Suspension assembly... part 6

Yesterday I got the final upper front control arm bushing removed, the lower front control arms reassembled...

the steering links painted...

parking brake cables ran and started working in the trunk getting it ready for final paint.

More to come.......

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Suspension assembly... part 5

Saturday was a frustrating day, but there was progress... got the backing plates reinstalled back on the car...

the replacement fuel tank arrived... tho when I saw the box it came in I had my doubts how straight it was gonna be!

Still fighting to get the last control arm bushing back out. Going to go ahead and get another bushing from NAPA to have on hand just in case I need to go postal on the one that's in there now! Also cleaned out the trunk and interior so I can get started cleaning them up for paint....

Next week I hope to get the last control arm bushing popped out and the rear brakes wrapped up....

WISH ME LUCK!

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Suspension rework.... part 2

Well after taking last weekend off to attend the funeral of a loved one, now all the rear bushings have been removed, lubed and reassembled with the freshly plated hardware...

I have one stubborn front upper control arm bushing that will not come out, but I have an idea to try next week to see if I can get it to release before going on to harsher methods! LOL

Also got the fuel and brake lines blown out and the rear brake line cleaned and attached to the proportioning valve...

My new Spectra fuel tank (made in CANADA) arrived last week, so I unboxed it to inspect and found a few dents in the bottom side. Had they been in the top side, which is hidden from view, I could have lived with them but since they are on the exposed side, I'm having Amazon send me a new one and picking this one back up...

Well, until next week.....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Suspension rework.....

The platers got my hardware done so I stopped on Friday and picked it all up....

Saturday consisted of rework. I happened to be on the Energy Suspension website week before last and watched a short video about their bushing lube. In the bushing kits I bought, there were small tubes of the lube that I thought were for lubing the bushing joints just prior to final assembly. I noticed during the assembly of the front and rear control arms that when I cycled them thru their range of motion, they made a popping/squeaking noise that I thought the small lube packets would resolve when applied during the final torquing of the fasteners, but the video said to liberally apply the bushing lube to the entire bushing and sleeve PRIOR to assembly in the bushing shells.

So on Saturday, I began the disassembly of the control arms, popping the bushings and sleeves out of the arms, lubing them good and putting it all back together and reinstalling them on the car. MAN, what a world of difference it made with everything lubed up good during the reassembly process... The pieces slid back together with ease and the popping/squeaking noise is gone! Energy Suspension SHOULD recommend the purchase of a small tub of bushing lube with each kit sold... would have made life MUCH EASIER!!!

Until next time....

ZEBRA 3 OUT

Monday update....

Had car trouble on Monday that required taking the Sable in for service, so, since I didn't have an appointment, I wore my old clothes so while they were diagnosing the problem with the Mercury, I went upstairs and worked on the Tomato rather than just sitting in the waiting area until they were done.

I policed the work area, emptied all my trash cans, got the Torino back up on the jack stands and the tires removed so I could just jump in on Saturday and continue the reassembly....

So it wasn't a wasted vacation day!!

Brief project update....

Not a lot done to the Torino but I did get the hardware dropped off at the platers and the car turned around and into position for reassembly.....

Now to GIT-R-DUN!

Next time.....

MOVING DAY.......

Well after a two week hiatus, I had a very productive day Saturday in spite of an equipment failure. I got the axles temporarily installed in the rear end, a couple wheels bolted on and the rear of the car set down on the ground....

Then I rolled my engine hoist into position to raise the front of the car off the jack stands so I could roll her out of the blast booth and the friggen seal was blown on the hydraulic cylinder. After a few choice words, I monkeyed around with it and discovered if I raised up the lift arm and pumped the handle, the pressure would come up and hold the arm in position, so then the wheels began to spin for a viable solution.... RATCHET STRAPS! I got three out of my tool box, hung them from the lift chain and placed one around each front bumper bracket and the third around the center of the front crossmember and VIOLA.... the frame is clear from the jack stands!

Then I set about clearing and cleaning the area where I will begin to reassemble the Tomato. Once that was finished, I began pulling the Torino out of the blast booth and out onto the shop floor. Was a bit of a challenge to get the car to cut tightly due to the posi rear end, so I parked her and set a couple jack stands under the front frame in the event the hoist cylinder bled off while I was gone. Don't want to have to pick up the nose off the floor if I don't have to!

I also checked the rear tire clearance and with the 14" tire, looks like the rear end might be just about right when I get the larger 15" meats installed...

I'll have to set my ole LR60-15 Goodyear beside the smaller tire for a better idea. I think too with the nose so high in the air there may be a bit of rear suspension compression going on as well.

While I haven't been over to the dealership for two weeks, I have been doing a little bit at home... I have some hardware and a few parts blasted, polished and ready to drop off at the platers....

I hope they can turn them around pretty quickly to help keep my momentum going!

Quick update for this evening....
With the car down on the jack stands...

I put the larger LR60-15 tire up against the rear wheel and it looks like they're going to fit nicely.

I also have all my new pieces in, so I put together my floor shifter to see how she's gonna look...

I LIKE IT

Until next episode....

ZEBRA 3 OUT