Canuck
Frozen Garage Hell
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2006
- Location
- Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Time for an update. The IRS subframe has become a bit of a gong-show in this build. It's been in and out of the car so many times. I cover the details in the latest installment on my YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/mvSg3Plb5nE) but let's just say that I thought it was OK last spring when I finished it up and put it in the car. I just didn't put the control arms and uprights and tires on to check. Mind you...I didn't weld the sheet metal in either. So it turns out not only were the passenger side brackets just a little out, but when I installed the frame, the bushing alignment pins at the front caught on the bushing sleeve and pushed it out of position. This, unbeknownst to me, racked the subframe. I should have double checked...but it looked fine. It was off, and I used that racked alignment to weld in the rear cross member. So the entire thing was borked - causing 1/2" more wheel base on the passenger side.
It was really noticeable when I installed the suspension and tried to locate the front end.
So I cut that junk out and we're doing it again.
A few brackets and gussets will also help.
Back together - basically dead on the angle I was looking for.
Here's the other side...the crappy level is good to 1/10? (I prove this in the video).
Caster side to side.
Weld it back together.
Drill out and remove the rear bushing alignment pins.
Make new pins.
Quick dust of paint so it won't rust while I finish the rest of the build.
And back in the hole - this time everything is perfect.
It was really noticeable when I installed the suspension and tried to locate the front end.
So I cut that junk out and we're doing it again.
A few brackets and gussets will also help.
Back together - basically dead on the angle I was looking for.
Here's the other side...the crappy level is good to 1/10? (I prove this in the video).
Caster side to side.
Weld it back together.
Drill out and remove the rear bushing alignment pins.
Make new pins.
Quick dust of paint so it won't rust while I finish the rest of the build.
And back in the hole - this time everything is perfect.