51Roughrider ,
There are two ways of rebuilding your tie rod ends .
1.) Use ill fitting chinese aftermarket repro parts .
2.) Use Genuine GM NOS parts .
OR
Your method........... used tie rod end parts...........you've got to be kidding !
I have no dog in this fight so it's a doesn't matter to me how you do it
as long as you are happy .
I'm suggesting that you use GM NOS parts .
Here's how it can be done .
You will need an internal parts kit which includes
the springs - the plugs & the ball seats .
Yes - Classic sells a cheap ill fitting internal parts kit for $19.95
It's chinese JUNK. Been there done that with a friends 1950 3/4 ton .
Classic's kit is a waste of money . The chinese junk kit wound up in the trash can .
The Studs that classic sells are cheap imitation chinese junk
with the wrong machining finish .
Get some real GM studs with the proper machining finish.
Llewellyn Obsolete
Northride , Ca.
phone : 818 - 363 - 5094
Scott @ Llewllyn has ( 1 ) GM NOS tie rod internal parts kit in stock .
GM # 6.874 - GM # 608840
PIC
There's only ONE aftermarket internal parts kit that I'd trust .
The Filling Station stopped selling the chinese junk ill fitting kit .
They had a kit made in the USA .
PIC
https://i.postimg.cc/QxdXKjWf/Filling-Station-FS-148.jpgThere's a GM NOS # 608840 internal parts kit on ebay for $95.00
Call Scott @ Llewellyn for a better deal .
Then you'll need ( 2 ) new NOS Studs GM # 377992 .
PIC
https://i.postimg.cc/fy0NzRPL/Tie-Rod-End-Studs-GM-NOS.jpgDan's GM Obsolete
Chinook , Montana
phone - 406 - 357 - 2615
Dan's has ( 1 ) GM NOS stud in stock .
Friesen Chevrolet
Sutton , Nebraska
phone - 402 - 773 - 5538
Friesen has ( 1 ) GM NOS stud in stock
Go to ebay & in the search box......type in the part #......377992
There's a couple of studs on ebay .
Then you'll need the tie rod shell / body casings
RIGHT - GM # 374226
LEFT - GM # 374227
PIC
https://i.postimg.cc/g0Kp00Kc/Tie-Rod-End-Casings-PAIR.jpgShirns GMC
Williamsport , PA.
phone - 570 - 326 - 1581
Shirns has ( 1 ) 374226 - Right
Shirns has ( 1 ) 374227 - Left
Be very careful when removing the tie rod end clamps .
They are scarcer then hen's teeth .
Do not destroy the clamps . You can save the old clamps & clean them up
and repaint them and replace the nut & bolt with grade 8 .
Clamps that I bought years ago
PIC
https://i.postimg.cc/W4bt20w1/1954-3600-Tie-Rod-end-Clamps-GM-352265-superseded-to-3902937-b.jpgIn my opinion using nearly 70 year old used or chinese parts for rebuilding your tie rods is putting
your self and other people on the road lives in DANGER .
These are not the kind of parts that you want to nickel & dime on or use used parts .
Get yourself a can of KROIL
The Shell casing will need to be soaked with kroil & maybe need some heat
to get them off of the tie rod bar . Be careful not to strip the threads on the rod .
PIC
https://i.postimg.cc/3J5cz13m/547caf1b-4662-4d3f-b60c-3e72467316c5-1-b406c7d57e4a90cdcb88a9463.jpgThe best rust buster penetrating oil I've ever used .
Hope this info helps you out .
George
'54 3600
.
