HOW TO Big block hubs with machined hubs/knuckles
Note: "Proper" in quotes in the title, I've got no experience of using the ones machined for Nova bearings and I'm sure with the proper machinework are perfectly safe.
I did this recently on my Nova so figured some info here would be good. I used the following post by Chip on Vauxsport so hats off to him for the excellent information and measurements:
http://www.vauxhall-sport-forum.com/...ly-t16071.html
What you need:
- Standard Nova knuckles
- Standard 'big block' hubs (about £35 each for FEBI items from VauxhallWorldParts)
- Audi 80/VW Golf Synchro bearings, checking measurements with the link above. Some useful part numbers to get them (Thanks to Matthew172 for the info): BRT bearings: BRT 1299, QH: QWB 510, First Line: FBK 081
- A machinist
Summary of what you need to do:
- Get the ID of the Nova knuckle opened out to the OD of the new Audi bearing. Regroove the circlip grooves to use the ones from the bearing kit
- Machine the new inner hub to look like a "very machined" hub you can buy off the shelf but don't reduce the OD of the inner bearing part at all. If you don't have one of the heavily machined ones to show the machinist this is roughly what you want doing, touching the shiny silver parts only:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/HubMachineWork.JPG
- Press them together as you would normally with the new bearings and check they spin/don't catch anywhere
Couple more pics:
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2a/564.JPG
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2a/603.JPG
http://iainel.co.uk/images/forums/NovaWIP2a/604.JPG
Hope this helps?! At least its somewhere to put all information regarding the subject...