60 SOA Tie rod length

[crawlin60]

I’m in the latter part of getting the SOA done in the 60, and while bolting the tie rod to the steering arms, it’s about 3.5 in too long. This is due to having gone from the stock setup to an Allpro Hysteer arm setup. I need the pitch and a likely source of a tap to cut new threads (60 stock size) in my soon to be shorter tie rod, also if this compares favorably to those that you guys have done since it **appears** to be needing a 3.5 in cutoff from a 44.5 inch long stock tie rod. I only mention the 60 series size TREs, cause 80 size is popular as an upgrade, but I only have 60-size junk laying around.

 

[crawlin60]

Well, found what I needed. It turns out that the 60s and 80s appear to have the same size TREs, and in allpro's steering page ( http://www.allprooffroad.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=17 ) they even list a 41.5" long tie rod, cut and tapped. Marlin ( http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/steering.htm ) also sells a tie rod, unspecified length tho. The TREs are M23 x 1.25, BTW.

 

[nuclearlemon]

keep in mind, while the tre is 23mm thread, the drag link end is 21mm thread and while the draglink end has a smaller thread, is has a larger taper.

 

[crawlin60]

Very correct Ige. It turns out, the std size for 60 tie rod with these steering arms is 43.5 in, according to Allpro, and the drag link comes in at 36.5 in. I'll figure if there's a mismatch in the 60 pitman/drag link taper, and the 80-size end taper that's coming with the new draglink. Allpro razzed me for not buying their kit, with a custom pitman. They said on the phone that they don't know what the 60 taper is, or if it's the same as the 80. Will report back tomorrow, when I measure a 60 and 80 pitman side by side.

 

[nuclearlemon]

the taper of the 60 tre and the 80 tre is the same. the 60 drag link end is larger diameter than the 80 tre, but appears to match some pickups as it fits some toyota pickup hi steer arms that i have.

 

[crawlin60]

So I measured the drag link end, both the 80 DLE and the one off the 60. The measurements are about .080" off, or 2mm total (1mm per side) taper is 4 degrees, the 80 end being skinnier than the 60. This means I now need to buy the pitman Allpro sell, with the 80 size hole in it. I tell you I was surprised that I received the beefy tie rod and drag link, and 4 80 TREs, 2 left thread and 2 rt thread, brand 555, looks like good (albeit nongreasable) quality stuff. I thought I'd receive 2 TRES (1 rt, 1 lt) and 2 other sized, or different taper ends for the drag link. Not so, the Allpro arms (what I got are the as-cast finished, induction cast earlier kind) have all-80 series holes, so it now makes sense (tho they at Allpro didn't know if 80 and 60 series stuff were the same) how they pushed their pitman over the phone. Which I'll buy now, or else have a sleeve made and welded.

 

[nuclearlemon]

contact luke at 4x4 labs...he's getting some pieces cnc'd to fill the gap. last week he said it would be a couple of weeks, so he should have them soon.