Finally, my modified Strud Rods are "done". Unfortunately, the mashinist, who modified the original strud rods, screwed up the new threads... They were cut crooked, resulting in very shallow threads towards the ends. One even doesn't have any threads on one side. And that's the part where the locking nuts are sitting, so not an option to use them as they are now.
I hope he comes up with a solution to solve that problem.
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But besides that, I'm very pleased with the basic idea and the general result of my initial idea.
I bought an adjustable Strud Rod Kit from QA1 for B-Bodies (#52312)
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The original Imperial Strud Rods with their big, mushy bushings are pretty inaccurate and not adjustable to correctly set up the caster.
Since Imperials have a unique way to attach the Strud Rods to the Lower Control Arm, I had to use these "hockey stick ends" of the original Strud Rods and modify them to attach them to the QA1 parts.
When cutting them, I left enough lenght to mount them in the lathe chuck.
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They were turned down to .625" on the lathe to accept the new 5/8-18 UNF left hand threads.
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Next, they were trimmed to the final lenght. I planned for 70mm long threads to have enough adjustability later.
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Fresh off the lathe, before the "crooked" threads were cut.
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The QA1 center tube had to be cut down 70mm, 35mm on each side, to achieve the total lenght of the original Strud Rods later.
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Because of that, new flat spots for a wrench had to be cut and the internal threads had to be extended inside the tube.
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And ready, almost, are the adjustable Imperial Strud Rods!
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As soon as the threads are fixed, they will get zinc plated and painted and then installed.
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