M_Body_Coupe
Well-Known Member
So after literally several years of corresponding back'n'forth with Matt@FirmFeel (as in circa 2015) my new torsions bars finally showed up back in May, 2023. Frank took over at FF, and they made a real push to get these out the door. Granted, it was a limitted run of about 10 sets, but having been on that list since the early days I got in on that run.
Well, so a year later now (since the time these arrived) and I started to go to work on these things. Having previously pulled the existing t-bars out of my coupe (while there was absolutely nothing wrong with them, they were just too soft for my use), and having reconditioned the parts I prepared to reassemble everything I was ready to toss these puppies right in!
Today that day came, and as I attempted to install the torsion bars in the car I ran into a road-block type of a problem. The end-bushings install was the first item on the list, and while one bar went on super easy (or as easy as expected) the other one would not budge past the point where the t-bar itself is flattened somewhat where the retaining bolt hole is machined.
I played with things for a while, started measuring and discovered that this bar actually expands out to 1.085-90" through that flattened portion, and that of course will never allow the end bushing housing to be mounted as that is only 1.060-65".
In comparison the bar that allowed me to install the bushing is only 1.050-55" at the tip and expands somewhat to about 1.060" at the flattened part, but still clears fine.
Alright...so now I have a problem: what can I do to address this?
I emailed Frank @FF, waiting to hear back. I am not exactly looking forward to fixing a problem that's a $1300 value (talking about the TOTAL cost to get these to my door) on my own. At the same time, I suspect they (FF) may not be sitting on multipe sets of these 1.25" t-bars, and if that's indeed the case I am literally stuck up the proverbial shit's creek!
So the question I have to all of you is the following:
1) fix the bar by attempting to sand down the oversize section to the diameter that's needed
OR
2) take the t-bar bushing ends and have the machine shop ream the ID to match the largest side of the t-bar OD
I do not like #2 because that means the remainder of the t-bar anchor bushing will not tightly fit the bar.
I do not like #1 either because doing anything to the bar now will potentially cause stress risers and that's the last thing I need on a torsion bar.
Damn...
Well, so a year later now (since the time these arrived) and I started to go to work on these things. Having previously pulled the existing t-bars out of my coupe (while there was absolutely nothing wrong with them, they were just too soft for my use), and having reconditioned the parts I prepared to reassemble everything I was ready to toss these puppies right in!
Today that day came, and as I attempted to install the torsion bars in the car I ran into a road-block type of a problem. The end-bushings install was the first item on the list, and while one bar went on super easy (or as easy as expected) the other one would not budge past the point where the t-bar itself is flattened somewhat where the retaining bolt hole is machined.
I played with things for a while, started measuring and discovered that this bar actually expands out to 1.085-90" through that flattened portion, and that of course will never allow the end bushing housing to be mounted as that is only 1.060-65".
In comparison the bar that allowed me to install the bushing is only 1.050-55" at the tip and expands somewhat to about 1.060" at the flattened part, but still clears fine.
Alright...so now I have a problem: what can I do to address this?
I emailed Frank @FF, waiting to hear back. I am not exactly looking forward to fixing a problem that's a $1300 value (talking about the TOTAL cost to get these to my door) on my own. At the same time, I suspect they (FF) may not be sitting on multipe sets of these 1.25" t-bars, and if that's indeed the case I am literally stuck up the proverbial shit's creek!
So the question I have to all of you is the following:
1) fix the bar by attempting to sand down the oversize section to the diameter that's needed
OR
2) take the t-bar bushing ends and have the machine shop ream the ID to match the largest side of the t-bar OD
I do not like #2 because that means the remainder of the t-bar anchor bushing will not tightly fit the bar.
I do not like #1 either because doing anything to the bar now will potentially cause stress risers and that's the last thing I need on a torsion bar.
Damn...
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