The Ford Barn

1937sedandelivery · 03-20-2018, 05:29 PM

Hello,
I am rebuilding my 37 FORDOR front end. I purchased a new king pin set with bushings, etc. The spindles are cleaned up and new bushings installed. The king pins are very tight fit. In fact, they will not slide into the bushings. Question: should the king pins be pressed into the spindles? I was expecting the pins to slide in as a snug fit, but no way.
Thanks,
gregg

1931 flamingo · 03-20-2018, 05:31 PM

Take them to a machine shop and have the bushings honed to fit the pins.

Paul in CT

tubman · 03-20-2018, 05:47 PM

Or, if you're brave and want to take a chance, you can use a brake hone on them. A guy who was a mechanic at the local Chevrolet dealership did the set on my first "Hot Rod" that way in the early 60's and I never had any problems with them. The guy had a reputation as the best mechanic there.

(He would also get the "non-flathead guys" Duntov cams through the dealer at cost)

TJ · 03-20-2018, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

Take them to a machine shop and have the bushings honed to fit the pins.

Paul in CT

X2. it's the only way to get it right.

cas3 · 03-20-2018, 05:54 PM

in the old days they used a king pin reamer, which is a long reamer that makes a light cut to get the tool in, then that end goes in to the opposite side to center it when the main cutter makes it to size. so, both ends are in the bushings, and its all straight. but, as stated above, having it done on a sunnen hone makes a much better fit.

V8COOPMAN · 03-20-2018, 06:35 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

In other words, the bushings never were designed to be a proper fit out of the box. They were designed to be installed and reamed, or honed, to proper fit size. DD

TJ · 03-20-2018, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

In other words, the bushings never were designed to be a proper fit out of the box. They were designed to be installed and reamed, or honed, to proper fit size. DD

Correct. I have an original reamer and it does not do as nice a job as taking them to a machine shop.

1937sedandelivery · 03-20-2018, 08:55 PM

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the swift responses. I almost took a sledge hammer to it, but easily got tied up with other projects.

So, I think V8coopman nailed it. This thing just ain't gonna work as is, darn. I have an old brake cylinder hone from a gazillion years ago. Will pull it out and see what it does. Otherwise, off to the machine shop.

And my take away is that the pin should freely slide into the spindle bushings.

Thanks again,
gregg

JSeery · 03-20-2018, 09:13 PM

There are two (maybe three) issues here. The upper bushing has to be the correct diameter for a light press fit. The lower bushing has to be the correct diameter for a light press fit. Both bushing have to be in alignment. This is VERY difficult to accomplish with a brake cylinder hone. Maybe someone who has done many of them could accomplish it, but fairly sure a first time attempt is headed for failure. If you don't mind replacing the bushing again you could give it a try, but I would get the replacement bushings on order!

cas3 · 03-20-2018, 09:43 PM

every engine rebuilder will have a sunnen hone, a general machine shop may not.

rich b · 03-20-2018, 11:05 PM

A truck spring shop may very well have a Sunnen hone set up too.

1937sedandelivery · 03-20-2018, 11:19 PM

Very good input. When I pressed out the old bushings, I got them out, but could have tweaked the top and bottom raceways. Impossible to tell. And yes, I may be able to hone the top and bottom bushings, but it will be independent processes. Am convinced to go to a good machine shop or rebuilder and have the bushings honed all at once. Thanks for saving me some headaches!
gregg

Randy in ca · 03-20-2018, 11:35 PM

Here's a good video of the honing procedure:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw0-vPhRuCo

V8COOPMAN · 03-20-2018, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1937sedandelivery

Very good input. When I pressed out the old bushings, I got them out, but could have tweaked the top and bottom raceways. Impossible to tell. And yes, I may be able to hone the top and bottom bushings, but it will be independent processes. Am convinced to go to a good machine shop or rebuilder and have the bushings honed all at once. Thanks for saving me some headaches!
gregg

You DID NOT tweak the upper and lower "raceways"! However, when the upper and lower bushings are honed, considerations should be made so that BOTH bushings are honed straight with each other. This only makes sense because both ends of the king pin are always straight with each other. DD

Mart · 03-21-2018, 03:11 AM

I bought an old school purpose made kingpin reamer and it works great. Before that I used a standard reamer but used to replace the bushings one at a time. Knock the worst one out, put new one in, ream it using the remaining old bush as a guide. Then do the other one using the first new one as a guide.

As you already have both bushings in place you either need to beg or borrow the proper long reamer or, as said, take it to a machine shop.

Mart.

1937sedandelivery · 03-21-2018, 09:57 AM

I will see what I can find online. Thanks guys.
gregg

TJ · 03-21-2018, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1937sedandelivery

I will see what I can find online. Thanks guys.
gregg

You'll pay as much or more for a reamer than you will pay a machine shop to do it right. I've been both routes and the machine shop is the most accurate way to do kingpin bushings. If you really want a reamer I'll sell you the old one I have for $50+ $5 to ship. I no longer use it.

1937sedandelivery · 03-21-2018, 11:29 PM

TJ,
I didn't want to screw this one up, so took it to a machine shop today, don't know the price yet. I also took some rear brake drums for turning. Not many place can do the rears due to the small diameter holes. He said he could turn them.
For now, I will pass on your reamer, though I am curious what it looks like and how it works. I can only hope to have more 37's in my future.
Thanks,
gregg

rich b · 03-22-2018, 10:35 PM

Couple styles of kingpin reamers. The important thing to note is that they pilot off the other bushing ensuring the alignment.

cas3 · 03-22-2018, 11:17 PM

thanks rich, you beat me to it! also not shown is the entrance side usually has a cutter to get in the first bushing, which is a few thou smaller than the real cutter which starts its work after the starter is thru both bushings. again, it works, thats how the old ford garages did it, but the sunnen hone is the way to go

03-20-2018, 05:29 PM	#1
1937sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 331	37 front spindle/king pin assembly Hello, I am rebuilding my 37 FORDOR front end. I purchased a new king pin set with bushings, etc. The spindles are cleaned up and new bushings installed. The king pins are very tight fit. In fact, they will not slide into the bushings. Question: should the king pins be pressed into the spindles? I was expecting the pins to slide in as a snug fit, but no way. Thanks, gregg

03-20-2018, 05:31 PM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,390	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly Take them to a machine shop and have the bushings honed to fit the pins. Paul in CT

03-20-2018, 05:47 PM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,304	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly Or, if you're brave and want to take a chance, you can use a brake hone on them. A guy who was a mechanic at the local Chevrolet dealership did the set on my first "Hot Rod" that way in the early 60's and I never had any problems with them. The guy had a reputation as the best mechanic there. (He would also get the "non-flathead guys" Duntov cams through the dealer at cost)

03-20-2018, 05:54 PM	#5
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,568	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly in the old days they used a king pin reamer, which is a long reamer that makes a light cut to get the tool in, then that end goes in to the opposite side to center it when the main cutter makes it to size. so, both ends are in the bushings, and its all straight. but, as stated above, having it done on a sunnen hone makes a much better fit.

03-20-2018, 06:35 PM	#6
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,106	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) In other words, the bushings never were designed to be a proper fit out of the box. They were designed to be installed and reamed, or honed, to proper fit size. DD __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

03-20-2018, 08:55 PM	#8
1937sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 331	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly Hey Guys, Thanks for the swift responses. I almost took a sledge hammer to it, but easily got tied up with other projects. So, I think V8coopman nailed it. This thing just ain't gonna work as is, darn. I have an old brake cylinder hone from a gazillion years ago. Will pull it out and see what it does. Otherwise, off to the machine shop. And my take away is that the pin should freely slide into the spindle bushings. Thanks again, gregg

03-20-2018, 09:13 PM	#9
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly There are two (maybe three) issues here. The upper bushing has to be the correct diameter for a light press fit. The lower bushing has to be the correct diameter for a light press fit. Both bushing have to be in alignment. This is VERY difficult to accomplish with a brake cylinder hone. Maybe someone who has done many of them could accomplish it, but fairly sure a first time attempt is headed for failure. If you don't mind replacing the bushing again you could give it a try, but I would get the replacement bushings on order!

03-20-2018, 09:43 PM	#10
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,568	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly every engine rebuilder will have a sunnen hone, a general machine shop may not.

03-20-2018, 11:05 PM	#11
rich b Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,825	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly A truck spring shop may very well have a Sunnen hone set up too.

03-20-2018, 11:19 PM	#12
1937sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 331	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly Very good input. When I pressed out the old bushings, I got them out, but could have tweaked the top and bottom raceways. Impossible to tell. And yes, I may be able to hone the top and bottom bushings, but it will be independent processes. Am convinced to go to a good machine shop or rebuilder and have the bushings honed all at once. Thanks for saving me some headaches! gregg

03-20-2018, 11:35 PM	#13
Randy in ca Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 1,641	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly Here's a good video of the honing procedure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw0-vPhRuCo

03-21-2018, 03:11 AM	#15
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,746	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly I bought an old school purpose made kingpin reamer and it works great. Before that I used a standard reamer but used to replace the bushings one at a time. Knock the worst one out, put new one in, ream it using the remaining old bush as a guide. Then do the other one using the first new one as a guide. As you already have both bushings in place you either need to beg or borrow the proper long reamer or, as said, take it to a machine shop. Mart.

03-21-2018, 09:57 AM	#16
1937sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 331	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly I will see what I can find online. Thanks guys. gregg

03-21-2018, 11:29 PM	#18
1937sedandelivery Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 331	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly TJ, I didn't want to screw this one up, so took it to a machine shop today, don't know the price yet. I also took some rear brake drums for turning. Not many place can do the rears due to the small diameter holes. He said he could turn them. For now, I will pass on your reamer, though I am curious what it looks like and how it works. I can only hope to have more 37's in my future. Thanks, gregg

03-22-2018, 11:17 PM	#20
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: sw minnesota Posts: 4,568	Re: 37 front spindle/king pin assembly thanks rich, you beat me to it! also not shown is the entrance side usually has a cutter to get in the first bushing, which is a few thou smaller than the real cutter which starts its work after the starter is thru both bushings. again, it works, thats how the old ford garages did it, but the sunnen hone is the way to go