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Heeeeelp! trying to understand what the previous rebuilder did. 3 questions.
I'm making progress on a re rebuild but running into some problems trying to understand what was already done. first is the Volare front clip that is in there. I thought I knew what year and model it came out of but when I ordered the parts to update it I found that my brake caliper bleeder was on the wrong end and the lower control arm ball joint is a pressed fit one but the part I ordered was the screw in type. I think I'm using the wrong make and model to order parts of off. Any one know how to Identify the clip make model and year?
second is the rear suspension. there are four holes about and inch in front of the rear mount for the leaf springs. same spacing as the ones that the leaf spring is in now. Did the person who did this truck the first time drill new holes to lower the truck some.
Third is the rear end in use. I found a tag on it but I thought some one could tell me pretty quick with at picture if it is the original rear end or not.
The volare clip
holes if front of the mount match the ones used
not the best picture of the rear end but is that stock?
Can't help you with the Volare thing, but the rear spring hangers definitely appear to be moved. Originally they were installed with rivets, not bolts, so someone had reason to alter the mounting location, either with longer springs or to get more travel from collapsed leaves. I don't see how the modification would result in lowering the truck, though. They didn't change the mounting height.
Sounds like the calipers are reversed, swap the left with the right and the bleeders will be back on top. The upper ball joint is a screw-in, can't remember what the lower is...all of these IFS should be the same, not sure that I can recall a year model difference.
Most of the stuff looks like a 80's rebuild. Volare frontends were practically a bolt in and with the torsion bars could be set at a desired height without lots of planning. 9" rearends have always been the rearend of choice as well. The movement of the rear spring mounts isn't something that was normal. Although some guys changed over to wider F100 leaf springs, shackles and mounts to do away with the brass bushings and pins.when you did this the mounts had to be relocated.
Thank you for all the insight guys. I appreciate it very much. I will try to swap the rotors and dig into that rear end a little more with the tag number. the front end doner mystery will take a little more work but I have a few ideas. ill update if I can figure something out.
The front end could also be Monaco, Diplomat, Aspen in addition to the Volare. I, like Charlie, do not recall much difference between except some of the Diplomats and Monaco's ran bigger brakes on the front, heavier car and used for cabs and cop cars.
little update here on the volare front clip. searching through amazon parts I fount that the calipers I ordered only fit the 1980 volare. the bleeder and inlet are on opposite sides. that's the one I ordered. for 1976-1979 there is a different part number and the inlet and bleeder are on the same side. that's the part that fits my front end. As for the lower control arm ball joint, there are two part numbers that say they fit all years from 1976-1980 on all configurations. one is threaded and one is not. obviously they don't really work on everything. All the other parts ive ordered for the front say they fit all years as well. so I should be good with them and I haven't checked them against all the other models Dave mentioned but I feel pretty certain I can order any parts off a 1976-1979 volare for them to work. That's about as unscientific as it gets but I think its good enough for amateur hour.
Also the rear suspension is moved back on the front and back mount equally so I think they did that to center the wheel in the well. I didn't see the front mount had been moved before I posted this.
I haven't looked up the rear end to see where it came from yet but thanks to you guys I at least know that all the mounts and weld ons and such were done custom so I can grind them away and put them back in more functional places.
On my volare front end which I believe is a 1980, I have thread in upper ball joints and press fit lower ball joints. I just ordered all new bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends, adjust sleeves, idler and pitman arms from rock auto. I didn't go high end and everything was $120 shipped.
I would upgrade yours bolts on the rear spring hangers to grade 8, they appear to be grade 5. Never hurts to have that extra strength in a high load location.
@3golfjack, I went to out home depot today looking for better bolts but they are pretty limited it what they offer. I live on a small island in the middle of the salty pacific ocean so I would like to get some better hardware. Do you know of a good online source to get bolts and such from?
X2 on bolt depot. Fastenal is another source. I get a lot of my bolts at the local Farm Store. They have Grades 2, 5 & 8 and even some bolts in UNF like a lot are on our trucks. OBTW they sell them by the pound instead of by each like other bolt vendors.
02-27-2016, 02:22 AM
