Re: [Amc-list] Upper Trunnion bolts (58-63 American)

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Yep, the local industrial fastener supply. Might have to go to a larger city to find one, or order on-line. What you need is two 5/8" threaded steel studs, I beleive 5" long. Then you need two "jam nuts" (nuts that are about half thickness) and grade 8 lock washers to use on each end. One of the nuts could be welded to the stud, which is recommended. Doesn't have to be welded all the way around, just two or three big tack welds will hold it just fine. DO NOT attempt to use any kind of all-thread product! There is a semi-hardened all-thread, I forget the designation, but it's less than grade 8 hardness (I seem to recall it's a bit better than grade 5 though). 

The flat on the inside of the trunnion needs to be drilled for a grease zerk, then insert the pin. You may want to go one step further and do what Tom did -- grind or mill a flat along at least one side (see http://www.wps.com/AMC/1963-Rambler-American/Suspension/). 

You could get by with just partially flattening one side of the pin and have a big improvement over the factory method. The pin DOES need ot be positioned with the flat toward the grease zerk though. The pin doesn't rotate inside the trunnion -- well, it does, but only slightly as the car bounces. What I mean is once the nut is tightened on the end it won't rotate out of place. 

The factory pin was drilled half way through from one end then cross drilled in the center. Not much grease distribution at all! The threads just keep things from moving much. I loosened a trunnion up by running a 9/16" bit through the threaded hole. That knocks about 50% of the threads out. I left the pin alone, it had full threads. That slight looseness improved grease distribution dramatically without affecting the overall effectiveness of the trunnion. 

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Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:02:22 -0700 (PDT)
From: Joe Smith <know_ware@xxxxxxxxx>

Hi all,
Bruce Gasser doesn't have new trunnion bolts, so before I call Galvins, does anyone?know where I can acquire them most economically?

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)

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