Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**CMars45000** · 10-07-2006, 07:36 PM

Just curious if you welded the whole thing or stitch welded it like 3" of bead and 3" no weld...?

qksilver · 10-07-2006, 08:18 PM

The longer the welds the stronger it will be

*72CSTC5* · 10-07-2006, 08:21 PM

skip the reinforcement kit and just run a few stitches between the trailing arm halves.

glock35ipsc · 10-07-2006, 10:40 PM

I fully welded mine. Weld 4", skip 4", weld 4", skip 4", and so on. Then come back and weld the rest.

I'm not sure what a kit cost, but I just bought 1/8" flat bar. Cost about $20-$25.

**CMars45000** · 10-07-2006, 11:20 PM

Yeah I welded mine on today...I was just curious how others had done it...

I went full bore and welded the whole thing in addition to three 6" welds down each "valley" between the beams...

I just bought the kit from early classic because it is hard enough to find the time to weld the darn thing on let alone get down to buy some steel.

chevy_fatman · 10-08-2006, 01:09 AM

Just do what the PO of my truck did, box the whole thing

jodydewey · 10-16-2006, 02:12 PM

I was always told when you are welding large items you are not supposed to weld them all the way down. If a crack forms it will go the length of the weld. If the welds are separated by a gap when a crack forms it stops on the one weld. Just my two cents....

Jody

glock35ipsc · 10-16-2006, 02:17 PM

No so...... the main reason for not welding the complete length is heat. Too much heat will warp stuff. Weld in segments, then come back and fill in th empty spots. A full weld is more desirable.

We weld 1/2" to 1' steel all day, full triple-pass welds, and we weld in 5"-6" beads at a time. Then once completely welded, we come back and weld in the empty spots.

10-07-2006, 07:36 PM	#1
CMars45000 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 204	Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? Just curious if you welded the whole thing or stitch welded it like 3" of bead and 3" no weld...? __________________ Project Family Values Build Thread Vehicles/Projects: -1971 C10 SWB Fleetside! Gathering parts now, will begin frame-off resto soon... Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. -Aristotle

10-07-2006, 08:18 PM	#2
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? The longer the welds the stronger it will be

10-07-2006, 08:21 PM	#3
72CSTC5 Account Suspended Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Deer Park, Tx. Posts: 2,524	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? skip the reinforcement kit and just run a few stitches between the trailing arm halves.

10-07-2006, 10:40 PM	#4
glock35ipsc Next project: 1970 K10 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colo 80524 Posts: 6,685	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? I fully welded mine. Weld 4", skip 4", weld 4", skip 4", and so on. Then come back and weld the rest. I'm not sure what a kit cost, but I just bought 1/8" flat bar. Cost about $20-$25. __________________ *Bob* 1970 Chevy K10 LWB "Goldie" 350/TH350 *next project!!* 1981 Chevy C10 LWB 355/TH350 - My son's truck LS SWAP FORUM! Tons of LS swap info here! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE GREATEST BOARD ON THE NET! CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ INDEX by KRUE

10-07-2006, 11:20 PM	#5
CMars45000 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 204	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? Yeah I welded mine on today...I was just curious how others had done it... I went full bore and welded the whole thing in addition to three 6" welds down each "valley" between the beams... I just bought the kit from early classic because it is hard enough to find the time to weld the darn thing on let alone get down to buy some steel. __________________ Project Family Values Build Thread Vehicles/Projects: -1971 C10 SWB Fleetside! Gathering parts now, will begin frame-off resto soon... Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. -Aristotle

10-08-2006, 01:09 AM	#6
chevy_fatman Where's my beer? Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I live in the state of denial.... Posts: 5,621	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? Just do what the PO of my truck did, box the whole thing __________________ Paul How do you make the invisible, visible?.........You take it away.

10-16-2006, 02:12 PM	#7
jodydewey Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 34	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? I was always told when you are welding large items you are not supposed to weld them all the way down. If a crack forms it will go the length of the weld. If the welds are separated by a gap when a crack forms it stops on the one weld. Just my two cents.... Jody

10-16-2006, 02:17 PM	#8
glock35ipsc Next project: 1970 K10 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colo 80524 Posts: 6,685	Re: Who has installed a trailing arm reinforcement kit??? No so...... the main reason for not welding the complete length is heat. Too much heat will warp stuff. Weld in segments, then come back and fill in th empty spots. A full weld is more desirable. We weld 1/2" to 1' steel all day, full triple-pass welds, and we weld in 5"-6" beads at a time. Then once completely welded, we come back and weld in the empty spots. __________________ *Bob* 1970 Chevy K10 LWB "Goldie" 350/TH350 *next project!!* 1981 Chevy C10 LWB 355/TH350 - My son's truck LS SWAP FORUM! Tons of LS swap info here! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE GREATEST BOARD ON THE NET! CLICK HERE FOR THE FAQ INDEX by KRUE Last edited by glock35ipsc; 10-16-2006 at 02:19 PM.

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