1400 race 88' toyota

**DRIVE Jon** · November 18th, 2007, 20:57

Look'n good! Looks like you are going with delran bushings for Lowers? I wonder why more don't just use uniballs? Why did you choose the plastic bushings?

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**outtacontrazy** · November 18th, 2007, 22:05

they are actually aluminum bushings in there right now that i use to hold the outer sleeve to the jig when i weld the arm up. the truck will be running oilite bushings on the lowers.

the reason i stayed away from uniballs is the cost of prepping the truck. Once the truck is race ready we will be hitting alot of races and replacing uniballs every few races was going to hit the pocket book too hard.

**DRIVE Jon** · November 19th, 2007, 13:56

I figures the cost was a big part of the issue. The oilite bushings sound good, but it makes you really have to keep the bushings aligned axially (which is just good form no matter what the bushing material).

I take it you have not had problems doing so in the past.

My first and recent experience was a learning one. First, you have to do the aluminum slug thing like you did to keep the bushing tubes straight and allow to final weld on the jig (I just used my urethane bushing to tack everything, and then did final welding off the jig...no bueno...the bushing tubes were off axis with eachother due to distortion of the arm from the heat).

Dump told me another way is to build up the arm is...with the bushing tubes just tacked, then when the arm is all welded, break off the tubes, re-jig the whole thing, retack, and final weld the bushing tubes. I did this on my second arm, and it came out real nice...even with final-welding the bushing tubes off the jig(would be better if it was in the jig, but that requires making the slugs). Of course you have to approach the assembly differently as you can't access any weldments on the inside of the structures. But Your assembly would fine if you plan for full-pen welds from the outside.

Anyway, you probably have done this a bunch and it probably works great your way. I am just sort of thinking out loud here. I just like to hear the different experiences people have.

I bet its gonna be a great truck. Your fab work looks great! I am jeleous! The truck is gonna be a force. I built my jig the same way, so I could make lefts and rights, uppers and lowers all on the same plate.

Good luck, and thanks for sharing!

**outtacontrazy** · November 19th, 2007, 23:12

Originally Posted by V4DR_Jon

I figures the cost was a big part of the issue. The oilite bushings sound good, but it makes you really have to keep the bushings aligned axially (which is just good form no matter what the bushing material).

I take it you have not had problems doing so in the past.

My first and recent experience was a learning one. First, you have to do the aluminum slug thing like you did to keep the bushing tubes straight and allow to final weld on the jig (I just used my urethane bushing to tack everything, and then did final welding off the jig...no bueno...the bushing tubes were off axis with eachother due to distortion of the arm from the heat).

Dump told me another way is to build up the arm is...with the bushing tubes just tacked, then when the arm is all welded, break off the tubes, re-jig the whole thing, retack, and final weld the bushing tubes. I did this on my second arm, and it came out real nice...even with final-welding the bushing tubes off the jig(would be better if it was in the jig, but that requires making the slugs). Of course you have to approach the assembly differently as you can't access any weldments on the inside of the structures. But Your assembly would fine if you plan for full-pen welds from the outside.

Anyway, you probably have done this a bunch and it probably works great your way. I am just sort of thinking out loud here. I just like to hear the different experiences people have.

I bet its gonna be a great truck. Your fab work looks great! I am jeleous! The truck is gonna be a force. I built my jig the same way, so I could make lefts and rights, uppers and lowers all on the same plate.

Good luck, and thanks for sharing!

i welded these sleeves on the same way, i built the whole arm and welded it inside and out, then removed the sleeves and replaced them in the jig and final welded the sleeves. i can slide a 3' piece of 1.75' tubing through both sleeve with no binding so that is my poor mans way of checking alignment.

**DRIVE Jon** · November 20th, 2007, 10:09

Sounds like you have it down! Poor-man style is my style too! Dump probably uses some type of a freak'n laser or something to check his sleeves

It must have been me, but it looked like you had heavly welded the sleeve before welding the plate. Anyway, it sounds the the aignment is really good. Like anything, there are probably 10 different ways you can build an arm and make it come out true. I just wanted to share that cool tip from Dump. You will have to update us on how the oilite holds up.

**outtacontrazy** · December 17th, 2007, 21:16

After a two week break I was at it again. I spent about 14 hours welding up the second lower arm, both spindles and finishing some gusset pieces on the first lower arm. burnt through about 6 lbs of rod and i cant feel my left thumb now but its closer and thats all that counts.