Thread: 1972 Chevy K30 Longhorn Build

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I've been busy working on the blue ford. The owner wants it done for this coming weekend..... We'll see about that. Every time I turn around, i'm missing bolts, a bracket, o rings, or something. It has been a real pain with a young kid that keeps asking, is it running yet?

Back to the 72. Last Friday I took my son to school and on the way home the truck started pulling pretty hard when I hit the brakes. I parked it in the front yard and figured I'd look at it Saturday. Well Saturday turned into work on the wife's truck, and help the wife out. She is pretty much bed ridden right now. She got a blood clot last week and has been in bad pain since. She is on thinners and some pain meds and I'm trying to do everything I can to keep things going. Needless to say I didn't touch the 72 this weekend.

This morning my brother stopped by to get the insurance info and plate numbers for the 72 because you need that info to register for power tour. I decided I'd move the 72 to behind the garage because it was going to rain the next day or day and a half. The front yard is pretty thrashed from people parking there after a birthday party in January, so I'm trying to keep the ruts down to a minimum.

Anyhow, I pulled the 72 up and started backing in the alley. I cranked the wheels all the way to the right and heard a loud bang, pop. Hmm, what was that? 10-15 feet later I realized I have little to no steering. I got out to see the 3 of the 4 studs that secure the steering lift block to the axle knuckle sheared off. Holly sh*t! Man am I glad I actually listened to my gut and didn't drive the truck any farther than I did. I took the only non broken stud loose and there doesn't appear to be any signs that the other studs were loose. I'm guessing 1 or 2 studs broke some time and another just let go this morning. I tried finding where I purchased the steering block kit from and couldn't find it. I then realized I got it off ebay and I'm pretty sure these studs weren't ARP ones like the ad claimed. I called the people but they won't give any info or specs on what material the studs are actually from. Live and learn. So now the 72 is parked until I can install the cross over steering I have for my 76 on this. I'll just get it in the garage and take the bed off and get it pretty'd up for power tour. I'm just so glad it broke in the drive way. That could have been a crap show to say the least!