So I guess it's not meant for me to have this setup! With the spindles installed they will not turn by hand. I don't see what they could be hanging up on. I placed a jack under the control arm and it turns but not as smooth as I think they should. On top of that one of tthe upper ball joints is toast. I'm about ready to scrap this crap & reinstall the c10. At least I know it works!
Dang, Robert~ That's not at all the kind of update I was hoping for! I wish I had knowledge of this type of front end, but I got nothing. Have you tried some of the pages on facebook? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you that it is something simple that you're just not seeing. Thanks for the update and hang in there buddy!
Thanks Zig. I looked at it tonight and it seems to me that the spindle doesn't seat right. Under load the boots are crushed and the spindle makes contact with the control arms. Seems to me like there should be a spacer between the spindle and the arm.
That's what I'm beginning to think. Notice how the spindle bottoms out on the top of the joints, I had to use two spacers to get the castle nut high enough to line up with the hole for the cotter pin.
I think a call to the company that makes the kit is in order. With a follow-up email, including the pictures you have here. It appears the lower ball joint is the culprit. If they ask you to return the control arms so they can replace the joints, I'd suggest they just send NEW ones, with a return authorization number and freight sticker in the box. Mistakes happen every day, so it is up to the vendor to make it right. As long as they make good, good. I could tell you the story of my wheel adapters... which I ordered October 26th, 2015, and they are not in the shop yet.
I called them this morning for resolution, they're supposed to be calling me back....we'll see. Don't think I'll be ordering anything else from them.
Give 'em a chance. They might just impress the heck out of you... (this coming from an eternal optimist, but like some states in this great nation, I have a 3 strikes rule)
The pictures kinda dark, but I would also be concerned with the fit of the spring to the lower control arm. It looks the spring should be wound in the other direction in order to fit the pocket? John
Problem solved!!! Someone suggested that I lower it so the the weight of the front was on the suspension and that did the trick. With the weight Fully compressing the springs the spindles turn freely. Feeling much better about the swap! Got a chance to mount the engine. Everything had to be moved forward roughly two inches, definitely gotta find a longer drive shaft. Also eyeballed the power rack, looks like I may have to notch or grind a bit off the crossmember to get it to fit. Overall, things are looking up!
If you listen closely, you can hear a collective sigh of relief! Is the setup missing a snubber- allowing the range of suspension travel to exceed the angular travel of the ball joint?
Glad you got that on the road to recovery! Keep us posted on do's and don't of this install and then what it is like to drive it!
Actually it's called "Dog Tracking " and I've had a few dogs that did it , whenever I get a vehicle that does it , off it goes . FWIW , lots and lots of AD's have bent frames , usually the left forward frame horn is bent so it *might* have been a design or manufacture defect . In any case , glad to see you stuck it through .
Yeah, I know the dog track thing, I was just trying to come up with something more glamorous. Like the way John Wayne walked in his later years. Got it all put together yet, Robert?
Not quite. Worked on mocking up the steering linkage today. Gotta take it someplace to have it welded. Also never to run the brake lines and find a longer driveshaft, and lengthen the exhaust.
Wait a minute... You just used the "W" word. ??? "Gotta take it someplace to have it welded." This was supposed to be "bolt in", remember?
Lol! I ended up doing it myself. Got the angles figured out but had to dimple the header just a little for clearance. Also figured the brake lines out.
