V8 HHR Build
12-20-2013, 08:01 PM
#52
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: 04-06-2010
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 655
Tie Rod Details
There are some differences between my car and the YearOne build. As I tried to copy YearOne's front steering exactly, there are 2 things I wasn't able to. One item was just welding the HHR tie rod onto the Camaro tie rod. I'm sure they did this in the interest of saving time for SEMA but let's face it, it is just unsafe. I'm sure they would have done it differently given enough time. The other item is the oil pan on an LS1 is different than the LS6 oil pan. My steering rack is not in the same location as theirs. My rack is very low in relation to my front spindles, especially as low as I will have the front end of my car. This makes an extreme "up" angle to my tie rods attaching to the spindles. To fix this problem I have decided to invert my tie rod ends and keep my tie rods somewhat level. Only problem is the spindles have a 7 degree tapered hole for the tie rod ends. To fix this I machined a couple of steel inserts to press into 3/4" inch holes I'll drill in the spindles. Once the inserts are pressed in the holes it should be fine. Of course I'll be shortening the Camaro tie rods and re threading them so it should be as good as "factory"...no welding,
12-22-2013, 07:12 AM
#58
Senior Member
Join Date: 10-19-2011
Location: N.Y.
Posts: 1,553
12-22-2013, 08:25 AM
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: 07-15-2009
Location: Waterbury CT
Posts: 2,070
Threads and builds like this are why I miss being on this site as much as I used to be. That's excellent work so far Lasater! I've often looked at my engine bay and wondered "hmm I'd love to have a V8 LS_ in here". You actually got off your keister and are making your thoughts a reality, kudos my friend! 
Later
Allex
Later
Allex
12-22-2013, 10:05 AM
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: 03-22-2012
Location: Rogers City, Michigan
Posts: 1,012
Brilliant!
Boydie
Boydie
There are some differences between my car and the YearOne build. As I tried to copy YearOne's front steering exactly, there are 2 things I wasn't able to. One item was just welding the HHR tie rod onto the Camaro tie rod. I'm sure they did this in the interest of saving time for SEMA but let's face it, it is just unsafe. I'm sure they would have done it differently given enough time. The other item is the oil pan on an LS1 is different than the LS6 oil pan. My steering rack is not in the same location as theirs. My rack is very low in relation to my front spindles, especially as low as I will have the front end of my car. This makes an extreme "up" angle to my tie rods attaching to the spindles. To fix this problem I have decided to invert my tie rod ends and keep my tie rods somewhat level. Only problem is the spindles have a 7 degree tapered hole for the tie rod ends. To fix this I machined a couple of steel inserts to press into 3/4" inch holes I'll drill in the spindles. Once the inserts are pressed in the holes it should be fine. Of course I'll be shortening the Camaro tie rods and re threading them so it should be as good as "factory"...no welding,