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#1 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Wish me luck...
Tomorrow I'm going to start working on the next big project on the truck. I'll be rebuilding the front end. I've got I believe everything I need but never know
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 169
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Re: Wish me luck...
Godspeed and watch out for flyin' springs.
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79 GMC Sierra Grande K15 --PPG paint code 62608 Sunburst Orange Metallic (WA802K) --Gentex auto-dimming rearview mirror model K31 --Carriage Works billet grille model 40071 --Go Industries 2.5" tubular stainless headache rack --Sylvania Silverstar sealed headlights model H6024ST --Texas Saddlebags center console model 101 --Brown's Welding class IV V-5 pipe bumper --Ramsey RE8000 winch --33" tires |
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#3 |
Born a Chevy Man
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Navarre, Florida
Posts: 10,221
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Re: Wish me luck...
Good luck with that.
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John or 86 (Viet Nam combat Vet-BIG RED ONE) '65-'66 *1986 Chevy SWB Silverado *1984 Chevy Longbed Silverado New Kia Sportage (Wife's car and she loves it) ![]() ![]() If you can read this, YOU NEED TO THANK A TEACHER! If you can read this in ENGLISH, PLEASE THANK A SOLDIER! ![]() GOD BLESS AMERICA AND BLESS OUR FIGHTING TROOPS |
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#4 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Update Day 1- I was able to get the complete drive side stuff off other thank linkage. The passenger side only thing left is the LCA. The drive side was really greasy due to a previous leaking p/s box. Tomorrow will be repacking bearings, cleaning up all the stuff at a car wash, removing the other stuff and painting after the old busings, joints have been taken out. If time allows I'll be placing it back together with the new brake hoses as well. It's been better than I thought it would. The springs were shot as I thought they would be. When I left off the pressure I was expecting alot of tension but not much at all. When I compared to the other one they're the same length and diamter. I measured the fender lip on both sides to compare each side before and after. I've been taking pics with a regular camera since the digital seems to eat up more batteries than it's worht
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 5,906
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Re: Wish me luck...
sounds like its going good... if you come to help me, i will try not to drop a LCA on your head!
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Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call |
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#6 | |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Quote:
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#7 |
BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Yukon, OK
Posts: 3,605
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Re: Wish me luck...
hahahah!!
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~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - 1986 Chevy Custom SWB *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods ![]() www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84 |
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#8 |
Sb 400 club
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NH / MA
Posts: 2,741
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Re: Wish me luck...
ha h apost some pics man good work so far and good luck
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![]() ![]() 77 K10 Project / daily driver "The Grinch" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318363 1956 Willys Wagon (327 chevy) Project (Now Buick 225) 1980 Corvette L-48 4 speed 1992 Mustang GT built 5.0 5 speed ![]() 1985 C10 LWB Sold 1982 K10 SWB plow truck Parted out 1986 D30 M1028 fire brush truck Parted out |
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#9 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Day 2 update: Started off good but went to hell fast.
![]() Being frustrated with that I decided to move onto the shaft bushings. Bad idea ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Now the other upper control arm I learned from the first one not to hit the shaft. ![]() Everything is off the truck right now and waiting to be cleaned up and reinstalled after the old bushings pressed out and the infamous ball joints to be dealt with. More to come tomorrow after breaking the bank on a control arm shaft ![]()
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson Last edited by 79BIG10; 01-08-2006 at 09:12 PM. |
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#10 | |
Until Seventy Times Seven
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Rocky Mountain Front Range
Posts: 1,301
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Re: Wish me luck...
Quote:
As far as the inner sleeves go, they are tough to remove. I had luck with soaking them with 'Power Blaster', then used a hammer and chisel at the seam that runs along the inner sleeve to separate/rotate the sleeve. Once the sleeve 'breaks' loose from the shaft, the hammer and chisel can be used to drive out the sleeve from the shaft. BTW, is it possible file down the damaged threads on the shaft and use it as is (without crossthreading the nut).
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boxRODz 1983 C10 SWB Fleetside When two halves is gone, there's nuthin left. Two nothings is nuthin. That's mathematics son. You can argue with me but you can't argue with figures. Two half nothings is a whole nuthin... |
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#11 |
Insert Witty Text Here
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 3,415
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Re: Wish me luck...
My upper balljoints were about the same. I tried an air chisel, but it hardly made a dent in the rivets. I eventually ground the heads off the rivets, then used a punch and a BFH to drive the throughthe UCA. They were VERY difficult to remove even with the heads ground off. A friend and I took turns beating on them for 30+minutes.
These parts are very sturdy, and hard to work with. I broke a brand new chisel in half beating on it with a 4 pound sledgehammer. ![]() Slonaker EDIT: Someone on here a while back reported that they were able to use a ball joint press to push the control arm bushings in and out. The press is available for rent at my local auto parts stores, and is about $50 at Harbor Freight. Last edited by Slonaker; 01-09-2006 at 11:36 AM. |
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 5,906
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Re: Wish me luck...
ok Brandon... you arent motivating me very well...
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#13 | |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Quote:
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__________________
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#14 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Day 3 Update Part 1: I got up and called around to every dealership, parts store etc. to see about the shaft. No one had any instock. So I called the wrencking yard and they had a complete upper arm for $35. I had to jump on it. So off I went to get it and then stopped off by a car wash to clean up the arms. After a good cleaning I stopped off by my cousin's work. He's a professional mechanic so he had allthe specialty tools we needed. We used a press like Slonaker was talking about to get the lower ball joints in and out. That was a breeze doing that way. Much easier than spending $100 at Auto Zone for a ball joint tool that would have taken longer.
We then went to the upper ball joints. These were tough even for him. He decided to take a air cut off wheel and cut into the side where the ball joint plate is. This way the arm is not cut or harmed when cutting the rivets. We then cut a X into each rivet deep enough to cut into the plate of the joint itself. Then once that was done we used a air chisel with the pointed end to drive them out. This was great in getting them out and much faster than drilling them. Now I owe him a couple cases of beer ![]() Now I'm out to paint the arm, remove the other bushings and get everything ready for paint. If all goes well ![]()
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#15 |
Sb 400 club
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: NH / MA
Posts: 2,741
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Re: Wish me luck...
nice work man nice work
__________________
![]() ![]() 77 K10 Project / daily driver "The Grinch" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=318363 1956 Willys Wagon (327 chevy) Project (Now Buick 225) 1980 Corvette L-48 4 speed 1992 Mustang GT built 5.0 5 speed ![]() 1985 C10 LWB Sold 1982 K10 SWB plow truck Parted out 1986 D30 M1028 fire brush truck Parted out |
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#16 |
Happy to be here
![]() Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 39,023
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Re: Wish me luck...
Keep it up Brandon, you can do it....
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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" |
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#17 |
Insert Witty Text Here
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 3,415
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Re: Wish me luck...
When I was talking about the press, I was saying that someone on here used that same ball joint press to install the bushings into the control arm. You might searvh for the thread. It even had pics of the process.
Slonaker |
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#18 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Thanks Slonaker I'll take a look.
Day 3 Update Part 2: I'm still coming back and forth from out in the garage to the inside to warm up a bit. Right now we have a chance of snow ![]() ![]()
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#19 |
Insert Witty Text Here
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 3,415
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Re: Wish me luck...
I had someone press the bushings for me. My neighbor used to own a frontend shop, and offered to do it for me at his old shop. I was happy to let him.
![]() I assembled mine in the dark, in my driveway, with temps in the 30s, with a light rain. It sucked. I hope the weather gets better. Wait until you go to reassemble it, and find that the u-bolts for the LCAs won't fit in the holes in the crossmember. That is what happened to me. They somehow spread apart. I had to squeeze them back toward each other so that they would both pass through the holes in the crossmember at the same time. I bring it up because I remember that someone else had the same problem shortly after I did. Good luck, Brandon... Slonaker |
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#20 | |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Quote:
Day 4 Upate #1: I just got back from dropping the arms off to a machine shop that I've used in the past. He said they would be ready to bolt on this afternoon so I'm going to get the centerlinks redone cleaned up and painted while waiting. Also if I can I'll get the brake lines put on. I'm going to soak them in Liquid Wrench for awhile to get the brake fittings loose on the frame side. Seems like one thing always leads to another. ![]()
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#21 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Day 4 Update #2: After the previous post I was working on the truck and the machine shop called to say that I forgot one of the shafts for the A-arms. So I had to stop and go back and drive it over. I came back and started back again on the linkage. I was able to get everything primed, painted, and reassembled. I then bolted everything back up and now just waiting for the stuff from the machine shop. I'll be picking them up tomorrow morning when they open then off to Auto Zone for some brake hard lines due to unforseen problems. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=185583 Once that's all replaced I can reassemble the a-arms and springs. Then off to the spindles and brakes. Maybe just maybe I can get this thing done but right now it's getting to be in the 20's tonight so everything is at a stand still since the truck can't move and the garage is too short for the truck.
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#22 |
No No
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Pueblo Colorado
Posts: 1,781
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Re: Wish me luck...
Sounds like you made some good progress. I did what your doing to my truck last spring It was a fun little project. Ive never had the problems you guys have had with the ball joints mine always drill right out. I can say it sure is nice to be able to lube all the steering linkage.
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1976 Custom Deluxe SWB Med FMB.3/4 Drop. Gen VI 454, Muncie HD 3 speed With Modified OE Hurst Shifter, 3.73 12 bolt, GMPP HO roller cam, Hooker headers, Performer intake with modified Q-jet, Accel distributor. Best 1/4 12.3 @108. Funnest run 19.84 @88 full 1/4 mile burn out. 1997 K1500 ext cab 5.7 stock except muffler |
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#23 |
STOP! Hamma time!!!
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Dallas TX.
Posts: 145
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Re: Wish me luck...
Sounds ruff, I'm faced with this same frontend rebuild after I get another engine installed in my 87. My truck set up for 4 yrs before I bought it and it's still got all the factory parts. I'm not looking forward to it; it took me about 3-4 days for break 2 bolts and work the other 2 of 4 bolts off just to replace a rear bumper.
Hang tough, sould like your almost in the clear.
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Plan your work and work your plan!!!, or pitty da fool!! ![]() 87 GMC BaseTrim, 305 under the wrench/TH400/ 92 Chevy 1500, 350,TH700R4 sittin on dubs |
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#24 | |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Quote:
__________________
1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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#25 |
I'm back with 2nd truck!
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,775
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Re: Wish me luck...
Day 5 Update: I got alot accomplished today. I picked up the a-arms from the machine shop. They told me the lower bushings they had to burn one out it was so pressed in
![]() I then installed the center rod and inner/out rods with the sleeves. With those on I installed the new brake hoses on the a-arms. DOH!! I installed one of the ball joints upside down. Luckily it's the bolt in style and an easy fix. Then went on to the lower a-arms. I had one installed and aligned with the tips on the frame. Then I bolted it up with the U bolts and forgot that the arm bolts (on the ends holding the bushings) were not torqued down to spec ![]() I then went onto the upper arms. I got the driver side installed and torqued down. I grabbed the spindle and started the threads on the upper ball joint to hold the spindle while I inserted the new spring. I jacked up the spring and lower arm with alot of trial and error along with a call to a buddy in Dallas for help I was able to get it in. I placed the spindle on and troqued it down. I installed the brake line hose to the one good side I hard line I was able to break loose. Installed the caliper, bolts, pads, rotor, etc. and it was ready minus the shock. Next I went back to the passenger side and worked on the upper arm. Sure enough everything is going great but the brakes hose/line was a different story. The hard line I had to cut to get loose. I'll have to reflare later. The upper arm is done torqued down and ready to go. I go ahead and get the spring in like the other one but alot easier now that I knew how. Then was the spindle no problem there and placed on the caliper and bolted down. I went to the hose and something wasn't right. Long story short I had a driver side hose for a passenger side line. Well it was too late at night so I finished up the passenger side as much as I could. Time for shower and bed. Day 6 Update (D-Day): I knew I had to get this thing going today since I have to head back to work tomorrow. I went to AZ for a flare tool (mine was worn out) and a change out the brake hose. Then off to O'Rilley's for shocks. AZ doesn't carry them and O'Rilley's doesn't loan out a flare tool ![]() ![]() The alignment shops are all booked up till next week so I'll wait till then. Not much driving for me until then. But at least it's all done now and drives great. I then checked the previous measurement to the new measurement of fender well height. I gained 3" of height at the fender well on both side!! I love the new ride height and looks more evened out now. Before it looked like a jacked up in back a bit more. Not anymore ![]() For those thinking about doing this- Don't think just do it. It's worth every penny you spend on it. I was surprised on the ride quality improved already. I'm ready for Jon's swap next. Now that I know the tricks of the swap I'm think I could get it done alot faster now ![]()
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1979 Chevrolet Bonanza Big10 "Tootsie Roll" 1985 Chevrolet Silverado (wife's) Member of the Southern Bowties Club "Don't underestimate how sexy a fat man who drinks to excess can be." Homer Simpson |
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