Did I hose up on ibeam pivot bolts?

[Banjo]

Ok, I noted my stock 68 ibeam pivot bolts were inserted from different sides and duplicated that. HOWEVER, I used new grade 8 bolts/nuts. Given hard to find grade 8 in larger sizes, I had to use some bolts about 1 or 1.5 inches longer than stock. Now I'm thinking will they bang ibeams? How close do ibeams come when driving, I know they go up and down. Maybe I'm just concerned because I haven't tightened everything up yet (pivot bolts) and havent hung radius arms yet (maybe that'll pull them farther apart). Banjo.

[fordman]

you could always sawzall the ends off wfter installation. i dont know how the original bolts go in so i might be giving you bad advise.

[Banjo]

Well, I got peeved and knocked the new bolts back out and replaced with the stock length ones, but used new grade 8 nuts. What I am kinda confused about though is driver side ibeam pivot bolt ran from radiator side while pass side ibeam pivot bolt ran from firewall side forward (stock). It really looked to me like they both should have been bolted opposite so the threads/nuts would be facing out and not toward the other ibeams. Not done yet, just got so peeved and getting dark I had to quit.

[Banjo]

I don't think my prior statement made sense. In other words, you'd think if bolt HEADS were on the inside (between ibeams), you wouldn't have to worry about length of bolts. But, that's NOT how they are inserted stock (or someone had put mine in backwards before me)...
On the new (longer) grade 8 ibeam pivot bolts I was just trying to use, they were getting uncomfortably close (threads) to the other ibeam and I was concerned they'd possibly make contact. Does that make sense?

[theskytoucher]

the heads of the bolts should face the other ibeam as you were thinking!!! I learned this the hard way!!!

[72stepside]

If you don't put them in with the heads between the beams, they will bind up. Learned the hard way. Truck was sitting ****-eyed and no suspension travel on one side. Beam was sitting on threaded end of bolt.

[Banjo]

well DANG! Then I get to knock bolts out (again)!!! That's funny they were in the other way, and I don't think front end had ever been rebuilt and truck drove that was at least a decade I know of, but it does make sense (to me) bolt heads ought to go between ibeams w/threads/nuts facing OUTwards. I'm so mad if them guys on bikes w/skinny black ties and white shirts wanted to show up and give me literature and "witness" before me, right now, I'd have to pistol whip one of them in front of the neighbors to relieve some tension....just kidding....... Banjo.