Datsun 521 Ball Joint Mod - Page 3

Chronicles my work of converting the kingpins to ball joints on a Datsun 521.   

The stand out features of this mod are that it will retain the stock track width and torsion bar suspension.
I was checking out the stock 720 arm, flipped from one side to the other and upside down to see how it would work for lowered trucks.  It's better for the upper ball joint angle than the custom arm for stock ride height.  With dropped spindles, it would certainly be low enough.
Only about half as long as the last one! Yea!  I took a tracing of the sheet metal plate, then tacked it to the tubes and did some range of motion tests on the frame jig.  Looks just right for the stock ride height, but I really don't think it will work for a slammed rig.
I finally made it out to the shop again for a bit.  I got the tag board close enough so I created a sheet metal version.  I've got the bends in place and the angles figured out.  I took stills of the angles and posted them in the Ratsun.net thread, but I'll try to include that info at the start of the next vid.
This series is all part of the build thread for my daughter's 521.  I'll put in a link to the start, but jump to page 34 for the stills or about 26 for the start of the ball joint info.
http://community.ratsun.net/topic/8175-mklotz70-project-mend/
I didn't like working with the 1/4" plate.....I think I got ahead of myself just a bit.  So, I started again with some tag board(thin cardboard).  Looks like I need to mod the jig just a bit to help with the tubing placement.  The tag board should get me really close.

The top of the bench is covered with 1/4" masonite, not formica....doh.
Back on the ball joints for a bit.  The 1/4" plate proto isn't quite working the way I want, so I switched to working on the tubes first.  Once they're close, I think I can do a pattern out of tag board for the plate.  I'm extremely happy with how the tubing notching (via the milling attachment) is working!  The last tweak....holding the cutter a different way made a huge difference in the quality of the cut.  I can easily dial in the angle I want and I figured out how to get it centered and level.  All in all, it was a pretty constructive day, even if it wasn't as productive as I'd hoped........and they never are. lol
Picked up some parts.  Started working on the tubing angles.....ended up spending the entire day on trying to make the milling attachment better.
Created a sheet metal ball joint mount plate to help get a design down.  Looks like it will work.  Next step will be to start working with the full size tubing.
More of the same......
Spent several hours today tweaking the test arm and designing the ball joint mount plate.  Moved things around just a bit, but not much.
Fab work involved in creating the second mock up arm, this time with the 720 cross shaft.  Looks like I'll have to widen it just a bit, but once I do that, I should be able to use a straight piece of tubing and not have to have one bent.  The bent tubes look cool, but it would add cost to the project.