I know this has been gone through before, but i couldnt' find any good info through a search. I cant seem to find a machine shop around that will drill and tap my D44 knuckles so i'm lookin at doin em myself. I dont have a drill press, or a mill. just a good ole hand held drill. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to get it done right. also any writeups online would be helpful. also who has the part # for the chevy studs, cone washers and nuts, and what size is the thread i need to tap? thanks.

Dallas

I would give Grady a call... http://www.gradysoffroad.com
He's up here in the Sacramento area but I bet he could help
you out... :D:D

I don't think you should try this project. Why don't you send it out to someone to have it machined? There are lots of guys that can do it in CA, just maybe not in your town.

Yeah...even though they are flat-tops, they still need to be machined flat and then drilled.

buy the arm tack it in place and drill the holes were they are on the arm. once thats done take the arm off and tap the holes.

YJTJ thanks, i have the arm already, i was just lookin for advise on drillin em with a hand drill straight. i know they have to be filed flat, i'll do that by hand. i'm not gonna send it out cause the truck has to be running ASAP and i dont have the time to wait for some place i've never been to to decide they feel like doin it for me sometime next month.

Dallas

Grady usually has them ready without ball joints. You ship yours, he ships his out. You buy ball joints and have them pressed in locally;)

If you have him press in new ball joints, it'll take a month.

Originally posted by StinkBug
YJTJ i was just lookin for advise on drillin em with a hand drill straight. i know they have to be filed flat, i'll do that by hand.

Dallas

I'm glad you live far from me.

umm ok whatever, i found a place to do it. who has the part #s

Dallas

Originally posted by StinkBug
who has the part #s

Dallas

1st one: L-D44-Knuckle
2nd one: R-D44-Knuckle




WTF are you talking about?

Originally posted by StinkBug
also who has the part # for the chevy studs, cone washers and nuts, and what size is the thread i need to tap? thanks.

Dallas

Opps..sorry for being a Dic


Umm, check Billavista's site for the p/n's I think he has them.

cool thanks scout no offense taken, i figured ya just missed it.

Dallas

I think these are cheaper than the dealer?
http://www.partsmikeparts.com/steering%20hardware.htm

What Scout said (can't bring myself to call you old...feeling a bit sensitive about that lately :) )

Also has explanation of why "filing by hand" is not a good idea

http://billavista.tripod.com/Steering/Index/SteeringIndex.html

thanks guys, now can any of you tell me what size and pitch those studs are so i can tell the machine shop guys what size hole to tap tomorrow.

Dallas

i do believe it's a 9/16-18

- jack

When I made mine, I used 3/4-10s...If you haven't already had them done, PM me about them...

GM Studs for pass side 3965137 (9/16ths-18TPI) $6 bucks a pece at the stealer here. :(

GM Cone washer 3965138

9/16ths-18 aircraft toplock "stover type" nuts.
Got mine through local fastenal...their web prices are inflated on those...beware.

Glad you found a machinist to do it...filing the knuckle flat would have been time consuming, and it is fairly critical to do it right.

MJ

Originally posted by StinkBug
thanks guys, now can any of you tell me what size and pitch those studs are so i can tell the machine shop guys what size hole to tap tomorrow.

Dallas

They are 9/16 x 18 thread pitch on the studs....good Luck :beer: :beer: