<VV> Warning on FC front suspension bolts

[Spencer Shepard]

Barry,

You must have a good engine and a large set of cajones to be driving an FC 
100 mph. I've had mine to 85 and it and me didn't want to go any faster.

Spence Shepard
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "D. Barry Ellison" <bars84crx at hotmail.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 12:50 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Warning on FC front suspension bolts


>I failed my initial tech inspection in Canada at Mosport due to the bolts 
>holding the upper arm were loose on one side.  They could be turned by 
>fingers.  Once that side was fixed, the other side had the same problem but 
>not quite as loose.
>
> And I was about to be running 100mph regularly.  Non-good.
>
> Thank goodness for track tech inspections.
>
> Seems like an area to check everytime you rotate tires.
>
> Barry
> usually in SC, but in TN this week for a few days.
>
>>
>>Daniel,
>>Good advice. Glad you were ok. Also, a prior owner may have replaced the 
>>proper grade of bolts with hardware store variety, which are much weaker 
>>(unless Grade Five or Eight were used as required).  We should all do 
>>safety checks routinely.
>>Chuck S
>>BBRT
>>----- Original Message ----- From: "D. Monasterio" 
>><dmonasterio at megared.net.mx>
>>To: "virtualvairs" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>>Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 10:29 PM
>>Subject: <VV> Warning on FC front suspension bolts
>>
>>
>>   Today, while driving to work in my 62 Rampside, I heard a metalic sound 
>> (a bolt falling out of place) and one second after she pulled suddenly to 
>> the right. Fortunately I was on the right lane, at about 30 mph, as I was 
>> next to turn to right and had plenty of space to stop, while trying to 
>> hold the steering wheel on a straight line. After stoping, I notice the 
>> front left wheel twisted with the upper side inboard. At inspecting below 
>> the front end, found that the 2 front bolts of the left A arm (lower) 
>> were missing. A further inspection revealed that one was broken time ago 
>> and the other one just before the incident.
>>   Towed (embarrasing) the Rampy to my shop, took the 67 cpe. and went to 
>> work. After work I took off the threaded thick plate where the bolts 
>> attach, took out the remains of the broken bolts, put new ones and 
>> checked all the other bolts on that area. Rampy is ready to work again.
>>   On the first chance I'll change all the bolts and/or fasteners on both 
>> front and rear suspensions for safety. This time I was lucky but, on 
>> different circunstances, I could provoque a fatal accident just for not 
>> thinking that bolts (as us) after more than 40 years can (and should) 
>> fatigue and fail.
>>
>>   Saludos
>>
>>   Daniel Monasterio
>>   Guadalajara, Mexico
>
>
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