What size heim joints for custom tie rods? Options

[914turboford]

What size tie rods should be used to get the proper strength to make up some custom tie rods? Would 7/16" be adequate or should 1/2" be used?
Brian

[andys]

QUOTE (914turboford @ Oct 3 2005, 06:23 PM)

Other details: Street driven '73 914, Ford 2.3 turbo powered(see sig), about 200 hp for now (hopefully about 260 by next fall), 911 front end, 225/50/16's on the front. I plan to make clevises to thread into the rack in place of the rubber bushings. Then put a rod end inside the clevis. I plan to drill non tapered holes through the tapered ball joint holes in the steering arms like I did when I performed this mod on my Ford 5.0 EFI powered Mitsu pickup into which I installed Mustang power R&P. For that truck I used 9/16" rods which was probably overkill. One consideration, of course, is how much material is left of the steering arm after you drill out the tapered hole. My 911 steering arms look pretty dainty in this area but I figured this would be a fairly straightforward question.

Brian,

As others' have suggested, why not simply go with the turbo tie rod kit? It gets rid of that rubber joint that you seem concerned with. IMO, you gain everything you're looking to fix, unless I'm mis-interpreting something. BTW, I'd suggest staying with (stock) tapered fasteners for your steering controls.

Andys