We took the easy route to...
We took the easy route to disassemble the steering-a Sawzall. We are going to try to retain the factory steering column assembly so we cut it off as close as possible to the gearbox.
The frontend certainly added to cost of our project, but it's going to be worth it. After installing the used Chevy rearend, and selling the original engine and trans, we were at $3,352. The Chassis Engineering frontend kit came in at just over $2,100. We probably could have saved a couple hundred bucks going with original-style control arms, but we felt the tubular arms would be nice and good to use in the long run. Also, scrounging through the junkyards may have netted us items like spindles, but in our case, time is tight and having the correct new products that were designed to work together could save us time and effort in the long run.
We're at about $5,500 into our project and have a great, new, road-worthy suspension on our '51. The next hurdles will be to get the steering, brakes, and trans mount handled so we can move on to wiring and plumbing.
With the steering and brake...
With the steering and brake lines removed, we loosened the remaining bolts and the frontend lowered nicely in one big chunk, which was dropped off at the recycle yard.
The front framerails received...
The front framerails received a little rub down with a wire wheel before we set about fitting the Chassis Engineering crossmember. We held the assembly in place with vise-grips and aligned the half moon recesses of the frame and the new crossmember. A couple of the original boltholes lined up and allowed the crossmember to be secured.
After the eight vertical boltholes...
After the eight vertical boltholes are drilled and tightened, there are four more on each side to go. Two from the outside of the assembly to tie the upper spring pods to the crossmember.
Two more from inside that...
Two more from inside that tie the new Chassis Engineering components together. This frontend is going to be solid and secure.
After all of that drilling...
After all of that drilling and fitting, we disassembled the parts and treated them to a nice shade of green and started the reassembly.
With the Chassis Engineering...
With the Chassis Engineering crossmember lined up, the upper coil spring pods were positioned and the drill motor came out again. Beef up on your biceps, there are a total of 16 boltholes to drill. It starts with four on the top that sandwich the framerails between the Chassis Engineering crossmember and the upper pods.
We can't really explain the...
We can't really explain the green, or the fact that we're not painting the chassis. But we were really happy with new the Chassis Engineering crossmember and how stout the assembly felt.
Next on the list was the manual...
Next on the list was the manual rack-and-pinion system. New hardware is supplied, including the mount bushings. The bushings might seem long as they protrude from the rack, but this is the correct manner. Note the metal bushing inside isolator sleeve.
The rack bolted right into...
The rack bolted right into place. The steering shaft is snug to the crossmember, but there is enough room for a new Borgeson U-joint to run up to the steering column.