For those who have been following my progress in the "Z" bar zone, it took a second trip to the welding bench before I was satisfied with the integrity of the welds that hold the upper arm for the upper clutch rod to the Z-Bar. I had been dressing the first passes using my trusty Dremel tool to knock down the high spots because lit is adjustable for speed and can get into tight areas where a 4.5 might reach but cause issues in doing so when I discovered that a second portion of the original welds had suffered pin holing as well. Rather than over-welding it, I decided to grind out all the suspicious material right down to the tube and replace it as well. Did that today but, before it goes to be cleaned and painted, I have an urban myth/legend about GM Z-bars that I want to run past the forum for comments.
It concerns an often repeated, bench racing anecdote, that GM Z-bars have a tendency to blow up or self-destruct under prolonged or repeated heavy use or load. IN support of that assertion, I do have one salvage orphan bar that has an upper arm with major welding done to the seam where the arm meets and attaches to the cross tube. The work either got done in the field or the welder was practicing because bubble gum does not begin to describe the quality of the work.
So what I am thinking here is that, while the Bar is out and before it gets cleaned and painted, I could go ahead and fabricate a pair of ribs or angle braces for the arms, upper and lower, using some orphan 1/2 inch wide by 1/8 thick angle that I have sitting in the surplus bin. Neither brace needs to be to big or long, thinking maybe 4 inches or less for the longer and whatever fits for the shorter.
Comments or thoughts on this??
Nick
It concerns an often repeated, bench racing anecdote, that GM Z-bars have a tendency to blow up or self-destruct under prolonged or repeated heavy use or load. IN support of that assertion, I do have one salvage orphan bar that has an upper arm with major welding done to the seam where the arm meets and attaches to the cross tube. The work either got done in the field or the welder was practicing because bubble gum does not begin to describe the quality of the work.
So what I am thinking here is that, while the Bar is out and before it gets cleaned and painted, I could go ahead and fabricate a pair of ribs or angle braces for the arms, upper and lower, using some orphan 1/2 inch wide by 1/8 thick angle that I have sitting in the surplus bin. Neither brace needs to be to big or long, thinking maybe 4 inches or less for the longer and whatever fits for the shorter.
Comments or thoughts on this??
Nick