Project XTC - The Rehabilitation! (Page 4/47)
katatak APR 05, 04:47 PM
Weekend update:

Was time to tear the front suspension apart. I did the right side and the boy did the left. Now we have to do a lot of clean up, burn out the old bushings, grind off the old ball joints, paint and reassemble.

Here's the right side coming apart:



Had to torch the shock off - the only thing that was too rusted to remove with a wrench:


Took me all of 45 minutes........

And the left side:





Took him 1.5 hours to get this far - now I have to finish it. Teenagers just do not have a great attention span.

I also have to remove the inner tierods from the rack. Should have it ready for reassembly tonight.

Pat
katatak APR 06, 05:02 PM
Just a bump and a question!

Trying to figure out how to get the passenger side plastic bushing out of the end of the rack - without a lot of cursing and knucle busting. Is there a special tool I should be looking for? TIA

Pat

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 04-06-2009).]

Daredevil05 APR 06, 05:32 PM
Show us a pic of what you're talking about, I can't picture it. The car is coming along nice, wish it was mine. Just watch out on that light fixture under the fender. I had one under the hood on my Cuda and I decided to pull the heater core hose and got some coolant on the bulb. That thing blow and I couldn't see for about 30 seconds. We all laughed about later on during that day. I now use one of those light fixture incased in plastic to prevent that again.
katatak APR 06, 07:37 PM

quote
Originally posted by Daredevil05:

Show us a pic of what you're talking about, I can't picture it. The car is coming along nice, wish it was mine. Just watch out on that light fixture under the fender. I had one under the hood on my Cuda and I decided to pull the heater core hose and got some coolant on the bulb. That thing blow and I couldn't see for about 30 seconds. We all laughed about later on during that day. I now use one of those light fixture incased in plastic to prevent that again.



Thanks for the heads up on the light - it has one of those rough service bulbs but I'd bet if you hit it with any type of fluid it would blow. Sorry for no pic.....here it is! The plastic bushing has three "tabs" inside the rack tube. I can get them all squeazed in but can't get the bushing to pull out - it will spin but won't come out. I ordered the replacement bushing from RD. Hoping he has some instruction on removing the old bushing. I really wanted to get it out before the new parts get here - to install RD's new bushing, I have to polish all the rust off of the rack shaft. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Pat
katatak APR 07, 12:18 AM
The UPS Ferry paid me a visit today!



Now I gotta go to work!
katatak APR 10, 06:08 PM
Friday Update!

Got all the bushings out of the A Arms last night - started drilling them out but broke 3 bits and a knuckle or two so I resorted to burning them out. What a freakin PITA and mess. Took longer to clean up the mess then it did to get em out. Also knocked out the lower ball joints.

Today we ground off the rivets for the upper ball joints and got them off. Was a little worried how I was going to get the new lower ball joints back in. I do not have the tools to do it. Dodgerunner gave me a swift kick in the buttocks and reminded me that I could probably get a loaner tool from somewhere. I went to AZ and they had one. So I got the lower ball joints pressed in and the upper ball joints installed along with the new poly bushings.

I was reading some threads on the front poly bushings and there seems to be some debate over whether or not the thrust bushing should be trimmed, wedged in or left out entirely. I checked these out - held them up in place on the car and do not see where I have to trim them or where I would have to force/wedge them in - it is tight but I could pretty much push the a arm into place. Maybe they are slightly different on pre 88's?

So anyway, I am ready to start the reassembly process. I also got the new rack bushing and zero lash sway bar links from RD today. I'll probably get that taken care of before I stick the suspension back together. RD's instructions say that I can do it in car but I am kickng around the idea of taking the rack out so I can work on it on the bench. That's it for now - back to the garage!

Way easy when you have the right tools!

Ball Joint in - now for the Poly.

Tada!

One set done!

And the other!
Tony Kania APR 10, 09:58 PM
Nice! You are going to be so happy when you finally get all of those fresh parts on her. Is your son still helping, or are you finishing the front end yourself? He, he, he.
Frizlefrak APR 10, 10:16 PM
Pat ...as always, you do good work
katatak APR 10, 10:31 PM
Tony - I am on my own.....Guess I'll keep this one for myself (don't tell anyone but that was my original evil plan).

Dan - Thanks! Did you get my PM about the 84 Vette on craigslist?

[This message has been edited by katatak (edited 04-10-2009).]

Frizlefrak APR 10, 10:47 PM
No....didn't get the PM Was it this one?

http://elpaso.en.craigslist.../cto/1116208467.html

Doesn't look too bad. The expensive stuff is already done. But....alas....we're having new windows put in the house ($2600) this week, plus I had to fork over $547 to Uncle Sam by April 15th....so not buying anything for a couple of months.

You could always pick it up....it's emissions exempt as of this year....(hint hint)....