Well there is another option out there, much cheaper, not easier...but works the same and quality is in your hands. DIY my friend. BTW its so rewarding to make things yourself!
Ok so as you can tell i am talking about making your own torq bar.
Its quite easy in a sense, a little time and creativity and plenty of mesuring will net you a cheap alternative to the hefty price tag of the ones offered in the aftermarket scene.
The way i went about it is like this.
I went to the local home depot (harware store) and picked myself up a stick of 3/4 black pipe (steel pipe, its in the plumbing section) and a smaller width to (forgot the dia), that cost me around $10 total.
then i picked up some 1/4" by1" steel plate ( i think it was around 2 feet worth), and some 1/4" by 2" steel plate aswell.
I then picked up two M12 bolts and nuts.
THEN... Oh yeah.. i yanked the tie rod ends off the parts car i have in the backyard (72 super) and used the LEFT HAND THREAD tie rod to use at one end of the torq bar rods (the ones that go from the frame horns to the center bar)
OK, so i made my own clevis style rod ends (you can buy real nice looking ones for around $10-20 each, in left and right hand thread).
I used the 1/4 by1" plate to form the sides of the clevis end, then drilled holes in all the sides (8 total) using the first side as a jig to drill all the rest.
then i weled the sides onto the M12 bolts to create a one off clevis end. you can form them to look nice and pro like to, or leave them square and bulky if your lazy,,, i formed them to look slick.
I used the tie rod ends to make the left hand thread clevis, i cut off the ball and used the shaft/threaded portion for the clevis end.
Not to deep into it , but ya get an idea.
Mine turend out super well after i cleaned it all up and sandblasted it all and gave it a nice coat of black epoxy paint.
looks a lot like the TG fab brace, simple, clean and work... the kafer cup bar takes a bit more clearancing on a car like mine around the stock bolt body area, i own a 74 super beetle.
I think i only spent around $35-40 on everything, from the metal to the paint.
i will try to get pics, i got my Digi cam program on this comp now so i hope i can load up some pics of what i have been up to the past couple of months.
Later,
Jonathan
__________________
FULL SPEED AHEAD, HARD AND FAST!
Current cars:
-74 Super Beetle
-86 Vanagon Syncro
-64 sunroof bug
-73 thing
Last edited by super vw; August 12th 2004 at 23:19.
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