This job gets worse and worse. I think disassembling with a sawzall would be easier.

- I broke the two hard brake lines on the left side.
- I broke the tie rod end on the left side.
- Steel sleeve on the drop link bushing was frozen to the thru-bolt. I broke the U-tab on the A-arm trying to free it up. All the sway bar bolts on the left side are frozen solid.
- I tore the ball joint boot, and dented the metal beneath. The strut still doesn't want to come off. I may go rent a pickle tool.
- Somehow, I tore the front wheel bearing seal.

I'm barely into the right side, and it's 86 degrees, no shade.

Welcome to Kansas... Beware of DE days in July....


My approach is to pre-treat older fittings with Kroil or Amsoil MP. And let it soak for a day or two.

Sometimes a little heat from a torch helps. I use one of the $40 self start propanes or a turbo torch lighter.

I've taken my 6 down with only 1 broken bolt.


You can't hurry rust.

At this rate, this car won't be ready for any DEs in July.

Everything had been soaked for a week in PB Blaster. It looks as if I ever have to remove the sway bar, I'll have to just cut it off. The hex bolts in the bracket were stripped by the PO, as well - no room for a drill.

I need to quit whining and get back to work. Beer is gonna taste good tonight.

Unbelieveable.

I just broke my hammer.

See... There you go. At least it's nice and cool out. It's a chilly 97F here right now too.
Sorry about your hammer, etc. Some days you have to just take a break and clear you head 'cuz the harder you persist the worse it gets until you've cleared your mind and let the bolts soak overnight. It's like lifting weights - You get too frustrated and tired, then you start losing form and before you know it you start doing more damage than good.
-Ben M.

you really have to laugh when life throws you a curve ball. sound like your front end needs a little care and feeding. get your revenge by replacing everything , then beat on the old parts with a bigger hammer.

grandma said.......10 % of life is what happens to you and 90 % is what you do about it.

Hey L,

I am going to print this out and keep it posted in my garage so that once I start to have problems, I can just read this and feel better....it's sorta like the blues.....


Hang in there buddy, and try not to throw or start hitting things with a hard object

(unless you have a wife like mine that felt sorry for my dumb ass when I smacked the 914 fender with the extension bar and decided to buy me my 911 )

Yeah, maybe my Toolwench should read that.

I got the ball joints loose. Tore up the covers doing it. Time to wrestle the A-arms forward... they don't want to move either.

-Rusty

Hi Lawrence,
It sounds like you are becoming "one with the machine". I know it sometimes feels like this but soon it will be . Keep at it and you will feel great when it is finally done. Proper tools reduce the frustration level.
Cheers, Elliot

Hi Elliot,

I have two projects that are virgin territory for me. This suspension is one of the two. An engine rebuild is the other.

Transmission? That's for folks with the special tool setups. I'll farm that work out.

-Rusty
back to work

Rusty, remember these are 30 year old cars that are rusted together. Try heat and tap the end of the bolts to free them up. Go slow, get the bolt to turn a tiny bit then hit it with more PB Blaster then turn it alittle more- slowly, Grasshopper.
Once the PB Blaster get in to the bolt it will free right up. I am still trying to teach my son these tricks besides snapping all the bolts and using easy outs.
Geoff

Hey Geoff... That's "Glasshoppa"
bruce

VICTORY!!!



I still need to pull the cross-member. The bolt is too tight, and I'm not going to snap the bastard off.

-Rusty

Had to fix that picture link.

Now I'm in the market for new torsion bars!

What diameter are those t-bars? They don't look stock.

21 mm.

Rusty

You're scaring me to death. I've got that project plus rear suspension and some rust repair on line for this winter. Geoff has convinced me that my 30 year old suspension is about 10 years too old. Two things have me worried 1) how can I avoid the carnage of broken parts and 2) how do I fight off DWD.

I have to admit to a tendency to escalate BFHs and I also have a tendency to show a little temper. My solution is sometimes to hit it harder with a bigger hammer

I'm totally helpless when it comes to Dirk Wright disease, so I expect a budget just won't work. I've felt for you as your project has grown, but, at the same time, there's a certain thrill watching someone else spend their money. For what its worth you'll get to follow me secumb to the disease this fall

Hang in there

Dave

I think you guys should invest in a big brass hammer. Then you can hit stuff with it and it doesn't hurt the bolt or nut. The brass just dents slightly.

Dave, you just have to go slow cuz everything is rusted or frozen. I just did mine over the winter when I had the time to go slow.

Rusty, the parts don't look too bad. I would have thought they would all be rusted solid. Should clean up nice and powder coat nicely! Post the pics when done.
What size Tbars are you going to run now? 22mm? Remember when installing tbars there is a right and left!!!


Geoff

Geoff is right. Doing the project in the winter when you have lots of time will produce good results. Suspension work is generally a PITA no matter what vehicle your working on. Take your time, take it slow, make your expectations/timeline realistic. I've done the work Rusty is doing right now. It took two months to get it all done. I missed a good number of ski days that winter. But my stress level was relatively low because of the length of time I took to do the project.

Go boys!

Here's a pic of the former car's suspension. Bead blasted and ready for powder coat.

I should have just posted the pic.

I'm going to clean up the bars. If there is no severe pitting, then I'll keep them.

I still need to get that crossmember off. I may get a small propane torch to try and heat the bolt.

Keep a fie extinguisher handy....just in case

Oh for pity sake........you said the 'fire' word.

Now how am I supposed to enjoy 18 holes of golf this afternoon if I think Rusty is going to set himself on fire??? I'd already had to deal with the guilt of thinking of him toiling in the hot sun doing something with a crossmember while I was enjoying a cool refreshing adult beverage and enjoying the cool breeze of a golf cart.

I suggested the other day that he change his hobby to 'RIDING in antique roadsters' rather than restoring antique roadsters. It just seems like a lot less work.

-Pam aka NASCAR loving Toolwench

This was my winter project that is just getting completed! It's amazing how these projects grow/change/mutate.

Pam,

After you have finished torturing yourself on the golf course, stop at your local hardware store and see if they have one of those portable garages/awnings for Rusty. That way he won’t be baking in the mid day sun.

You might also want to pick an an extra fire extinguisher.

We need a fire ball smiley.

I got the front struts bead blasted. Took me over two hours to get them good and clean. This included a solvent bath to get all the grease and oil off of them.

Total cost = 8 bucks.

I forgot to bring the brake shields in. I'll do those tomorrow with the A-arms. I still need to get the front bushings off.

Do you think they can be removed with a press, rather than burning? (To pacify the Toolwench, of course.)

The front ones burn out easy. And it's kinda fun. The back ones don't. I'd torch the fronts and press the rears.

Nice looking stuff DMAN!