Front end rebuilt.. (my turn)

[Prerunner1982]

Day 1 (Wed, 31Jan06, 9:30am-12:00pm)

a bit chilly, but with pants, shirt and military issue coveralls, gloves and cap i was ready to go.. got truck up and steady.. tires off... and accessed the situation.. got hot.. took off cap and gloves..

Father-in-law joined about 10am.. took off steering first as it should be the easiest part.. all except pitman arm came off pretty easy.. Need to run to parts store to get bigger socket.. what size does it take?

on to the suspension... started with passenger side, learned a few things to make drivers side go faster.. no real set backs.. on the drivers side.. disconnected lower ball joint, attempting to drop the LCA to get spring out.. Took two grown men, a ball joint seperator, and a very large pry bar (solid driveshaft from a model t ford).. with many attempts to finally break it loose... talk about being on there... got the spindle off and called it a day.. wife was home with lunch and father in law had to go to work.. not bad for a couple hrs of work.. Darn glad we had the pry bar..

I did find out however that my drivers side upper ball joint was not original ,4 bolts instead of rivets) however... my passenger side.. is still original.. it has 2 bolts and 2 rivets with parts of the heads sheared off, looks like they gave up on it.. needless to say.. they are all in desperate need of repair.. so hopefully i wont have too much trouble with it.. we shall see....

[Prerunner1982]

Day 2...

Worked all day.. but father in law got upper control arm off.. and LCA unbolted..just needs to be persuaded off.. know what i will doing tomorrow..

getting LCA off... attempting to get ball joints off... going to take them to work with me, maybe this weekend and "dip" them in a large trashcan with commercial degreasers and cleaners.. will see if that will put a dent in it...

[79BIG10]

Sounds like my ordeal On the rivets I used a air cut off tool to X them then with a air chisel and the pointed tip I got them popped out. The lower ball joints are easy to get out with a press. You can rent a press to get them out from AZ but get ready to lend them $100 for it as well. On the LCA best to take to a maching shop and get them pressed in and out. Let me know if you need any help over the phone. I'm off Friday and can help with any tips.

[Prerunner1982]

good deal, not sure on the rivets yet.. will have to see.. i dont have any air tools...but gonna give it a shot.. as far as the dept for the press.... Wifes cousin is a GM at AZ... so i get a discount anyways... by the time i get around to installing LCA bushing i might take them to a shop, will probably be a bit ready to get it done by then.......

[79BIG10]

I wish we were closer and I'd help you with that. What are you replacing the old stuff with?

[Prerunner1982]

havent gotten new parts yet... probably MOOG... also found out my frame is cracking more.. around my steering box.. and about 4-6" back from that on another bolt hole... will have to have a buddy weld it up...

[79BIG10]

Damn that sucks. You might want to get a piece of metal to weld onto the frame to brace it up. It's not the part that Heather was having a problem with her steering box was it?

[Prerunner1982]

depends on what part she was having problems with.... mine is cracked around one of the bolt holes.. i will take pics shortly as i am heading back out there....

[86 GMG]

get that frame repaired asap before it breaks out completely or you will be doing a full frame replacement b\c usually it cant be fixed after the blowout and yes this comes from experience (my swb is in pieces in the garage right know do to this problem) best luck and have fun with the rest of the front-end rebuild and def. go with moog IMHO.

[8bolt]

I just ground the rivet head off and then used a hammer and punch to get them out

[Prerunner1982]

i have nothing to grind them off with.. i dont have an air chisel, angle grinder or anything..

here are some pics i took before camera drained the batteries and completely shut down.. oh well..

Day 3, didnt get much done, got the cross shaft nuts off on the uppers, and one end on each lower.. have to figure out a way for to get the shaft from trying to spin to get the other end off.. got one ball joint off, Father in law is going to take the UCAs to his work and see what he can do with the vise at work.. going tomorrow to get the lower ball joint press.. not very please with the progress today.. but need a day to relax.. so going to do the best i can..

[79BIG10]

Looks like some good progress Jon. That frame defintely needs some repair like you mentioned. On the cross arm shafts I used a big screwdriver and placed it in one of the holes to hold it in place while I took the nut off. Worked great or you can use a pair of large vice grips as well but I had best luck with the screwdriver.

[DroppedZ84]

Good job Jon! You're braver than me...I paid a shop $250 to install all my front end (PST Kit, Drop Spindles/Springs, New Shocks, and align it)

[swervin ervin]

Oh how I remember how much fun this stuff is. It's a hard ass job I don't care what anyone says. Especially if you remove the old and reinstall the new bushings yourself. Well worth the effort though. It'll drive like a new truck when you get it back together.

[79BIG10]

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

depends on what part she was having problems with.... mine is cracked around one of the bolt holes.. i will take pics shortly as i am heading back out there....

Heather's problem was at the steering box where it attaches to the frame I think.

[Prerunner1982]

yeah B that is the worst part on my frame... i guess nobody saw in the first post... i had a question.. what size is the nut that holds the pitman arm on? I dont have one big enough and dont want to have to guess as the parts store isnt exactly close..

more pics..

[swervin ervin]

I don't remember what size the nut is exactly. Measure it.

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Measure it.

hmm about 9"....

i suppose i will do that......

[BillyJack]

No help here... was just looking at the pics and thought "that looks like Oklahoma to me..." and sure enough, Edmond... or maybe it was just the chevy truck missing wheels that made me think that...
Hello from Tulsa!

[Prerunner1982]

Billyjack, welcome to the board.. yep its oklahoma.. not even really in edmond, heck not even in oklahoma county.. I am in Logan county out in the country

[swervin ervin]

You got a 9" nut??? Man I feel sorry for you.

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Oh how I remember how much fun this stuff is. It's a hard ass job I don't care what anyone says. Especially if you remove the old and reinstall the new bushings yourself. Well worth the effort though. It'll drive like a new truck when you get it back together.

Wasn't too bad for me, just long. 'Cept for all that cleaning. I don't mind wrenchin', it's all that cleaning that's not the fun part.

Installing the second one-piece rubber bushing was a chore. I had to rig something up to press it into the control arm with the shaft installed. (I could't find anyone who carries a 2/3 piece rubber bushings like the polys.)

[boxrodz]

Originally Posted by Prerunner1982

... i had a question.. what size is the nut that holds the pitman arm on? I dont have one big enough and dont want to have to guess as the parts store isnt exactly close...

I believe it's like 1 3/8" $$ocket. I use a large adjustable wrench to remove the nut.

[Prerunner1982]

thanks... B.. probably going to shot you an email... gonna need your help..

[79BIG10]

Jon I was going to say use an adjustable wrench as well. Let me know if you need some help Jon. I'm off some day (not sure yet) this coming week and may be able to head up to get the thing done.