Need trunnion bolts for my Aero.

[Aeroman]

All you parts gurus out there, I need trunnions and bolts for Old Toby. My car may be a 1954, but it's a re-serialed 1953, so does NOT use the beefed-up parts that were used on the 226-powered Aeros. Most importantly, I need the bolts. They gully-out in time and need replacement or else the front end will collapse like mine did. Help me get my car ready for Shipshewanna.

The trunnion is part # 806651 and I need 2.
The bolt is part # 803005 and I need 4.
I also need 4 dust seals #808915, 4 trunnion "O" rings #803021 and 4 lock plates (washers) #805873. I need the grease fittings for the ends of the bolts, but they are standard zerk fittings.

[MarkH]

While trading emails with Duane Hays, the subject of trunnions came up. Duane said he'd recently found out about reproduction trunnions at Rareparts.com

I took a look, they have uppers & lowers as complete sets with bolts, seals & zerks.

http://shop.rareparts.com/smtp/shopdisplaycategories.asp?iyear=1954&imake=5002|WILLYS&imodel=6092|AERO LARK&iproduct=0040|SUSPENSION, SPRINGS & COMPONENTS

[Aeroman]

This is wonderful except which Aero do their trunnions fit?
According to my research of the parts books, there were 6 different lower trunnions listed:
1. 803215 (2.5° - discontinued late in the 1952 run, book lists the serial numbers of the cars),
2. superceded by 806651 (0° - which was also superceded if the spindle was replaced),
3. 811920 (according to a mimeograph update sheet sent to parts departments and not documented elsewhere to my knowledge) if the spindle was replaced,
4. 809364 (noted in the preliminary Lark parts book but no notice of this part number exists anywhere else so it probably never happened),
5. 811701 for 1954's (but not in the final supplement, leading me to believe it may not have been used either)
6. and 907172 for 1954's and 1955's in the final parts book supplement.
The first four numbers used "screw, pivot, trunnion, lower" 803005 which is 5/8" - 11 X 1.22, the last two used the beefier (made for 226 engine cars) 811707 "lower trunnion bolt" which is 3/4" - 11 X 4." The early models used two lower bolts, whereas the 1954-55 models used one longer bolt. The two-bolt trunnions were a weak design and could cause the wheel to collapse after years of wear. Mine did.
The upper trunnions remained the same through 1955: 803019 with 803020 ("bolt, upper control arm trunnion, 5/8" - 11 X 3.53").

So you can rest assured the upper trunnion and bolt kit is correct (their part number 15640) but which one is the lower (their part number 15736)? I will call them and follow up on this.

[MarkH]

I've wondered why they changed the camber early in production.

As for the mimeographed bulletin, it seems odd that a different trunnion would be needed with a replacement spindle, for instance, if you scorched a bearing only on one side.

Post an update when you find out what they used for a pattern.

[Aeroman]

I spoke today in depth with Leslie at RareParts.com. Their upper trunnions will work for all the US-made Aeros and maybe the Brazilians, I don't know. The lower trunnions they carry are definitely for the 1952-53 cars and early 1954's (re-serialed 1953's) because they are 5/8" and not 3/4." Which one are they, probably the ones for the 0° original trunnions. She is going to research and get back to me. She is also going to see if they can get the 5/8" bolts on their own. That is what we all need. More as I find out.