70XL

These might show what you're asking about.

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1970 XL, 351W originally 2V, now 4V
670 Street Avenger, Edlebrock Performer intake, Comp XE262H, Flowtech Headers

puttster

thx, I see one of the supplied foam washers on the joint with the ball joint. So think of them as dust shields, eh?

Does a new idler arm mean a new trip to the alignment shop?

__________________
When you're going through hell, keep going.
Putts drives a 1965 four door Galaxie. Rebuilt 390. 4100 on a Performer, AC, PS, PB w scarebird front discs, COM MX transm w/3.0 R.E. The seats, dash and hood are customized.

70XL

The normal answer would be yes to an alignment after replacing front end parts, but you can drive it and see how it works. I replaced the idler arm, all ball joints and the front springs, but still haven't gone for an alignment. I still have to cut the new springs down and have new bushings for the control arms and strut rods, so I'll get an alignment when I'm finished that other work. My car drives and tracks fine, so I'm not concerned over putting the alignment off.

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1970 XL, 351W originally 2V, now 4V
670 Street Avenger, Edlebrock Performer intake, Comp XE262H, Flowtech Headers

wildosvt01

70XL, What year,model car are your headers for?

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Wildo
1965 Galaxie Fastback-351C 2v/C4 with a 3.50 Trac-Loc
2007 Torch Red Shelby GT500
2004 Marauder/2004 Cobra

Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign!!

ShotRod64

In some cases you could probably drive it with no alignment and seem fine but it might have a slight problem that takes a while to show up in your tire wear.

70XL

They are Flowtech 12100's. You can look for applications for 72 Torino's. Look at Hooker 6901's, which were my first choice, but not available at the time I needed them.

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1970 XL, 351W originally 2V, now 4V
670 Street Avenger, Edlebrock Performer intake, Comp XE262H, Flowtech Headers

puttster

I got the idler arm off, but as I did so I could hear the nuts fall down into the frame. My instructions say to attach the new arm using the old hardware! I don't see where you can fish the nuts out of there; how do you secure the new arm?

Tom

__________________
When you're going through hell, keep going.
Putts drives a 1965 four door Galaxie. Rebuilt 390. 4100 on a Performer, AC, PS, PB w scarebird front discs, COM MX transm w/3.0 R.E. The seats, dash and hood are customized.

64Ragtop

If you can't fish them out and you can't get a new one in I would drill through the frame and use a long grade 8 bolt like the way the steering box is bolted on.

70XL

D'OH! I suppose if there are no other holes big enough to get the nuts out of, and a magnet inside the frame rail, then a long bolt and nut (lock nut) like 64Ragtop suggests, would seem to be the simplest solution. Luckily I did not have that problem.

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1970 XL, 351W originally 2V, now 4V
670 Street Avenger, Edlebrock Performer intake, Comp XE262H, Flowtech Headers

puttster

Here is the situation. The lower bolt can still be attached. The nut is being held in place by a little place of angle iron, you can see part of it coming out of the hole. So apparently you are supposed to hold that down while torquing in the bolt. The nut for the other hole is the one that dropped down into the frame. What a ridiculous design!

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__________________
When you're going through hell, keep going.
Putts drives a 1965 four door Galaxie. Rebuilt 390. 4100 on a Performer, AC, PS, PB w scarebird front discs, COM MX transm w/3.0 R.E. The seats, dash and hood are customized.

wildosvt01

Due to the problem with the clip nut's failing. We took a washer and welded a nut to it (the correct size the the bolt). Then took a scrap piece of steel strip (1/2 x 7") and welded that to the nut/washer combo. Put a bend on the strip to fit in the hole in the frame then aligned it with the hole where the bolt goes. Voila.

You would need two for the idler, They go where the clip is in your picture. Obviously one is missing.

__________________
Wildo
1965 Galaxie Fastback-351C 2v/C4 with a 3.50 Trac-Loc
2007 Torch Red Shelby GT500
2004 Marauder/2004 Cobra

Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign!!

puttster

Thanks boys, that's at least two ideas I can try.

__________________
When you're going through hell, keep going.
Putts drives a 1965 four door Galaxie. Rebuilt 390. 4100 on a Performer, AC, PS, PB w scarebird front discs, COM MX transm w/3.0 R.E. The seats, dash and hood are customized.

puttster

OK I fabbed up two holders for the nuts per Wildo. But as I go to put in the idler arm, I am not sure how to proceed. Here is a pic of the new bracket and arm next to the old one. The old bracket goes all the way through the arm. There is a bushing in there and the arm turns quite freely around the bracket. It seems to me it needs to turn free or you will have to fight it at every turn.

The new bracket just slips onto the stud and is held there with a castle nut. If I torque the castle nut down waay tight (beyond the cotter pin hole) and grab the bracket with a channel lock pliers I can get it to turn around, that is, the stud will finally turn. But is is a very tough turn! Something is not right!

I got the Moog (center pic). Maybe the preassembled Raybestos one (right pic) would work better? Or should I keep my old one and press a couple of new bushings in there?

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__________________
When you're going through hell, keep going.
Putts drives a 1965 four door Galaxie. Rebuilt 390. 4100 on a Performer, AC, PS, PB w scarebird front discs, COM MX transm w/3.0 R.E. The seats, dash and hood are customized.

wildosvt01

That is the part we used on our '65. No need to over tighten the castle nut. Just tighten it so you can install the castle nut & pin and it moves free with no slop. you'll be fine.

__________________
Wildo
1965 Galaxie Fastback-351C 2v/C4 with a 3.50 Trac-Loc
2007 Torch Red Shelby GT500
2004 Marauder/2004 Cobra

Out of a job yet? Keep buying foreign!!

puttster

Well then since you and 70XL are comfortable with it.. Still, the stud turning through the hole in the bracket, metal on metal, does not seem like the ideal design. I would rather have the stud turning in the greased up ball joint!

__________________
When you're going through hell, keep going.
Putts drives a 1965 four door Galaxie. Rebuilt 390. 4100 on a Performer, AC, PS, PB w scarebird front discs, COM MX transm w/3.0 R.E. The seats, dash and hood are customized.