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Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:36 am

Ok, so as some of you may know I am trying to finish my gt-40 kit car. The front end is all nice and set up, see reference picture below (new parts, powdercoated, etc.) It is a '68 that I have converted to disc all around. I'm working on adjusting the driver's side to match the passenger height and when I go to put the spindle nut on after getting everything set, I believe I cross-threaded it all to hell. My question(s) are/is: Now that I have muscled this spindle nut on about 1/2" past the edge it is stuck and I cannot turn it either way. When I bear down on the ratchet the front end of the car lifts! :shock: Are the spindles threaded opposite each other? I probably should have checked before I got crazy with it but oh well. What are the chances of saving these parts or should I just suck it up and buy a new spindle.

Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:55 am

Yes, the spinldles are opposite threads. my advice is to soak the spindle threads with some sort of penetrator oil and try to work the nut back and forth. if that doesnt work then take a cut off wheel and just cut the nut off. that might be easier anyway. you can probably save the threads if you by a good thread file and take your time with it.

Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:24 am

forgot to mention that I had the spindle and nut zinc plated. The thickness is minimal but I believe that had something to do with the binding problems.

Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:59 am

i'll bet the zinc didnt have much at all to do with the binding. i'll bet it was the face that you installed it backwards. and besides, you cant even see the spindle nut. its covered.

baja5's advice is good. the die grinder with a cutoff wheel is a good way to go if you cant muscle it off with penetrating oil. just be careful not to cut too deep and mess up the threads.

too bad i cant make this huge, but you deserve a #-o

Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:11 am

HSK, what's the loop on the top torsion arm for? Are the coil-overs going to provide too much lift up front for your GT-40 kit car?

Also, where are the damn pics? Looks like you're doing a great job.

Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:14 am

I say take a torch to it. Not enough to burn it off, just enough to get it red hot so it expands a little.

Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:40 am

Brad, at first I had a hard time even starting the nut but I agree that the zinc had little to do with it (more like a stupid mistake on my part :D ) I'll probably take a grinder to the nut tonight and see how bad the thread on the spindle is. The picture is of the passenger side just as a reference. I don't think I have a picture of the driver's side right now.
UncleBob, I have no idea what the loop is welded to the top arm. I bought the car for a guy who couldn't wrench his way out of a paper bag so who knows. I think the PO before him welded it there, but for what reason is still up in the air.
About the coil-overs. The body was built in such a way that even at stock height the car "looks" really low. The first day I had it, I was driving around my neighborhood and came to a large dip in the street. I figured, "what the hell, let's test the suspension" so I floored it. Needless to say, it went through like a Caddy. I couldn't believe that a car this low wouldn't hit or scrape but it didn't. I set the vehicle on the ground and am happy with the ride height.
Also, it came to me with 14" wheels and low profile tires (don't ask) and I have a set of Porsche phone dials (15") and some beefier tires that fit the fender wells perfectly.
I'll load more pics up today so you can see the progress.
Thanks for the help!

Wed Nov 10, 2004 5:25 pm

when i removed my stock spindle nuts i marked 'em --DRIVER, PASSENGER. that way there is no mixup.

Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:56 am

baja-I had already installed the passenger side so I only had one nut left over to use. I couldn't get the nut to thread on very well so I forced it!

Thu Nov 11, 2004 2:07 pm

Just a comment...

Anything electro plated (yes Zinc Chromate is electro plating) should be hydrogen relieved within 1 hour of plating to avoid hydrogen embrittlement. I run into this all the time at work and always wonder when I see people have stuff plated on their car. If you take it to a shop and don't know to ask they will probably not relief it. I've even had little plating shops that didn't have the oven to do it and were not aware that you have to do it within an hour or so or it is useless.
If you're not sure about your spindle i guess you could just use it and see, but that would be about the worst thing on a car to have go brittle. I'd try to find out and at least be aware that if it breaks that may be the reason.

Perry

Thu Nov 11, 2004 5:06 pm

kustom, i wasn't doggin' you at all. i marked mine so i wouldn't put 'em on backwards by accident. this spring i broke a stock spindle, the arm that the tierod end bolts to. when i looked at the pieces, it had a hair line crack. i put gusset kits on 'em when i got a used spindle to get me off-road again!!!.

Thu Nov 11, 2004 5:54 pm

Bajaherbie- No hard feelings, I was just playing around too. I still can't believe this things isn't rolling yet because A) I have to get off my lazy ass :lol: and then b) fix aforementioned problem. Maybe this weekend I'll find time...hopefully.
Perry- I had the spindles heat treated before they were plated. I deal with numerous plating issues here at work so I am familiar with the whole process of relieving the parts. These ones are stout as hell and will not rust anytime soon (not like it matters in so. cal)

Thu Nov 11, 2004 10:15 pm

i just read your posts to check out her butt.....love the Red White and Blue

Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:46 am

HomespunKustom wrote:
I'll load more pics up today so you can see the progress.

Still waiting, slacker.

Fri Nov 12, 2004 11:36 am

I have a cd here with about 200 pictures but my computer is currently suffering from can't find D drive issues ](*,) . I'm going to load them to my server and then take them off there. Stay tuned! 8)

Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:41 pm

Here are some random (read: big) pics. There are more in the Kit Car Gallery:

Sat Nov 13, 2004 6:14 pm

Where did you get the rear brake set from?

Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:10 am

if you are referring to the cross drilled rotors I did them myself. Ah, the advantage of having a machine shop at work! :) All work has been done by me thus far!