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I've finally gotten around to getting the suspension parts installed. I'm on a break right now, but the rear end's getting done today and the front end will get done tomorrow. I'm putting in shocks, struts, front and rear sway bars & new front end links (rears are basically new), rear control arms, Z1 Motorsports prothane differential bushings and fluids all the way around. Depending on how lazy I continue to feel, I might spend a few evenings next week wrapping things up. Here are some pervy photos I just took for you car **** freaks:
Thanks! I took about 40 photos of tools to keep a current inventory. There's more in the back room and a ton of specialty and diagnostic tools in boxes. Then there's my box of unloved tools (mostly old Craftsman stuff that I bought in the 80s and 90s.)
Last edited by zakmartin; Nov 24, 2017 at 02:05 PM.
Getting better already. Those stupid plastic canard or whatever they are called were all full of water so they deff helped hold the front end down haha..
Oh man, fun with fiberglass. It's better than zip-ties though Nice little project find for $50.
My car's in pieces right now. I thought I'd just get through it this weekend, but then there was the Apple Cup on Saturday and the Seahawks/49ers game on Sunday... and then the wife made a killer meatloaf.
It looks like I'll be dropping the differential and replacing the three diff bushings tonight. Everything else that needs to be off the car is off. All I can say about this project is thank you Jeebus for pneumatic tools.
Isn't it funny how when you're in the middle of a project you realize you need more stuff?
This all started with me wanting to get rid of that stupid bumping sound from the rear shock tower.
I realized last night that I need to get a pair of tapered inserts for the stub axles where the ball joints on the new rear control arms attach. The big expenses are fine; it's the little things that you discover as you go that get to be irritating.
By the way, those stainless steel brake lines are a great upgrade.
Last edited by zakmartin; Nov 27, 2017 at 02:46 PM.
I've finally gotten around to getting the suspension parts installed. I'm on a break right now, but the rear end's getting done today and the front end will get done tomorrow. I'm putting in shocks, struts, front and rear sway bars & new front end links (rears are basically new), rear control arms, Z1 Motorsports prothane differential bushings and fluids all the way around. Depending on how lazy I continue to feel, I might spend a few evenings next week wrapping things up. Here are some pervy photos I just took for you car **** freaks:
And no, you can never own enough tools...
The moment when you still don't have the socket you need.
The moment when you still don't have the socket you need.
That's just ONE of my socket drawers, but yeah, you're right... there's always more. I actually just ordered a new set of 1/2-inch SK swivel impacts (10mm-19mm) since I wasn't getting enough torque out of my 3/8-inch swivel impacts on some of my bolts. I also just grabbed another new Snap-On 1/2-inch flex ratchet wrench that set me back about $220. They weren't really "must-have" tools to get the project done, but they will make my life a bit easier.
Last edited by zakmartin; Nov 28, 2017 at 10:14 AM.
I also just got one of these OTC clamshell spring compressors:
I don't trust the old spring compressors I used on my last strut job. The old compressor tool was okay, but the securement points slipped around a bit so I ended up using about 3 zip ties on each of the four points (kind of a joke in hindsight from a safety sense.)
I also just got one of these OTC clamshell spring compressors:
I don't trust the old spring compressors I used on my last strut job. The old compressor tool was okay, but the securement points slipped around a bit so I ended up using about 3 zip ties on each of the four points (kind of a joke in hindsight from a safety sense.)
Gee gosh, whatever happened to the good old days when we jacked the suspension up to full compression, wrapped the spring with a coat hanger and used a big a$$ strap cutter to relief the spring tension while praying? [ PWANG!!!! ]
NOTE/DISCLAIMER/WARNING:PLEASE DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME OR ANYWHERE. IT'S A JOKE!!! GET IT?!?! Oy, some numbnut is gonna try this, I just know it.....
Yeah, seriously Mic, the older I get, the more I'm willing to spend to keep my skull from getting crushed in. When I was 19, I did my first strut job on a friend's 1974 Jensen Healey and used some FIAT spring compressors that were laughably dangerous. The current ones are good (OTC), but again, they're nowhere near as secure as the clamshell compressor.
Now that I'm spending my evenings working under the car, I'm even using an extra 4 jack stands. It'll be just my luck that we get our overdue big earthquake while I'm re-attaching the drive shaft.
Last edited by zakmartin; Nov 28, 2017 at 11:17 AM.
Speaking of crushing a skull... For some reason last night while I lay sleeping, I sat up in bed then face dived off the side...
Luckily my face and side of my head broke my fall against the cast iron heater about 2 feet away...
The thud woke my wife up, and she found me in a mangled state on the floor.. I spent the next 2 hours with an ice pack on my head... Today was a long day.
In a side note I think I might get a Gemini exhaust system for myself... Ill keep you posted.
Been procrastinating all week
Nice little project find for $50.
I actually just ordered a new set of 1/2-inch SK swivel impacts (10mm-19mm) since I wasn't getting enough torque out of my 3/8-inch swivel impacts on some of my bolts. I also just grabbed another new Snap-On 1/2-inch flex ratchet wrench that set me back about $220. They weren't really "must-have" tools to get the project done, but they will make my life a bit easier.
