Project: SAS the FM

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Looks like another trip to Arizona is in order!

Planning to go again in 2012. That gives me just over a year to get it ready. Allot of things have to fall into place, but "if the Lord is willing and the creek don't rise" we will make it.

[Reserector [Veteran Member]]

Someone recently asked me for more detail about my radius arm mounts, so I will post my reply here since it pertains to this thread.

Thanks for asking. I will try to shed some light on what I did.

Once I got the radius arms positioned how I wanted them and supported on blocks, I used a 4" x 4" x 1/4" wall square tube that I had on hand. I made two mounts from that, about a foot long each to start with.  Take some measurements and cut them a bit long.
I cut one end at an angle and kept cutting away until I had a perch that I could make a hole in for the radius arm end to pass through.
I set the bushings and mount in place on the radius arm and tediously fitted it to the frame, cutting and checking a little at a time.

I was able to make good contact near the bottom of the frame, but the top was open. I could only weld the sides and bottom.  (at the time.)
Once I had one fitted, I measured and marked out the opposite one so they would be mirror images.

Be sure to snug up the bushing pack before you tack them to the frame.


I broke one of the mounts off of the frame in Moab, Utah and had a guy reweld it and then brace them to the old transmission mounts that are just ahead of the radius arm mounts.
In hindsight, I should have capped the tops and let the cap serve as a gusset to tie into the frame forward of the mount. That would brace it from acceleration and braking forces. (fore and aft)  It didn't break the weld; it tore the frame side out.


I found some photos that I took when I did the Z71 swap.


Looking through the engine bay, you can see almost all of the right hand mount. You can just barely see the top edge where it is open tube.  Cap that off and weld it to the top of the frame.





Looking through the engine bay, you can see both mounts, although the radius arms are obscured by the engine mounts (painted silver). At least you can get an idea of the angle that they are on.






A view of the front of one mount. You can see how it was cut away.







Here is a side view that might be helpful.