The Ford Barn

Modelakid31 · 09-29-2011, 09:31 PM

I can't get the wishbone to line up with the bell housing. Although everything else lines up perfectly. It keeps making me scratch my head over and over.

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V4F · 09-29-2011, 09:34 PM

i pull on a tire to move it . just roll the wheel & see what you need to do to line it up . ..
steve

700rpm · 09-29-2011, 10:08 PM

Loosen your front spring u-bolts (don't remove them) and leverage the whole front axle assemblage forward. Leave the spring in the crossmember. You're real close and it won't take much. Don't put any pressure on the middle of the front axle, it's likely to bend; use the area around the spring perches.

Gerard · 09-29-2011, 10:20 PM

Have you beveled to top leave from the Spring ? It sometimes is not seating wel in the cross member.

Marco Tahtaras · 09-29-2011, 10:40 PM

This has been a regular question the last few years. This is NORMAL when the front spring is not yet settled.

First, it looks like you have some odd upper cup that is too thin to be of much value. First get a good one up there. Then place a jack under the rear of the radius rod (wish bone). With some pressure from the jack it should self center into the cup. It it's too far rearward (center of ball behind the rear edge of cup) then have someone put forward pressure on the axle as you raise the jack. It will then self center into the cup and you can fasten the cap and everything will be PROPERLY aligned.

Modelakid31 · 09-29-2011, 11:18 PM

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Thank you guys for all the input. I'll give it a try tomorrow and update you on the status.

Fred K-OR · 09-29-2011, 11:24 PM

Good advise and it does work.

Tom Wesenberg · 09-30-2011, 03:21 AM

Is that upper thin cup made for the rubber ball you have on the wishbone? All the rubber ball covers I've seen use cast iron covers.

If it was mine, i'd remove the rubber cover and buy the correct kit for the ball. If the ball is too worn for the new cover to work, then you can add a cupped washer to make up for the wear. Or, you can weld and file the ball back to the 1 1/2 original size ball.

pat in Santa Cruz · 09-30-2011, 08:14 AM

the thin cup is the upper for a mid 30's V8. get the right stuff and the car will drive much better.

Bob C · 09-30-2011, 10:25 AM

these are the parts you need to do it right http://www.brattons.com/product.asp?...=any&PT_ID=all

Bob

09-29-2011, 09:31 PM	#1
Modelakid31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Foxborough, MA Posts: 364	Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing I can't get the wishbone to line up with the bell housing. Although everything else lines up perfectly. It keeps making me scratch my head over and over. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us www.modelakid.com

09-29-2011, 09:34 PM	#2
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing i pull on a tire to move it . just roll the wheel & see what you need to do to line it up . .. steve __________________ V4f

09-29-2011, 10:08 PM	#3
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,903	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing Loosen your front spring u-bolts (don't remove them) and leverage the whole front axle assemblage forward. Leave the spring in the crossmember. You're real close and it won't take much. Don't put any pressure on the middle of the front axle, it's likely to bend; use the area around the spring perches. Last edited by 700rpm; 09-29-2011 at 10:09 PM. Reason: Added info.

09-29-2011, 10:20 PM	#4
Gerard Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Creston Canada BC Posts: 609	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing Have you beveled to top leave from the Spring ? It sometimes is not seating wel in the cross member.

09-29-2011, 10:40 PM	#5
Marco Tahtaras Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 3,099	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing This has been a regular question the last few years. This is NORMAL when the front spring is not yet settled. First, it looks like you have some odd upper cup that is too thin to be of much value. First get a good one up there. Then place a jack under the rear of the radius rod (wish bone). With some pressure from the jack it should self center into the cup. It it's too far rearward (center of ball behind the rear edge of cup) then have someone put forward pressure on the axle as you raise the jack. It will then self center into the cup and you can fasten the cap and everything will be PROPERLY aligned. __________________ http://www.abarnyard.com/

09-29-2011, 11:18 PM	#6
Modelakid31 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Foxborough, MA Posts: 364	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thank you guys for all the input. I'll give it a try tomorrow and update you on the status.

09-29-2011, 11:24 PM	#7
Fred K-OR Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Stayton, Oregon Posts: 3,806	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing Good advise and it does work. __________________ Fred Kroon 1929 Std Coupe 1929 Huckster

09-30-2011, 03:21 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing Is that upper thin cup made for the rubber ball you have on the wishbone? All the rubber ball covers I've seen use cast iron covers. If it was mine, i'd remove the rubber cover and buy the correct kit for the ball. If the ball is too worn for the new cover to work, then you can add a cupped washer to make up for the wear. Or, you can weld and file the ball back to the 1 1/2 original size ball.

09-30-2011, 08:14 AM	#9
pat in Santa Cruz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: santa cruz, calif Posts: 2,011	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing the thin cup is the upper for a mid 30's V8. get the right stuff and the car will drive much better.

09-30-2011, 10:25 AM	#10
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,747	Re: Wishbone ball not lining up with bellhousing these are the parts you need to do it right http://www.brattons.com/product.asp?...=any&PT_ID=all Bob