Calling all corner carvers!
I wanted to give an update on my front end. This is what I ended up using thanks to a lot of great suggestions from this thread.
First off, I removed the K-member and rewelded all the original welds, then added 4130 sheet metal reinforcements to the idler arm bracket and steering box mounts. Then I bent up my own J-bars tied into the shock towers. I plated the firewall and top of the frame rails with more 4130. The J-bars and short down bars ended up being 4130 1.625”x.095” and the shock tower stubs are 4130 2.0”x.120”. This made the entire front of the incredibly rigid. I then assembled the front with the following components: Doctor Diff spindles, lower ball joints, and Viper 13” brake kit. Then from BAC is the Borgeson quick ratio power steering box, with BACs column adapter. Firm Feel 1.12” race torsion bars with their poly grease boots. Then I used QA1 strut rods, LCA’s, and TB adjusters. I went with the SPC adjustable UCA’s and finally the Hotchkis Fox non-adjustable 1.5 aluminum body shocks. I ordered the 73 and up Hellwig 1.25” sway bar, but I found out the hard way that it won’t work on my 69’ K-member. So i’ll send it back and order the correct sway bar.
As of now, here’s where the car is at. I think it sits a bit low so I’ll raise it up a bit once the engine and complete front end is back on. I can’t thank 72bluNblu for his recommendations on the wheel size and offset. I don’t think the front wheels could have fit any more perfect with all the non-stock components. Once the 2 piece Baer rotors show up, ill see the exact clearance between the calipers and wheel spokes. Right now with 3 washers as spacers, there’s less than 1/8” clearance.
I wanted to give an update on my front end. This is what I ended up using thanks to a lot of great suggestions from this thread.
First off, I removed the K-member and rewelded all the original welds, then added 4130 sheet metal reinforcements to the idler arm bracket and steering box mounts. Then I bent up my own J-bars tied into the shock towers. I plated the firewall and top of the frame rails with more 4130. The J-bars and short down bars ended up being 4130 1.625”x.095” and the shock tower stubs are 4130 2.0”x.120”. This made the entire front of the incredibly rigid. I then assembled the front with the following components: Doctor Diff spindles, lower ball joints, and Viper 13” brake kit. Then from BAC is the Borgeson quick ratio power steering box, with BACs column adapter. Firm Feel 1.12” race torsion bars with their poly grease boots. Then I used QA1 strut rods, LCA’s, and TB adjusters. I went with the SPC adjustable UCA’s and finally the Hotchkis Fox non-adjustable 1.5 aluminum body shocks. I ordered the 73 and up Hellwig 1.25” sway bar, but I found out the hard way that it won’t work on my 69’ K-member. So i’ll send it back and order the correct sway bar.
As of now, here’s where the car is at. I think it sits a bit low so I’ll raise it up a bit once the engine and complete front end is back on. I can’t thank 72bluNblu for his recommendations on the wheel size and offset. I don’t think the front wheels could have fit any more perfect with all the non-stock components. Once the 2 piece Baer rotors show up, ill see the exact clearance between the calipers and wheel spokes. Right now with 3 washers as spacers, there’s less than 1/8” clearance.