Switching from heims to tie rod ends.
Here's what I did to make my stock pitman arm work with GM 1 ton TRE's. Got a tapered insert from ballistic fab(new item), drilled a 1 inch hole where the ball socket was, and weld in the insert. The hole is a little bigger than an inch at one end. so I was able to tilt the insert a little to get more droop on the draglink.
Link

Sorry for bad pics I'll get better ones later.





What do you guys think about welding to the pitman arm? I think it's cast steel, which should be fine to weld to. And yes that is the tack-tack-tack method, I was afraid of penetrating through the insert. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

baldy(d50 with a 350sbc and SAS) did that to his

I haven't been able to find a shop in Denver that would touch this with a 10' poll. No matter how many people have done this - its STILL A BAD IDEA. 'Nuff said.

Besides the obvious neck area IMHO these are the two areas that a failure might most likely occur.



The problem is if it DOES break there's a very good chance you won't have to worry about it. Ever. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Edward

why not weld on some support on the neck? beef that [censored] up a bit. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Baldy110...PM him over on pirate

There is a correct way to do this, but it takes some serious skill, knowledge and a specific wire. I would rockwell test it to figure out the preheat and post heat temps then I would weld it using 71M wire in a single pass WITHOUT weaving and burn into the start of the weld 1/4" to eliminate any inclusion. While doing the proper cooldown I would META-LAX the part, this changes the frequency of the pitman arm to be consistant through the arm and the weld. That's how i do it at work.






Now if it were me doing it for myself or anyone on the board I would add two steps; CRYO and a little RockRash Offroad sticker <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

BTW, you didn't get enough penetration. Grind out your welds and do it in a single pass, keep your heat mostly on the pitman side and without weaving let the puddle flow into the little collar just melting the top edge as you go. You don't want any ripple I know it looks cool but it's weak. Preheat to oh say 150-200 degrees and you could do a slow cool down after you weld by throwing it in your hot oven and slowly decreasing the temp maybe 50 degrees every 10 minutes, your oven should go to 500. You could also take it to a good machine shop and they can CRYO the part for you, should be less than $35.

Where this is plug welded I would tig the part so I have better heat control during the work. The arms have a decent alloy for welding although I have not sent any out for analysis.

I will not get near a structural part that has been Mig welded, I just do not want to learn if it was done by a pro who understands the process or someone at home with a little 110V box.
The weld on that arm look like they were done at home.

Can you not just ream the hole in the arm to what you need?

One thing I get into building Rally cars is elongating the slot in the joints to gain travel. Many of the rubber boots are available to close the joints back up.
Unfortunately the only off road trucks I get recently are Land Rovers and they are weird, or is that the owners are?

Thanks for the replys guys.
Looks like I'll be rewelding this with Toasty's method, or taking it to a friend of mine who TIG's for a living.

Toasty, my wife would kill me if I put car parts in her oven, can the pre/post heat be applied with an oxy/acet. torch.(I guess there would be no easy way to regulate the temps with a torch.) If not maybe I'll do it while she's at work. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />
Then again, Maybe this method is a little above my skill level.



Wish it was that easy but, the hole is too big once you pull the ball out of the socket.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and I'll add some gusseting to the sides while I'm at it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />