C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

All------


By the way, if anyone out there has a 1963-82 Corvette which they believe has an "untouched" front steering linkage, you could look to see which tie rod ends have the yellow dye "blotch" on them. That might be the easiest way to settle this.

There's just got to be someone out there with an ultra low mile 78 Silver Anniversary or Pace Car. That should answer it for all 63-82.

[Jim S.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

1. There are no Chevrolet drawings in the Saginaw archives. So little to no hope of finding the actual assembly or tie rod end drawings.

2. If there are people with cars with unmolested linkage systems it would be good if you could report if you have tie rod adjuster tubes with a groove (indicating LH threads) on one of the tube ends. Then, is the groove on the outer or the inner end of the tube. This should answer the question as to LH or RH outboard tie rod ends.

Jim

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

Here are some pictures of my 64. Now its not quite an "unmolested linkage system" since I cleaned (removed black coat) and added yellow for NCRS judging, however these items have not been replaced. I did discover that yellow paint still existed on the L & R inner joints under the boot. (did document) These are ordered as Left in/out & Right in/out if the site displays them in the order uploaded.

As for the groove on the adjustment tube, can not see any - will take clamp off and verify. The outside end on the Right does not have any groove, will double check inner shortly. -- done, NO groove either. So tube does not have any grooves at all

[Harry S.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

The guy in the pit was facing forward. For toe-in he would grab the tie rod bar and turn overhand forward.

Using that logic and assuming the LH thread always had a paint swipe. Then the end with the paint swipe (LH Thread) was installed towards the left side of the car. Or, the LH thread was outboard on the drivers side and inboard on the passenger side.

Definition of Left Handed Thread: a screw thread whose helix moves upward when the screw is inserted vertically from above in a fixed mating thread and turned clockwise

Logic tells me the above can't be correct?



As I understand only the service replacement tie-rod bar had the groove. The RH thread side has a flat end and the LH thread side has a slight taper. An easy way to tell what is what.

[Jim S.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

Alan,
Thank you for your reply so quickly.
Just to clarify with what I see with your pictures of your '65 linkage.
1. I assume what you call LEFT is actually the driver side of the car.

2. When you added yellow paint to your linkage for judging, did you add it to the clamps or also to the tie rod end(s)? I can see yellow on both the LEFT Inboard and the RIGHT Inboard clamps. I can see yellow also on the LEFT inboard tie rod end and the RIGHT Inboard tie rod end.

Typically paint was added at the car assembly plant (St. Louis and/or Bowling Green) to indicate that a fastener was tightened and checked. Paint dabs were added at the manufacturing plant to help identify similar parts that might be manufactured and mixed in the plant.

3. From previous discussion, yellow paint on the tie rod ends themselves should indicate a ...6814 tie rod end with a RH thread.

4. I can't see any indication of a groove on your adjuster tubes. Possibly the groove as added at a later date.

I am drawn to the conclusion with your pictures that your car has LH treaded outer tie rods.

Jim

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

Jim,
1 L = drivers side & R = passengers side (for computer names the L/R works best.
2 Added yellow to clamps for judging events along with leaving the joints natural. In fact the entire assembly including the Idler Arm is painted black goop at Chevrolet-Buffalo before delivery to St Louis. No yellow was seen before I cleaned the assembly. The only yellow that was original was under the boot of the inside joints.
3 The inside had the yellow, can not read the numbers on any of them.
4 See Harry's post above which my Mar64 car confirms

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

All------


By the way, if anyone out there has a 1963-82 Corvette which they believe has an "untouched" front steering linkage, you could look to see which tie rod ends have the yellow dye "blotch" on them. That might be the easiest way to settle this.

There's just got to be someone out there with an ultra low mile 78 Silver Anniversary or Pace Car. That should answer it for all 63-82.

My 65 fits the bill. It has the yellow paint only on the inner two tie rod ends.

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

2. If there are people with cars with unmolested linkage systems it would be good if you could report if you have tie rod adjuster tubes with a groove (indicating LH threads) on one of the tube ends. Then, is the groove on the outer or the inner end of the tube. This should answer the question as to LH or RH outboard tie rod ends.

Jim

Mine has an 1/8" groove on one end of each tube and it is installed so the groove is outboard (closest to the wheel).

Some additional info. The tie rod ends have the following casting numbers:
Drivers side - outside - 269B, inside - 267B
Pass, side - outside - 269A, inside 267A

[Terry M.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

All------


By the way, if anyone out there has a 1963-82 Corvette which they believe has an "untouched" front steering linkage, you could look to see which tie rod ends have the yellow dye "blotch" on them. That might be the easiest way to settle this.

There's just got to be someone out there with an ultra low mile 78 Silver Anniversary or Pace Car. That should answer it for all 63-82.

Joe,

My 1970 has never had the tie rods apart. The yellow mark is inboard on both sides.

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

All------


OK, I think we can be pretty well assured that the Chevrolet information I have is incorrect as to the part number of the inner and outer tie rod ends.

We know, for sure, that it is the RH threaded tie rod end, GM #3826814, that has the yellow "splotch". Since these are found on the INNER tie rod ends, the 3826814 is the INNER tie rod end. Therefore, the OUTER tie rod end has to be the LH threaded GM #3826596. This is the opposite of what GM says in parts information, so this information is incorrect.

I'd still like to hear from some folks with later C3's (like the numerous, low miles 1978 Pace Cars that are around) to see if there might have been any difference in the orientation of the tie rod ends in later years. I doubt there would have been, but it would be nice to confirm it.

Also, has anyone noted a blue dye "splotch" on the outer tie rod ends?

[Alan D.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

Just a little more information (to add to confusion) that seems to verify that the rights were painted yellow.
The P&A Cat (12-71) lists 3737596 as RH unit for 53-62 with daub of yellow paint, forged # 3691956 nothing mentioned about blue.

[Jim D.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

Also, has anyone noted a blue dye "splotch" on the outer tie rod ends?

No blue on mine, but my steering knuckles have 2 green, 1 white and 1 orange marks on them. Pretty colorful.

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

1. There are no Chevrolet drawings in the Saginaw archives. So little to no hope of finding the actual assembly or tie rod end drawings.

2. If there are people with cars with unmolested linkage systems it would be good if you could report if you have tie rod adjuster tubes with a groove (indicating LH threads) on one of the tube ends. Then, is the groove on the outer or the inner end of the tube. This should answer the question as to LH or RH outboard tie rod ends.

Jim

Jim-----


I believe these steering linkage assemblies were manufactured at Chevrolet-Buffalo. I also expect that most, if not all, of the component parts were manufactured there, too. Chevrolet-Buffalo later became part of "Saginaw Division". Later yet it was "spun off" with other Saginaw Division and GM plants to become American Axle and Machine (AAM). So, maybe AAM has the drawings somewhere. I think that AAM wanted to shut down the Buffalo plant but I don't know if that's happened.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

All------


OK, I think we can be pretty well assured that the Chevrolet information I have is incorrect as to the part number of the inner and outer tie rod ends.

We know, for sure, that it is the RH threaded tie rod end, GM #3826814, that has the yellow "splotch". Since these are found on the INNER tie rod ends, the 3826814 is the INNER tie rod end. Therefore, the OUTER tie rod end has to be the LH threaded GM #3826596. This is the opposite of what GM says in parts information, so this information is incorrect.

I'd still like to hear from some folks with later C3's (like the numerous, low miles 1978 Pace Cars that are around) to see if there might have been any difference in the orientation of the tie rod ends in later years. I doubt there would have been, but it would be nice to confirm it.

Also, has anyone noted a blue dye "splotch" on the outer tie rod ends?

Dont feel too bad about that. The parts stores have had it wrong since day one, and still do. Maybe this is why.

[Jim S.]

Re: C2 65 Tie Rod Ends

I just eMailed an owner where he had purchased an "outer tie rod" kit from Zip Products. It contained two tie rod ends, one RH and one LH. So the RH/LH thread problem is pretty pervasive throughout the industry.

Jim