66 Coupe A-Arm drop problem

[hgufrin]

Hello All,

Im having a problem with my 66 coupe A Arm drop project.

1. The template that I have does not line up with my two existing holes. They are a good 1/8" or more wider than the template.

2. The template seems accurate because I have two of them from two different sources.

3. For those that have done this... When you removed your a-arm did you actually see three holes? Two for the a-arm and one hole directly in the middle that seemed to serve no purpose?

Not sure what to do and Id appreciate any help. Thx

 

[Maniac66]

Hello. I've done the shelby drop on my '66. I printed out the template and had it transfered onto a small block of steel, it bolted right on. My car did not have a third hole between the two a-arm mounting holes. The only small problem I ran into were the new holes went through the shock tower support metal requiring me to smooth the lips / rolls down to get the washer and nut to sit flush.

What's the measurement between the centers of the two a-arm holes?

 

[allcarfan]

im guessing that maybe you printed out the template from the net, but didnt scale it?

 

[Mosse]

The holes are supposed to be 1/8" of the 90º from the existing holes, when dropped 1". There are only one type of A-arms original, so the problem must be with your template.

 

[hgufrin]

Mania66,

Let me get back to you on those measurements tonight... Im interested in what you think. You don't happen to have those measurements do you?

Allcarman,
I now have three sources, 2 from the net and 1 from Mustangs Plus. All scaled correctly... Well instead of 1/8" toward the rear it was about 3/32"

Mosse,
"There are only one type of A-arms original, so the problem must be with your template."
That is what I want to hear but its just hard to believe seeing as though I've downloaded 2 from the internet.

 

[hgufrin]

Maniac66,

I meant Maniac66 not Mania66. Sorry about that!

 

[hgufrin]

Maniac66,

the measurement center to center is 3.75".

 

[Randy'65]

I've made three templates out of metal or lexan, and they keep ending up being too small (holes too close together). I've been using a zerox copy out of the Branda catalog. Finally I measured the copy I've been using to make the template, then I measured center to center on the control arm bolts. Wouldn't you know there is about an 1/8th inch difference. I have no idea why I didn't measure before (took all of 2 minutes), but I wish I would have done it sooner. Would have saved me all sorts of headache. I'm going to draw one in cad or something and print it out instead (making sure to get the scale right). I'll get it finished sooner or later.

 

[fess40]

I just did this mod last summer, and I too had the mysterious third hole in the center. I'm not sure why it's there, and noone else has been able to tell me either. Anybody know?
I had a problem with the scale also when printing from the net. I just did a lot of measuring and drafted it out by hand on some graph paper. Made my templet from that. Bolted right on the old holes and everything fell right into place. (That is of course after my dad explained to me that the reason my springs were curving like a rainbow when I took them out was because I was using external strut compressors instead of an internal spring compressor. Boy did that make a difference. )

 

[hgufrin]

Randy'65,

Finally, the answer I was looking for. I'm having one drawn out in CAD as we speak. I feel a lot better now!

fess40,
Thx, really funny on the strut compressors...as if the internal compressors arent a challenge enough... ha ha ha

 

[hgufrin]

Randy'65,

Finally, the answer I was looking for. I'm having one drawn out in CAD as we speak. I feel a lot better now!

fess40,
Thx, really funny on the strut compressors...as if the internal compressors arent a challenge enough... ha ha ha

Ok, it's done. I had one printed out directly from CAD and the measurements are dead-on-a-gnats-A$$; bolts right up to tower and A Arms. I also had the CAD print out physically faxed and guess what... The dimensions were distorted electronically and now match exactly what I downloaded off the internet (the one that was about 1/8" too narrow). Apparently, the perfect template to get is one you print off AutoCAD yourself (1 to 1 scale) or one that a machine shop can make.

 

[Maniac66]

Glad you figured out the problem! Sorry I hadn't responded sooner - been way too busy with work and planning a major move!

 

[hgufrin]

Work and moves are great!