poly radius arm bushings
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poly radius arm bushings
So between our Oregon rainouts and the Daytona 500 rain delays I was able to remove a radius arm on my 68 F250 2wd to replace it with an arm with a shock mount and replace the bushings. The poly bushings I have do not seem to want to fit onto the arm. The parts house lists one bushing for many many years of these trucks, so I'm figuring someone out there must know how to get these things on. Do I boil them with the mac & cheese to soften them up and jam them on before they harden back up or what??
Also, the fellow I bought the thing from says it's a 390, but the door tag says 360. It does have a 4bbl on it, and looks like someone has replaced it at some time, so is there and easy way to figure out what this oil encrusted lump is? Judging from the way this guy screwed the steering up, I don't think he knows much about what's under the hood. I guess maybe I don't either if I'm having to ask. Kinda new to old Ford trucks.
Also, the fellow I bought the thing from says it's a 390, but the door tag says 360. It does have a 4bbl on it, and looks like someone has replaced it at some time, so is there and easy way to figure out what this oil encrusted lump is? Judging from the way this guy screwed the steering up, I don't think he knows much about what's under the hood. I guess maybe I don't either if I'm having to ask. Kinda new to old Ford trucks.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Elizabeth City, NC
poly radius arm bushings
To tell 390 from 360 measure the stroke. There are previous threads on how to do this. I can't remember he exact procedure. 360 has 3.25" stroke and a 390 has 3.5" stroke.
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: All over Texas
poly radius arm bushings
Ditto above, I installed polyurethane bushings with no problems. I can't imagine any manufacturer making a product that must be boiled prior to installation. Sounds like you got the wrong size.
360 v. 390 is a primarily stroke difference. Neither came with a 4 bbl carb from the factory on a truck. The 360 has a 3.5" stroke and the 390 has a 3.78" stroke. Remove #1 plug. Bring #1 up to TDC. Insert a small diameter rod/pipe cleaner, etc. and make a mark. Take #1 down to BC and remeasure. The difference is your stroke distance.
360 v. 390 is a primarily stroke difference. Neither came with a 4 bbl carb from the factory on a truck. The 360 has a 3.5" stroke and the 390 has a 3.78" stroke. Remove #1 plug. Bring #1 up to TDC. Insert a small diameter rod/pipe cleaner, etc. and make a mark. Take #1 down to BC and remeasure. The difference is your stroke distance.
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poly radius arm bushings
So are these things supposed to slide on easily and be snug, or be a chore to get on? I went to three different parts houses and all had the same bushing listed for 67-76 or so F150-F250. I looked at each store and they all had the same diameter inner opening, so I'm figuring I have the correct parts. It is not a huge amount of difference in the inner diameter, enough that they won't fit on the shaft, however, and I figured the difference in height between new and old was just the old bushings being so mushroomed and worn. I've installed bushings on quite a few things before and this just seems to be kind of odd. Maybe I need to clean up the radius arm until I can get them on.
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From: Atlanta GA
poly radius arm bushings
If you are talking 1/16 of an inch, then lube them up and push them on. If you are talking 1/4, then you have the wrong bushing. Can you get it over the threads without ripping the bushing?
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From: Nor-Cal
poly radius arm bushings
If I remember right, the stock bushing setup used a steel sleeve that went inside the rubber bushings and over the radius arm shaft. Is there a chance that this is still on your arm and you are trying to put the bushing over the old sleeve? Probably rusted in place and looking just like the rest of the arm. I'm pretty sure the poly bushings I'm using (PST I think) didn't use the stock inner sleeve. Just a thought.
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poly radius arm bushings
Thanks for the help from you folks. I cleaned up the arm ends and greased everything up pretty good and shoved those suckers on. Nice tight fit, everything seems good. Discovered a seized kingpin was probably why the thing was steering so wrong. Nearly have everything back together, can't wait to be able to steer and stop the thing. It was a nice bargaining tool to get the price waaaaay down, and I would've probably wanted to at least check and clean the brakes anyway, so this hasn't been too much extra work, just a lot of learning.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
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