Parts search

[Steelerfan]

I have a 67 alpine, series v. I'm looking for upper rocker arms to correct a steering issue. I was told by my mechanic that there are upper and lower rocker arms, and they make a kit for the lower ones, but not the upper ones. I may be way off base here, since I'm no mechanic.

I also have an opportunity to acquire a parts car. It's pretty rough, and the owner thinks he had the same issue. Again, no mechanic here, and hurdles are storage, disassembling, storage of parts, etc. I know the number of Alpines left out there is finite, so I hate to pass it up. Is there a specific forum on here strictly for swapping, selling, trading parts?

Diane

Ps, I'd like to post a pic, but not sure how.

 

[sunalp]

Hi Diane,

You don't really have to be a mechanic, but a good workshop manual for your car would help you understand how things work and how they go together.

Your mechanic probably meant A arms, not rockers as as they have nothing to do with steering. The parts you'd need are bushings and upper and lower
ball joints. These parts are available from either Classic Sunbeam or Sunbeam Specialties.

By the way, both of these suppliers are a great place to attain knowledge
about what is and is not correct for your car.

As far as a parts car go, they are most often a great source for hard to find
parts. As far as a specific forum, there is a for sale and wanted section that you can use to either sell parts or find them.

Hope this helped!

 

[Tom H]

Diane,

Just help clarify. Rocker arms are part of the engine. We are 99% sure that your mechanic meant A-Arms or A frames. They are called A Frames because they are in the shape of an A, with a ball joint at the tip of the A and a pair of swivel bushings at the ends of the two legs.

There is a manual on-line and here is a link to the section on Front suspension:
http://www.rootes1725cc.info/wsm145/WSM145_F-Frames.htm

Page 10 shows a pretty clear picture of the Upper A-Frame. You can clearly see the upside down A shape. There are replaceable bushings at the point shown between E and F on the drawing. And you can see the round top of the ball joint that that attaches to the stub axle for the front wheels. These bushings and the ball joints are replaceable and available. There is a similar (but larger) lower A frame below this upper one. See drawings on other pages. The lower A-Frame bushings and ball joints are also replaceable and available. I do not know of any "kit" for either, but typically the bushings come as a complete set for all eight swivel joints: upper bushings: front, back, left and right side all the same type, and Lower bushes, front, back right and left a bit larger than the uppers, I think, but all included in one set for the whole car. The ball joints are available individually upper ones fit either side and and lower ones fit either side.

Doing this work takes skill and knowledge. My expectation is that the mechanic you have spoken to is not familiar with these old British cars, nor the parts suppliers. I am pretty sure there are such mechanics in the Pittsburgh area. Most are probably more familiar with MG's but would have similar understanding; Here is a listing of such in PA:

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/garages/Pennsylvania.html

This one: http://www.mcbautosport.com/service.html

In Bridgeville is not too far from Cranberry and seems competent.

And you can see the suspension even better on page 11 of the SS Catalog:
http://rootes.com/catalog3color.pdf#page=1



Tom

 

[Paul A]

Great response, Tom! As usual you are very helpful to new owners facing the realities of these wonderful old cars. Thanks!

Diane,

Just help clarify. Rocker arms are part of the engine. We are 99% sure that your mechanic meant A-Arms or A frames. They are called A Frames because they are in the shape of an A, with a ball joint at the tip of the A and a pair of swivel bushings at the ends of the two legs.

There is a manual on-line and here is a link to the section on Front suspension:
http://www.rootes1725cc.info/wsm145/WSM145_F-Frames.htm

Page 10 shows a pretty clear picture of the Upper A-Frame. You can clearly see the upside down A shape. There are replaceable bushings at the point shown between E and F on the drawing. And you can see the round top of the ball joint that that attaches to the stub axle for the front wheels. These bushings and the ball joints are replaceable and available. There is a similar (but larger) lower A frame below this upper one. See drawings on other pages. The lower A-Frame bushings and ball joints are also replaceable and available. I do not know of any "kit" for either, but typically the bushings come as a complete set for all eight swivel joints: upper bushings: front, back, left and right side all the same type, and Lower bushes, front, back right and left a bit larger than the uppers, I think, but all included in one set for the whole car. The ball joints are available individually upper ones fit either side and and lower ones fit either side.

Doing this work takes skill and knowledge. My expectation is that the mechanic you have spoken to is not familiar with these old British cars, nor the parts suppliers. I am pretty sure there are such mechanics in the Pittsburgh area. Most are probably more familiar with MG's but would have similar understanding; Here is a listing of such in PA:

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/garages/Pennsylvania.html

This one: http://www.mcbautosport.com/service.html

In Bridgeville is not too far from Cranberry and seems competent.

Tom