The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
3 members (3800GUY, Otto Skorzeny, Shade Baby), 108 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,088
Posts1,056,414
Members48,443
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
I'm in the midst of a steering upgrade on my 46 and I can't find a machine shop with any tie rod reamers. I bought tie rod ends suggested in the forum, one has a 10 degree taper and the other a 7 degree taper. I really don't want to spend $160+ for the reamers but after calling several machine shops I've yet to find one with the reamers to do the job.

I live near Upper Marlboro, MD and would appreciate advice on a machine shop that would be able to ream the pitman arm and steering arm or if anyone wants to loan/rent/sell a 7 and 10 degree reamer I would appreciate that too.

Thanks for any help!

Dave

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,826
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,826
You don't need a reamer- - - -the taper can be bored on a lathe by any machinist worthy of the name. How long are the steering arms that need to be modified?
Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
I am actually trying to replace the original drag link with a more modern setup and that's where the tapered tie rod ends enter the picture. The parts that need a reamed hole are the pitman arm and the link arm (the two pieces the drag link connects). I am not sure this could be done on a lathe.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,826
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,826
I have done many similar things while building round track race cars. The only limiting factor is the radius the lathe can swing and the machinist's imagination.
Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,878
G
.
.
G Offline
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,878
I have a 1.5”/ foot taper reamer for ball joints and similar. It is 7/16” on small end, and 1” on large.
That works out to 7.125* Not sure if your 7* spec is rounded from an inches per foot taper, the more common description for these things.

I don’t mind loaning it locally if it returns in a timely fashion and undamaged.


•1951 GMC 250 in the Project Journals
•1948 Chevrolet 6400 - Detroit Diesel 4-53T - Roadranger 10 speed overdrive - 4 wheel disc brakes
•1952 Chevrolet 3800 pickup
---All pictures---
"First, get a clear notion of what you desire to accomplish, and then in all probability you will succeed in doing it..." -Henry Maudslay-
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
Thanks Jerry and Grigg. Grigg, I will send you a PM.

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,826
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,826
Speedway Motors has both reamers- - - -$79.95 for one and $89.95 for the other:

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Tapered-Ball-Joint-Reamer-7-Degree,2918.html

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Speedway-Tapered-Ball-Joint-Reamer-10-Degree,29005.html

Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,214
M
'Bolter
'Bolter
M Offline
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,214
Dave,

I have an old reamer I believe is 7*, range is 3/8" to 1". It not new and I don't know how sharp it is. I'm about 40 min south of Upper Marlboro...bring your parts down and we can give it a try.

Mike B smile


Mike Boteler

1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod
1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep
1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo
1984 Jeep CJ7
+++++
Silver Spring, MD
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
Thank you Jerry. It may not come to that as Mike B has offered to lend a hand.
David

Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 138
Mike, I sent you a PM.
Thanks, David


Moderated by  Bill Marlow, SWEET 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0