TheSamba.com :: View topic - '70 Convertible

Mon Sep 19, 2005 9:40 pm

Maybe I can sneak it by... if I cut the inside bushing down (like half the width) it will move the shock a little closer to the mount plate. This might gain me some more room...

Mon Sep 19, 2005 10:02 pm

Quote: I must be old too, because I also realize Honda's don't belong in Bajas.
My bad... I thought the ECOTECH motors were Hondas. It's my memory. You know... the age thing. They say it's the first thing to go. I found out it's actually the second thing to go. I just can't remember what the first thing was... :shock:

Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:59 am

I knew you were trying to burn me on the Honda comment, but your old ass missed the oppertunity....hahaha

Don't worry. I'm in my mid 30's so I'm cathcing up to you fast at this point. Sometimes I even forget.....uhhh....shit....well....I forget "something". I just can't remember what it was at the moment.

As for your shock mounts. That looks like something a heavy ball peen hammer could fix in about 2 swings. Have you considered something along those lines?

SHMO

Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:37 pm

You shock mount looks like it could be "adjusted" with a hammer like SHMO said. I bet the reason it's so close is the car had older Foxes with the smaller heims.
As far as stops, and frame horn supports, here's my 5/16.

I ran the Sway-A-Way urethane stops and set it up where the tire just kissed the fenderwell. In 5/16, full bump is limited by the fenderwells, the rules say you can open them up no more than 1/2" from the stock fender bolt holes. That's why we would let the tire touch the fenderwell, to get that exrta little bit.
I like the solid rear trans mount. My tranny came out after every race, it was no big deal lifting it over the mount.

Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:41 pm

I guess I have never subscribed to the " get a bigger hammer" style of wrenching. That option was the farthest from my mind. The sad part is it makes the most sense at this point! Thanks for the suggestions.

I will look realy close at your bump stop set up -- thanks UncleDirty!

Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:50 pm

If you really want a trick bump stop, go this route.

Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:02 pm

I am not an advocate of a "bigger f'in hammer" style of wrenching either. However, there is always a time and a place to initiate a good old lumberjack swing. Your trailing arms are a perfect example...lol

I also second the notion of solid mounts.

SHMO

Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:17 pm

I am more interested in the solid bump stops with urethane than the air stops.

Instead of having big dents in my trailing arms, I am considering cutting into them and fabricating some shallow boxes to weld in. The only drawback is both of these options leaves a "pocket" to collect water, dirt, etc. I am just very disappointed with the whole situation. I know I am not building a trailer queen (not THAT again!), but I like things to be done right. Dammit. Some times being a perfectionist makes you your own worst enemy... and adds years to your projects.

Tue Sep 20, 2005 1:48 pm

The urethane stops won't dent your arms. Twice I hit the stops hard enough to split the urethane, once was due to a broken torsion bar, and once "I ran out of talent" :( and rolled so hard that the spring plate bolts sheared on one side, twisted a pivot end almost completely off one of the trailing arms, and enlongated both pivots on the torsion housing . But no dents in the arms. :shock:

Tue Sep 20, 2005 2:43 pm

I was referring to the shock mount problem and creating a dent for clearance with a ball peen hammer. The hard stop design I am considering is a totally different issue... :D

Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:04 pm

Judging by your picture. It looks like there's more available space on the outside of the shock mount. Why not mount it there?
Then weld a second plate outside to carry the bolt like Dirty did...

Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:07 pm

I have similar trailing arms (unused at this point). They did not come with shock bosses. I suspect your's did not either. I'm trying to figure out a better way of creating shock mounts. Welding two shock mount plates may be the way to go. McKenzie's catalog (hard copy) shows some boxed arms with the setup I'm referring to. Don't think I can link it here as they don't have many pics on their site. Cant find shock mounts by themselves but for stock trailing arms at this point. Might be best to mfr them yourself. you'll need eight pieces total. Four for you and four for me :D
Hey, let's see if this works: http://www.mckenzies.com/catalog/product_images/t8182.gif

Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:20 pm

quote="Skidmark"]I was referring to the shock mount problem and creating a dent for clearance with a ball peen hammer. The hard stop design I am considering is a totally different issue... :D[/quote]
Oh, :oops:
If your going to do any fabing on your arms, how bout just making new mounts. You can buy some trick pre-fabed doule shear units. Check out the ones on my little four seater. The're trick laser cut, tig welded little beauties, by Desert Dynamics.

Tue Sep 20, 2005 3:29 pm

Here's a Jimco, cool bump stop mount too.

Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:09 pm

UncleDirty wrote: quote="Skidmark"]I was referring to the shock mount problem and creating a dent for clearance with a ball peen hammer. The hard stop design I am considering is a totally different issue... :D
Oh, :oops:
If your going to do any fabing on your arms, how bout just making new mounts. You can buy some trick pre-fabed doule shear units. Check out the ones on my little four seater. The're trick laser cut, tig welded little beauties, by Desert Dynamics.
[/quote]

I sure wish you'd put a motor in that itty bitty car and take me for a ride... :D

Tue Sep 20, 2005 5:39 pm

Yeah, I was concerned about the single shear issue as well. I would much prefer a double shear set up. The tough part is I was getting so close to being done with the rear suspension until this came up.

I thought of moving them to the outside as well, but that creates a conflict with the body up near the top of the shock. I still need to cycle the suspension with the shocks in place to see if there will be any more binding or contact issues too. On one hand I am glad I got a car with the tube chassis almost complete, on the other hand I am bummed about some of the issues I would have done differently if I had started from scratch. Kind of a six of one, half a dozen of the other type of situation... or in other words, damned if you do, damned if you don't!

Thanks for all the input, guys... I do appreciate it. Well, except for all that "old" crap, anyway. :wink:

Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:13 pm

I really think you are making more out of the situation than needed. If collecting about a thimble full of water or dirt is a concern on your off road car, you are in the wrong motorsport. Granted the "small clearance enhancement" might not look like NASA engineered it, but it really won't be very noticeable. Just smack the thing with a hammer and see how she turns out. If you don't like it, by all means cut everything off and build some double shear mounts, perhaps chromed ones. I hear you car show guys chromed everything back in the olden days. :wink:

SHMO

Tue Sep 20, 2005 9:37 pm

"Just shut up and hit it..." lol

I hear ya, Shmo. Sometimes I let the little things get to me too much. This car will get dirty, and if you have seen my truck lately you would know how often I wash my vehicles (hahaha!). These design hiccups just mess with me sometimes. Makes me fell like it's never going to get finished. Oh well... back to the garage!

Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:39 am

three letters come to mind, B.F.H.

Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:57 am

Exactly! Herbie you took the words right out of my mouth.

BIG FAWKIN HOOTERS.

SHMO