Category: dear welder series

Paul Horton’s replies to actual tech emails.

Dear Welder Series… minimum thread depth?

Dear Welder Series…
On the 5/8 – 18 adjuster kit, assuming it has approximately 2.5″ of threads on it, what is the least amount of thread that can be screwed into the 4-link bar and still be considered safe? The application is a 1952 Chevy pickup utilizing an 8.8″ Ford Explorer rear axle. It will have a 400hp small block for power. Thanks.

Dear Joe…
Joe, the generally accepted standard for minimum thread engagement is the diameter of the fastener, or in this case, 5/8”.

Thanks for asking.
Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… Pinto spindles?

Dear Welder Series…
I have a question  but not sure if i post it here or another way on the site. I am wanting to put pinto spindles on my 70 dodge dart (because i want to put a rack and pinion) and im going to be converting to tubular a arms and a k member. Are all pinto spindles the same and if not what years should i be looking at. Also, are the balljoint tapers the same for mopar and pinto stuff (i heard they were). Ill be putting 73 a body disc brakes on it to get rid of the drum brakes. I love that i found this site. Thank you for any info. If you need me to post another way then just let me know and i will.

Dear Brian…
Good questions, Brian. I can only answer some of them.

There are 2 different Pinto spindles: 1971-73 and 1974-80. (1974-80 pinto and 1974-78 Mustang II are identical.) See  this article to compare. I like the 74 – 78 spindles because they are bigger and are the ones commonly used in Mustang II crossmember kits, including ours. 1971 – 73 are often used on drag race cars, probably because they are lighter. There are big brake kits available for the early spindles, but I’d say you have more big brake choices for the later spindles.

Moog K772 ball joints fit the late spindles, but I don’t know about the early ones. When using the K772 as a lower ball joint on the later spindles, use our K772S spacer and the stock ball joint washer under the nut. Without the spacer and washer, the nut will not draw the tapered ball joint stud into the hole tightly.

I don’t know if adapter kits are available to put the 73 A-body brakes on the Mustang II spindle.

Thanks for checking out Welder Series parts. I hope we can help with your project.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… scrap motor mounts

Email conversation with a customer who is wondering whether our mounts are strong enough for his 600hp engine. Other customers with twin turbo big blocks say "yes".

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Dear Welder Series – triangulated upper bar location

Dear Welder Series…
I am researching the install of your Triangulated Four Link on a 57 Pontiac. Do the rear mounts of the upper bars need to be on top of the axle tube? I noticed, even in the pictures of some installs on this site, that some rear upper bar mounts are on the FRONT of the axle tube. Is there a problem mounting them in front of the tube. I am not sure, in my case, I have the room to mount them on top without cutting up the floor.

Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Writer…
Putting the upper bars on top of the axle tubes gives better leverage advantage than on the front of the tube. The bars can also be longer than with the front mounting position. A downside is that the bar will mount 2 – 3″ higher than with the front-of tube position and this can cause floor interference.

Sway bar used on Corvette IFS in 1942 Chevy pickup

Here are some pictures of the installation of a universal sway bar on a 1942 Chevy pickup. I installed it to the rear of the a arm because it gave me much more room. It was going to be very close to and possibly hitting on the tie rods for the rack and pinion steering. I was very pleased with the sway bar and the installation. I will and have recommended your products. Thanks so much,
Jim

The customer bent the arm to clear the tire in a turn.
Nice stout bracket to mount the outer tube.

Dear Welder Series… JeepRod Mustang II?

Dear Welder Series…
I am building an army willys jeeprod and I plan to put a mustang II suspension in front of grill. 30 1/2″ outside frame to outside frame. Money is limited so what would a complete kit cost me. I could not find any complete kits on your site.

Thanks and God bless.

Dear Pastor Ron…
Ron, we sell only the crossmember kit and a disc brake kit, not a hub-to-hub kit. Several of our dealers offer complete kits using our crossmember. They are listed at https://welderseries.com/more/dealers-builders/. The 56″ kit will likely need some frame trimming for coil spring clearance.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts for your project.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… Mustang II control arm holes

Dear Welder Series…
On the coil over shock crossmember it shows a 1/2 hole for the lower a-arm, the lower a-arm pivot bushing on my lower a-arm requires a hole 1 3/8 hole. Is that going to work on this crossmember??

Dear Len…
Len, the 1/2″ hole is stock Mustang II. Many aftermarket a-arms use a 5/8″ bolt and some spacers inside and on the back of the crossmember. Depending on the arrangement of your spacer(s) and bolts, the 1/2″ holes might only have to be drilled for the 5/8″ bolt. If the spacer is 1 piece (on the driver and passenger sides), it can either be cut in 2 to put one section between the front and rear crossmember plates and the other piece on the rear side of the crossmember. Or the rear hole can be opened up to the spacer diameter and leave the spacer as 1 piece.

I hope this answers your question.

Paul Horton

Photo Sharing: 46 Hudson pickup

Alan used our triangulated four link, transmission mount pieces, and engine mount kits. Thanks for the pictures, and great work!

Thought I would share these pictures of a 1946 Hudson Pick up. I installed the diagonal 4 link, 5.3 With a 4L60 transmission and a Mustang coil over front suspension. I used your diagonal four link, engine mounts and transmission mount. Your products are awesome.

5.3 engine mount kit
I like how he mounted the lower frame bracket.
Drop-out transmission mount using Welder Series bits and pieces.

Photo Sharing: Chevy motor mounts

Glenn sent these pics of his Chevy motor mount installation. Nice work, Glenn!

One great feature of these mounts is that the engine weight is supported by the mount, through the frame rail, instead of by the bolt going through the rubber insulator.

Dear Welder Series… right hand drive Vega bracket?

Dear Welder Series…
Hi Paul

I’m ready to buy all my bits, an NZ freight forwarding company has offered me an introductory 30% off deal. So I’ll give that a go as I think USPS will be a lot.

I will get the rear panhard and the Vega steering but please weld the spacers on the back as it for a right hand drive.

OK. I have been told I need a front panhard, I was looking at your kit, but I have traditional 1930 model a split wishbone radius rods like this

do you think I can just weld a bracket onto the inside of one of the radius rods/arms? And the other end to the chassis rail as per normal, it should be OK. Let me know as  think your kit will be fine if I get the length right.

Cheers  Gary

Dear Gary…
The front Panhard tabs can be welded to the wishbone, Gary.  What axle will you use?  We can weld the Vega spacers on the opposite side for the right hand drive installation.  Please mention this in your order.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.
Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… control arms?

Dear Welder Series…
I’m looking to put a Mustang II IFS in my 1966 Ford F100 and I see your crossmember kits but I do not see control arms. Do the aftermarket Tubular control arms from other venders for the Mustang II fit your crossmembers?

Thanks
Craig

Dear Craig…
We don’t make control arms, Craig, but all of the quality arms will fit our crossmember.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… custom adjusters?

Dear Welder Series…
I need an adjuster kit, LH and RH (like #ws100720r) for my split wishbone set up but here’s the deal. I have 3/4 threaded bungs in my wishbones and I was going to put heim joints but I’d rather put urethane instead. I need a 3/4″ thread, on a 1 3/8″ wide urethane bushing with a degree on it.

Let me know if you can make that and I’ll measure what degree I need if you can do it.

Thank you very much,
Louis.

Dear Louis…
Thanks for asking, Louis. Yes, we can do this, depending on the angle you need. Please check the angle and get back to us.

Paul Horton.

Dear Welder Series… four bar with reversed bars?

Dear Welder Series…
I’m putting a triangular 4 link in 68 firebird. Can I put the upper bars to the rear of the car?

Dear Martin…
No, Martin, the geometry does not work with the bars reversed.

Thanks for asking before getting too far into the project.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… triangulated four bar bar lengths?

Dear Welder Series…
How can you calculate the length of the upper and lower bars so to know that your rear four link will work effectively ? I have a 1956 chevy bel air will use coilovers!

Dear Ken…
Ken, a triangulated rear 4-link is fairly forgiving if you need to change bar dimensions a bit. Our standard bar lengths will work well in your Chev.

Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.

Paul Horton

Dear Welder Series… weld-on front axle brackets?

John, we don't presently have front axle 4-bar brackets for you to weld to your axle, but I'm going to design some and have them ready within 2 weeks.

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