[DeTomaso] Talked with Steve about the bushings

[asajay at asajay.com]

Hi all,

I got a chance to give Steve Wilkinson a call today.  Here is the story.

Steve has sourced two different a-arm bushings over the past couple of  
years.  The earlier style like I received last year, and a later style  
he is now shipping.

The earlier style.
This was built with a Teflon inner sleeve designed to allow the  
bushing to slide side to side easier.  Steve advises to simply use a  
rubber hammer to get the a-arms back into place, perhaps spreading the  
mounting ears a little to assist.  Once the arms are torqued to 45 ft.  
lbs they should set up just right.

The later style are a slightly different design and should slip right  
in.  As I've measured them to be short, I can attest that they will.

Steve assures me he has received questions from others regarding the  
same concerns and has told them to simply use a rubber hammer, bend  
the ears a little, get the a-arm placed and torqued, and he's had no  
complaints.

The third style that another list member sent me photos of, appear to  
be something Steve doesn't believe he's ever carried, so the jury is  
still out on that one, though that one does appear to be the best fit.

Steve did discuss with me how the lower a-arm attachment points are  
cast, and if I can't get them in I may have to change out with the  
shorter, later bushing, so I ordered up enough to replace eight  
bushings if I need to.

May I point out that Steve was very easy to work with.

Maybe my wimpy muscles just aren't enough to make it all work, or  
maybe I'm just being too much of a perfectionist in some ways and not  
in others.  <shrug>  I'll be evaluating the overall assembly, changing  
any bushings as necessary and getting this cat back together again.

Asa Jay