Straightening a rear end housing
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A straight bar is necessary. This hardened and chrome plated bar is about five feet long, and 1.5" in diameter. It's available from McMaster-Carr for about $115.00. Alternatively, an old length of scrap steel shafting can be used. V-blocks and a dial indicator can be used to ensure that a used bar is straight. | A straight bar is necessary. This hardened and chrome plated bar is about five feet long, and 1.5" in diameter. It's available from McMaster-Carr for about $115.00. Alternatively, an old length of scrap steel shafting can be used. V-blocks and a dial indicator can be used to ensure that a used bar is straight. | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Image:Hardened_bar.jpg|frame|none|A hardened and chrome plated steel bar.]] |
Then, make some inserts. These are about 2" long, as to provide some load bearing area to lessen wear caused by repeated use. For this application (10-bolt Chevrolet), the ID is 1.504", and the OD is 2.894". | Then, make some inserts. These are about 2" long, as to provide some load bearing area to lessen wear caused by repeated use. For this application (10-bolt Chevrolet), the ID is 1.504", and the OD is 2.894". | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Image:Making_inserts_in_lathe.jpg|frame|none|Making the inserts in a lathe.]] |
Another insert was made with the same 1.504" ID, and dimensioned to slip-fit into the housing end. This same set of inserts and matching bar can be used as an alignment aid when narrowing rear end housings. | Another insert was made with the same 1.504" ID, and dimensioned to slip-fit into the housing end. This same set of inserts and matching bar can be used as an alignment aid when narrowing rear end housings. | ||
The inserts are then clamped in the bearing saddles, and the bar slides through them. The fit should be nice -- the bar should slide through easily, but with no noticeable play. | The inserts are then clamped in the bearing saddles, and the bar slides through them. The fit should be nice -- the bar should slide through easily, but with no noticeable play. | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Image:Straight_bar_in_inserts.jpg|frame|none|The straight bar, in the inserts.]] |
The housing end insert slides over the bar, and indicates how much the end of the housing is bent out of alignment. | The housing end insert slides over the bar, and indicates how much the end of the housing is bent out of alignment. | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[Image:Housing_end_insert_slid_over_bar.jpg|frame|none|The housing end insert is used to indicate the alignment of the housing.]] |
Hold a ruler on the tube, to see where it's bent. In this case, it's bent at the areas that were welded by the previous "builder". | Hold a ruler on the tube, to see where it's bent. In this case, it's bent at the areas that were welded by the previous "builder". | ||
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