Sinking Creek 4WD Association

why not use something with an interference fit like a wheel-stud so you don't have to go to the trouble of cutting off and re-welding the cover?

Piney wrote:why not use something with an interference fit like a wheel-stud so you don't have to go to the trouble of cutting off and re-welding the cover?

thats a good point...it would work quite well...never though of it

only problem i see is that the stock housing is really soft around the edges (you can tell when you drill through it) and i would be weary of even serrated studs spinning in the houing and walloling out the hole when you torque then down...also, regular bolts are cheaper and easier to come by

but i dont know...its worth a shot...i havent put in the studs for the front yet, so i might try it up there

I suppose another thing you could do is drill the holes a bit smaller and tap them for the 3/8 bolt and thread them in snug from the back. Just throwin out ideas.

Piney wrote:I suppose another thing you could do is drill the holes a bit smaller and tap them for the 3/8 bolt and thread them in snug from the back. Just throwin out ideas.

that was my initial plan but it will not work without some effort...

the first problem is actually tapping them straight enough to get the third member to fit in there when you are done...

secondly, you have to use a 1.5" bolt to clear the thickness of the housing and third with enough thread to get a good bite on the nut....i could not find any 3/8 x 1.5" bolts that were threaded all the way to the head...most only had 1.25 - 1" of actual thread on them

but a good idea nonetheless....

to everyone: dont hesitate to make suggestions. like i said in the initial post, this is the first build i have done of this magnitude so i am learning alot while im doing it. if i miss something or you think of an easier way to do it, PLEASE chime in. brainstorming with other members is half the fun

thanks Steinbeezie