Re: The SBF 306 Engine Build - Updated 04/20
Wow! It's been a long time since I actually
worked on the notch. Things at work have been hell, but that's all over now so I should have some more time to get the car done... just in time for 100+ degree temperatures! :nonono:
Anyway, I posted in another thread that I picked up a used tubular K-member and A-arms from a buddy of mine. He was parting a car out and I got 'em for only $250! :dancing6:
http://www.sn95forums.com/forum/index.php?topic=26406.0
Well, as with anything used, sometimes you need to improvise a bit. The bushings were TRASHED and needed to be replaced. However, I have no idea who manufactured these a-arms, or how I would get a set of bushings without going through too much trouble. Thankfully, a good friend of mine is an engineer and CNC machinist. He's got a pair of CNC mills in his garage.
So I went to his place and asked him to make me some bushings. He grabbed some delrin (basically hard plastic) off the shelf that he had laying around, and started measuring things. Before you know it, he was cutting the a-arm bushings. Here's a picture and some video. Sorry for the quality - I took this video with my phone.
The bushings before the backs were machined off - they're square! :banana:
...and the video of the CNC mill in action:
http://members.cox.net/carpinteri3/A Arms Bushings Machining Movie 2.3g2
He even made me a set of delrin steering rack bushings while he was at it. Everything is flawless and fits perfectly.
Tonight, I decided to assemble the a-arms and k-member.
First, I cleaned up a spare set of nuts/bolts that I got from a buddy of mine. They looked pretty bad.
...much better.
Here's the sleeves and finished delrin bushings.
Here's the A-arms assembled. If you ever do this - DON'T FORGET THE GREASE!!! They'll squeak like crazy if you don't grease them.
After some "convicing" (read: sledge hammer, pry bars, impact wrench) the A-arms agreed to seat themselves in their new home. It was no picnic getting them to fit, but they work like a champ now.
I seriously doubt they are from the same manufacturer.
Here's my "negotiating tools":
And here's the assembled k-member! :thumb:
So up next, I've got some powdercoating to do... I have a set of brand new SN95 spindles to coat. I plan to assemble an entire new front suspension off the car, and just swap pretty much the whole thing for the stocker. I'll have all new urethane and delrin bushings, bumpteer-adjustable outer tie rod ends, SN95 brakes, coil-overs, flaming river steering shaft - the works! It should make the car handle MUCH better. It was positively scary before. Seriously.
I also need to finish up some stuff on the motor. I'll post pics of my progress as it moves along.
More to come...
Paul.