Club Cobra - XKE Fulcrum Shaft Question

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XKE Fulcrum Shaft Question

Trying to install an XKE rear end in my Arntz and am still having problems.

On my XKE rear, one shaft is longer than the other.

If that's correct, which side takes the longer shaft, passenger side or driver?

Thanks,

Jim

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y31...psz86tkhxi.jpg

Jim - not an Arntz, but just a FYI - I double checked the fulcrum shafts from my two Jag diffs (series 1 and series 2) and they are all the same length - 15.25".

If I remember correctly, the very early E-Type lower control arms used narrower bearings on the inner end. Are both your control arms identical (mirrored) ?

This may help illustrate.

http://classicjaguar.com/cj/bronzeel.jpg

The fulcrum shafts should be the same length as far as I recollect. If you refer to Buzz's picture you see the difference is to the inside of the wishbones. The fulcrum pivots that bolt to the rearend are different to accommodate the different bearing sizes.
As a side note,,, the wishbones should be reinforced with a gusset at all four points. 3/16" plate correctly fitted and CORRECTLY welded is all that is necessary. I seem to remember that 2"-3" Triangle pieces are sufficient. Make sure when welding to cross tack and weld opposing sides to prevent twisting of the wishbone to shaft.

I took the fulcrum brackets off, and the shafts are the same length, so I have another problem somewhere. I'll check and see what I did wrong.

Today I mounted the stripped rear end chunk with the top bolts to the frame so I could check the brackets that I welded up the holes and redrilled.

When I tried to slide the bare fulcrum shafts through the brackets and into the Arntz frame noticed they were off a little.

So, I redrilled them again and welded up the ones I repaired and now the fulcrum shafts slide in easily into the Arntz frame. I did have to shim the flat side of the mounting points on the brackets on the RH side, and shim up the flat on the LH side.

After I get this wishbones installed on the fulcrum shafts and install the shafts into the frame I'll know more about what happening.

Edit: I had the wishbones installed upside down, don't know why it would make a difference but the shafts are equal length now.

At least I will now know that the fulcrum brackets are mounted correctly.

Thanks,

Jim

Did You weld up the holes in the brackets or the 3rd member?

I welded the front holes in the fulcrum brackets and redrilled them (twice)

Finally got the rods to work in the Arntz frame holes, and bolted them up.

Thanks,

Jim