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  •  » Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

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    11/20/2017 9:12 PM  #1

    Mochaman
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    From: Royse City, Texas
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 1,483

    Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Days before leaving for 2017 Bash I was getting front end aligned on car and things went haywire on the settings. Mechanic and Fatman Fab engineer with some picture evidence led to the discovery we had an older badly designed Steering arms. The Tie Rod connection was too far forward and was putting the rack and pinion into a wierd binding situation when backing up in a tight turn. Fatman stepped up and rebuilt the rack and pinion, provided new arms and teflon blocks for free. My front end is 5 - 6 years old. So they really didn't have to do anything.
    I got the new parts in, powder coated them and got everything installed. Tomorrow morning getting front end aligned again.
    The steering arms have made the turning radius much better than before. I need to take to a parking lot and really put it in a tight turn to see.
    I took some comparative pictures of the old versus new Steering Arms.



     

     

    11/20/2017 9:13 PM  #2

    Mochaman
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    From: Royse City, Texas
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

       •Thread Starter
     

    11/20/2017 9:14 PM  #3

    Mochaman
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    From: Royse City, Texas
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Final result we tie rod ends are close to aligning with the steering arms.

       •Thread Starter
     

    11/20/2017 11:42 PM  #4

    Muzz 66
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Madera, California
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 415

    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    That's quite the angle they changed. Good they came through for you. 

    '66 Fastback since July 27, 1981. Springtime Yellow, originally a 200 cu in, 4 speed. Also a '92 LX Coupe, 5.0, 5 speed.
     

    11/21/2017 8:14 AM  #5

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,438

    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Always good to hear when a company makes good.  There are so many times when all you hear are the negatives. 

     

    11/21/2017 10:06 AM  #6

    Rudi
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    From: Stuck in the 50's Welland Ca
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    I dunno, it may be just me but I get real scared when I see any welded steering components!

    Good work ain't cheap, Cheap work ain't good!   Simple Man
     

    11/21/2017 10:18 AM  #7

    6sally6
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    From: Surfside Beach,SC
    Registered: 4/02/2013
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Rudi wrote:

    I dunno, it may be just me but I get real scared when I see any welded steering components!

    Let's hope they "back-ground" the welds to get 100% penetration.
    6s6
    PS.........BTW.....Nice legs Mochaman!!!!!

    Get busy Liv'in or get busy Die'n....Host of the 2020 Bash at the Beach/The only Bash that got cancelled  )8
     

    11/21/2017 10:25 AM  #8

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Rudi wrote:

    I dunno, it may be just me but I get real scared when I see any welded steering components!

    Its all about the quality of the welds.  In the 4x4 world welded spindles and steering parts are common, and I've yet to see a failure, even with huge tires and the abuse they go through rockcrawling.  Something that thick I would definitely back bevel, and probably do a root pass and stitch pass on top with blasting in between to remove all traces of slag.  I'd have to stick weld something that thick though.  Guys with the right machines could MIG or TIG those arms. 

     

    11/21/2017 11:39 AM  #9

    rpm
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    From: Bakersfield, Ca
    Registered: 9/17/2013
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    That's gotta be a bit of a relief there Ed. Think you've got enough time to put her together for the 2018 Bash? 

    Bob. 69 Mach 1, 393W, SMOD Toploader, Armstrong  steering, factory AC.
     

    11/21/2017 10:59 PM  #10

    Mochaman
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    From: Royse City, Texas
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    She is already together, got the front end aligned this morning and drove it all day today. Steering is great now. Tighter turning radius than before. I am very happy with the results. I am looking at doing this same front end for Anna's convertible. 
     

       •Thread Starter
     

    11/22/2017 6:45 AM  #11

    Bolted to Floor
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    From: Houston, Texas
    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Wow Ed. Great customer service from Fatman. Good to hear a company stand behind their product.

    John  -- 67 Mustang Coupe 390 5 speed
     

    11/22/2017 8:12 AM  #12

    jerseyjoe
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    Registered: 4/01/2013
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    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    WoW...thats scary looking stuff.....jj

    "Never put a question mark where God put a period "  Richard Petty
     

    11/22/2017 4:42 PM  #13

    Steve-G
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    From: Glen Rose,TX
    Registered: 4/01/2013
    Posts: 544

    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Hard to say no to the car that's in a lot of your ads. Glad it's taken care of.

     

    11/24/2017 5:24 PM  #14

    almcgee
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    From: Fairview, Texas
    Registered: 6/01/2013
    Posts: 783

    Re: Update to the Fatman Fab front end.

    Think about a Borgeson.

    Mustang Steve Bash in Gruene, Texas September29-30, 2023
     

     

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