Torsion bar install "offline"

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Kllrbee

Kllrbee

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I finally was able to get all my parts for the front end rebuild.

So I got the Qa1 LCAs and adjustable struts in, but when I try to install the 1.03 bars, they are on a slightly different angle than the socket of the LCA making them impossible to slide in. Ive got the hexes lined up though so its all good there.

I do have the car on stands along the frame rails placed roughly where the rear crossmember is. Could that be causing the flex in the body making the angle off?
Should I just place a jack under the K frame instead and relieve that stress where the jack stands currently sit?

Btw, all suspension is out so I have complete ftee movement throughout.

I think this might just be a "Doh" moment, but I had a few too many the other night and my brain aint working right yet...LOL.

Also, the drivers side is hitting the exhaust pipe right about where the proportioning valve is. I need maybe an 1/8 of an inch. Any suggestions other than hitting the pipe with a hammer?
 
Are the strut rods tightened? If you have the adjustable strut rods too short or long it can move the LCA out of alignment. The bars have to go in with the strut rods loose, you can set the length after you have the torsion bars installed and check for binding by removing the torsion bar adjusters.

The exhaust will be an issue too, you won’t be able to get the torsion bar in if it’s hitting the exhaust at all. Other then readjusting the exhaust or trying to adjust the position of the engine a little you’ll have to dent the the tubes.
 
Loosen the lower control arm from the K-member, slide the control arm back a little will give you a lot of wiggle on the arm put the T bar in and shove the t bar and control arm forward till you can get the clip in the back then tighten the control arm back up in the K member.
 
I found with one of my T Bars that raising the lower control arm very slightly from full droop allowed it to slide in or out easily by hand.
 
Kllrbee said:
I finally was able to get all my parts for the front end rebuild.

So I got the Qa1 LCAs and adjustable struts in, but when I try to install the 1.03 bars, they are on a slightly different angle than the socket of the LCA making them impossible to slide in. Ive got the hexes lined up though so its all good there.

I do have the car on stands along the frame rails placed roughly where the rear crossmember is. Could that be causing the flex in the body making the angle off?
Should I just place a jack under the K frame instead and relieve that stress where the jack stands currently sit?

Btw, all suspension is out so I have complete ftee movement throughout.

I think this might just be a "Doh" moment, but I had a few too many the other night and my brain aint working right yet...LOL.

Also, the drivers side is hitting the exhaust pipe right about where the proportioning valve is. I need maybe an 1/8 of an inch. Any suggestions other than hitting the pipe with a hammer?
Click to expand...
I had to take the front shocks back off to get my new torsion bars in, this allowed the LCA to rotate more to line up the new bars.
Place an 1/8 shim between the drivers side motor mount and the K member that will provide some clearance.
 
Cal Tonsley said:
I found with one of my T Bars that raising the lower control arm very slightly from full droop allowed it to slide in or out easily by hand.
Click to expand...

With the QA1 LCA’s you can’t let them hang down all the way like with the factory lower control arms. The factory arms generally won’t hang straight down, they hit the K frame. Because the QA1’s are tubular and narrow, they’ll literally hang straight down on the pin. You want to lift them up into the normal range of travel, then find the closest flat on the hex end. I lift them up until their parallel to the ground, then lower them to the closest flat. You can actually clock the QA1 LCA’s one hex flat off of where they should be, which really messes with ride height adjustments.
 
Got em.
Had to do a little tapping at the rear crossmember to get them fully in.
I think its all good so far, unless you guys see something off.
Thanks for your replies!

20210531_174352.jpg
20210531_174317.jpg
 
Kllrbee said:
Got em.
Had to do a little tapping at the rear crossmember to get them fully in.
I think its all good so far, unless you guys see something off.
Thanks for your replies!

View attachment 1715745486 View attachment 1715745487
Click to expand...

After looking a the pics , I wonder if a guy built some kind of bracket/swivel to hold the rear of the control arm (where the torsion bar goes in) , if he could run w/ coil overs ?-----blunblu / ANY OTHERS OPINIONS ?
 
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