beakie
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
So there's always questions about upgraded steering on the D30. There seem to be plenty of options, here's the one I went with.
I ordered the BlueTorchFabWorks “Cross-Over Steering Bracket for Dana 30/44 Knuckle” about a week ago, was told it would be about 3 weeks to get here, was pleasantly surprised this morning by the brown van guy.
Here's a quick write-up on how too get it on the knuckle, I'll add to it as the steering parts come in.
There were no instructions with the new part, and I couldn't find any online.
So some quick measuring and I came up with a list of parts needed;
1 - 5/8” bolts 4” long
2 - 5/8” bolts 4 ½” long
3 - 5/8” lock washers
3 - 7/16” standard washers (I bored these out to 5/8th for a smaller footprint than a 5/8th washer)
2 – ½” bolts 1 1/4” long
2 – 1/2” washers
All bolts are Grade 8.
This is a list just for the new piece, you'll still need bolts for the driver side and the pitman arm. That will come later in the week, hopefully.
First off, mount the BTFpiece on the knuckle with the 2 hub/bearing bolts. That will get the piece in the right spot to make the 2 holes that need to be tapped into the knuckle.
Before you mark these holes tho, put a bolt through the knuckle to ensure everything lines up, which it does perfectly.
I used a ½” drill bit mark the center of the hole. I have a few punches, but there is a casting ridge right in the center so this way was quick and simple.
Once center is marked, go about drilling. Start small, work your way upto a 27/64th bit, so you can tap the hole with a 1/2-13 Tap.
Don't forget to use some lubricant, I had some brake fluid, mixed with 10W, worked well.
Once its all done put the BTFpiece back on, loosely with the hub bolts, than the 2 newly tapped ½” bolts, and tighten them all down. Drop the 5/8” bolt back in, it should drop straight down, which it did. (forgot the washers on the 1/2" bolts, they'll be on in the end)
The bolts are obviously quite long for these applications, I wanted that so the heims/misalignment spacers would be against shank as opposed to threads. Once the lock washers, washers and nuts were snugged up I used a 2nd washers for a spacer and cut the bolt off. I am contemplating using a locknut with the lock washer, seeing as this is steering, I don't want it coming apart... ever.
I plan on making a piece for the driver side which will put that heim in double sheer aswell. Once I have that done and get the knuckles clean up and painted I'll post up another portion of the write-up. I should have all the steering picked up and put together, and the pitman arm drilled to 5/8” by the end of the week. That will be another post too.
So far this has been real easy, mark, drill, tap and voila. Hopefully the rest of this goes as easily.
I ordered the BlueTorchFabWorks “Cross-Over Steering Bracket for Dana 30/44 Knuckle” about a week ago, was told it would be about 3 weeks to get here, was pleasantly surprised this morning by the brown van guy.
Here's a quick write-up on how too get it on the knuckle, I'll add to it as the steering parts come in.
There were no instructions with the new part, and I couldn't find any online.
So some quick measuring and I came up with a list of parts needed;
1 - 5/8” bolts 4” long
2 - 5/8” bolts 4 ½” long
3 - 5/8” lock washers
3 - 7/16” standard washers (I bored these out to 5/8th for a smaller footprint than a 5/8th washer)
2 – ½” bolts 1 1/4” long
2 – 1/2” washers
All bolts are Grade 8.
This is a list just for the new piece, you'll still need bolts for the driver side and the pitman arm. That will come later in the week, hopefully.
First off, mount the BTFpiece on the knuckle with the 2 hub/bearing bolts. That will get the piece in the right spot to make the 2 holes that need to be tapped into the knuckle.
Before you mark these holes tho, put a bolt through the knuckle to ensure everything lines up, which it does perfectly.
I used a ½” drill bit mark the center of the hole. I have a few punches, but there is a casting ridge right in the center so this way was quick and simple.
Once center is marked, go about drilling. Start small, work your way upto a 27/64th bit, so you can tap the hole with a 1/2-13 Tap.
Don't forget to use some lubricant, I had some brake fluid, mixed with 10W, worked well.
Once its all done put the BTFpiece back on, loosely with the hub bolts, than the 2 newly tapped ½” bolts, and tighten them all down. Drop the 5/8” bolt back in, it should drop straight down, which it did. (forgot the washers on the 1/2" bolts, they'll be on in the end)
The bolts are obviously quite long for these applications, I wanted that so the heims/misalignment spacers would be against shank as opposed to threads. Once the lock washers, washers and nuts were snugged up I used a 2nd washers for a spacer and cut the bolt off. I am contemplating using a locknut with the lock washer, seeing as this is steering, I don't want it coming apart... ever.
I plan on making a piece for the driver side which will put that heim in double sheer aswell. Once I have that done and get the knuckles clean up and painted I'll post up another portion of the write-up. I should have all the steering picked up and put together, and the pitman arm drilled to 5/8” by the end of the week. That will be another post too.
So far this has been real easy, mark, drill, tap and voila. Hopefully the rest of this goes as easily.
