Author Topic: My adventure/process in homemade adjustable Strut Rods (pics). (Read 1867 times)

70_Fastback · « **on:** December, 27, 2011, 10:43:03 AM »

I had a bushing go belly up on the driver side strut rod, so I thought, no better time to upgrade to adjustable strut rods. But I'm a cheap bastid' & wanted to build my own.

I will preface that I REALLY need a milling machine - this was a lot of labor for the route I went. But they look bitchen though!

Started with (2) chunks of 1018 steel; 2-3/8" Diameter X 3" long:

I did cheat a little and layout the cuts & holes in Cad. Made some templates and taped to the slugs:

Showing the actual cuts for the center cut out area - these were hand cut on my bandsaw[1]:

One finished End mount:

And the start of the 2nd mount. Holes drilled - ready to be cut:

Assembled end piece with upgraded, 2-piece Heims joint (Left hand threads) & grade 8 hardware:

1" DOM tubing, tapped to 5/8"-18 LH threads:

Started the lower arm mount - with steering stop. That is 3/8" thick, mild, hot-rolled, steel with a 5/8"-18 Right hand, grade 8, threaded stud:

Welded up piece:

Assembled strut rod:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just need to get them powder coated...
too bad the local guy in Tongi has stopped power production for a while....

1.

silverblueBP · « **Reply #1 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:10:05 AM »

Quote from: 70_Fastback on December, 27, 2011, 10:43:03 AM

Just need to get them powder coated...
too bad the local guy in Tongi has stopped power production for a while....

WTF??? I was NOT told that info! He's supposed to PC my front bar...if I ever remove it and drive it over to him.

BTW, awesome fab J! Now, how many hours you got in them?

janschutz · « **Reply #2 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:14:22 AM »

Very nice work. Maybe it is time for you to buy the Eastwood's Powder Coat system.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #3 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:24:30 AM »

Quote from: silverblueBP on December, 27, 2011, 11:10:05 AM

WTF??? I was NOT told that info! He's supposed to PC my front bar...if I ever remove it and drive it over to him.

That's what he txt'd me. He is focusing on getting his cars done first.

No big deal, there is a place in Olathe that does it.

Quote from: silverblueBP on December, 27, 2011, 11:10:05 AM

...Now, how many hours you got in them?

Counting Just fab time - maybe about 7-8 hours so far. I have probably 2 hours left to finish the lower mount for the other side and cut/thread the rod & stud.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #4 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:25:05 AM »

Quote from: janschutz on December, 27, 2011, 11:14:22 AM

Very nice work. Maybe it is time for you to buy the Eastwood's Powder Coat system.

Any experience with it?

BobV · « **Reply #5 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:34:58 AM »

I've heard that some people make their own tires, too....

70_Fastback · « **Reply #6 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:39:14 AM »

Who...?

janschutz · « **Reply #7 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:43:37 AM »

Quote from: 70_Fastback on December, 27, 2011, 11:25:05 AM

Any experience with it?

Had one almost 10 years ago, liked it allot. I needed a bigger oven though.

silverblueBP · « **Reply #8 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:48:30 AM »

I have my old oven sitting in the barn if you need one Jeremy. Just replaced it a month ago. Oven still works good enough for PC.

S8NS 289 · « **Reply #9 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:54:09 AM »

Good Job!
I have been thinking of building a 60"X60" Oven with a wood stove-(Im a cheap bastid' too) - Around here the local PCer is always PACKED!

70_Fastback · « **Reply #10 on:** December, 27, 2011, 11:54:25 AM »

Sweet offer, thanks Mark.

But what's wrong with using the oven in the kitchen....?

silverblueBP · « **Reply #11 on:** December, 27, 2011, 12:07:26 PM »

Quote from: 70_Fastback on December, 27, 2011, 11:54:25 AM

Sweet offer, thanks Mark.

But what's wrong with using the oven in the kitchen....?

Nothing...right up until the day you said "I do".

70_Fastback · « **Reply #12 on:** December, 27, 2011, 12:15:15 PM »

Whatever. The oven was there before she was.

Seniority.

janschutz · « **Reply #13 on:** December, 27, 2011, 12:21:26 PM »

Quote from: 70_Fastback on December, 27, 2011, 12:15:15 PM

Whatever. The oven was there before she was.

Seniority.

Go ahead if you like your food smelling like baking paint. It will stink up the house if you do it in the kitchen (guess how I know

)

silverblueBP · « **Reply #14 on:** December, 27, 2011, 12:47:16 PM »

Quote from: 70_Fastback on December, 27, 2011, 12:15:15 PM

Whatever. The oven was there before she was.

Seniority.

LMAO

You'd think you've been single all your life.....Foo

Jonk67 · « **Reply #15 on:** December, 27, 2011, 12:48:02 PM »

Quote from: 70_Fastback on December, 27, 2011, 10:43:03 AM

Assembled end piece with upgraded, 2-piece Heims joint (Left hand threads) & grade 8 hardware:

Boy you really half-assed that

J/k
Did you check the width of the frame mount u-channel? I had to do some creative work to get my mount to fit with a similar sized/length heim bolt/nut.

Jon

70_Fastback · « **Reply #16 on:** December, 27, 2011, 01:18:18 PM »

I did measure. I may have to remove the regular nut and go with a narrower jam style nut. That will be my clearance conflict area.

70_Fastback · « **Reply #17 on:** December, 27, 2011, 01:20:31 PM »

Quote from: janschutz on December, 27, 2011, 12:21:26 PM

Go ahead if you like your food smelling like baking paint. It will stink up the house if you do it in the kitchen (guess how I know )

Good point.

RyanG85 · « **Reply #18 on:** December, 27, 2011, 01:38:53 PM »

Nice work as usual J. How much do those babies weigh?

70_Fastback · « **Reply #19 on:** December, 27, 2011, 01:41:02 PM »

Hell if I know.

RyanG85 · « **Reply #20 on:** December, 27, 2011, 01:42:00 PM »

Quote from: janschutz on December, 27, 2011, 12:21:26 PM

Go ahead if you like your food smelling like baking paint. It will stink up the house if you do it in the kitchen (guess how I know )

Damn, that stuff will kill you!!!!!!

Guy doing my body work on my mustang brought his Eastwood PC stuff to my shop. He's done a ton of stuff. Messy and smelly but pretty easy to do.

Fast68back · « **Reply #21 on:** December, 27, 2011, 08:09:03 PM »

How much coin you got wrapped up in these J?

lethal289 · « **Reply #22 on:** December, 27, 2011, 08:22:53 PM »

J. your fab work is awesome as usual. I can't help but wonder though, wouldn't it be much easier to bend a piece of steel, something similar to what jonk posted?

Where did you get your heim joints from? I've been looking for some.