The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Draglink Ballstuds

Does anyone know if the ballstud stems for the draglink are larger than the tierod ballstuds on a 48 3100? I removed the tierod balls studs and the stems appear to be 1/2 inch. The stud on the pitman arm and on the upper steering arm appear to be a little larger? I'm using newer style tie rod ends for a draglink that I made and I would like to make sure what size the hole is before I remove the ball stud in the pitman arm.

I removed them today. They are not the same. The pitman arm is a 5/8 stem and the upper steering arm looks to be about 3/4.

rsg2506 - I did the same thing on my 37 and apparently Chevrolet didn't change anything from 37 to 48, because I found the same thing to be the case. Not only that, but the holes in the pitman arm and third (steering) arm are not tapered.

The only thing I saw that I could do was to put a bushing in those oversized holes and use the tie rod ends. I did it before I put the total assembley on the truck so I could torque down the nuts and bolts better on the bench top. I used castle nuts and used cotter pins on all the the tie rod ends. So far, it seems to be OK.