhere and found none except for the speedway kit. Also, I called speedway tech support and sent pictures before i purchased the kit. Well, there goes another day wasted. getting good at chasing my tail though!

 

Check with bearing houses for a .005 shim stock. May even get .004 to make it easier to get on.

 

It would be great if you could preheat the bearing to enlarge the id and use the .005 shim. that would make a good tight fit after cooling. may be worth a try.

 

So, are you thinking I should wrap the spindle with some shim stock and then "forcing" it on so it won't rotate?

 

I could preheat the adapter to enlarge the ID. The old gas grill comes in real handy for these types of projects. I think the difference could be up to .010.
I only have a dial caliper to measure with.

 

I appreciate you help with my trying to resolve this new problem!!!!!! Thank you very much!!

 

Send all back and start over with all parts coming from the same vendor. JMTCW

You have to be an engineer/parts guru/ mechanic to build a car. Lots of surfing and reading plus asking questions after you.have done the first 2.

 

So far all the parts are from speedway. I’ve got the front axle assembly, that is my unknown. It’s a chrome tube axle, spring, spindles, radius rods. It’s got no name or part number on anything. Haven’t been able to find who made it.

 

Ugh, made another reply and it vaporized. Guess I’m done till I and the web mistress can figure this out.

 

Just to clarify, the issue is to mate your existing spindles to the Speedway disc brake kit, correct? I see two options: have a machine shop look at the spindles and turn them to the correct size to fit the bearing; or . . . bite the bullet and purchase new spindles.