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Some Progress -- I have a front end now!

AtlantaSteve

Active Member
Well, I have MOST of my front end in...Still missing the sway bar...it's ready to go on, but I'm gonna put it on right before I put it back on it's wheels.

And OF COURSE I know the rules...Photos at the end of this post!

I still have to go ahead and torque everything to spec, right now it's just snugged up so I could test everything.

I want to verify that nothing I'm about to torque down should wait until the car is back on the wheels...SO before I set it back down I plan to torque:

Everything on the steering sytem:
SteeringBox to frame
Idler Arm to Frame
Center Link to Pitman
Center Link to Idler Arm
All 4 Tie Rod Ends

The nuts that hold the UCA into the shock tower
The Spindles into the UCA and LCA
Adjustable Strut Rod, both in the front bracket, and at the LCA
Spring Perches

I think that's It.

I plan to tighten the LCA to car bolt, and the sway bar after the car is back on the tires.

Any Comments? Anything I've forgotten or am doing wrong?

Next to take care of is brakes! And I have a really cool plan for the front brakes. Gonna be a pain...every inch that carries fluid is going to be replaced...and I still have the engine and transmission in the car.

ANd now the photographic evidence:

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4522101404_0cb66147f2_b.jpg

4522104144_361642b94b_b.jpg

4521472929_137a5f57d3_b.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks guys!

I forgot to mention there is no way I woulda got this done without the expert help from John at Opentracker Racing Products. He saved my butt quite a few times. The UCAs are his street-prepped arms, with of COURSE his roller perches, and his roller idler. I used new Moog LCAs, and tacked the bushing to the arm just like he does on his Street LCAs. He also helped me out in a big way with my tie-rod ends...the ones I had sitting on my shelf (all taken off a guy's car who was upgrading to R&P) were completely wrong, and John stepped in and saved my tail.


So big thanks to John on that, and to JonK67 who helped me get those adjustable strut-rods built. Plus Everyone else who helped me in various ways as I stumbled around thinking I knew what I was doing :)

How anyone put a car together before the Internet is beyond me. LOL
 
"silverblueBP" said:
Great work Stevo!! when will it be road worthy?

Probably never, but that doesn't mean I won't drive it ;)

No seriously, I have to get all the brakes replaced, everything that touches fluid, and every maintenance part is going to be replaced. Then the rear suspension is getting the same treatment, with new Leafs, and I have to decide something to do with my rear end. Then I have to get a few more things buttoned up on the interior (mostly the seatbelts...gonna put in 3 points before I drive it again), Subframe connectors, and then I THINK I'll be ready to test drive it, even if it's not "finished."

We'll see. Everything I touch I find 5 more things I want to "fix" LOL
 
"AtlantaSteve" said:
Probably never, but that doesn't mean I won't drive it ;)

Everything I touch I find 5 more things I want to "fix" LOL

Sounds like you got a case of the while I'm at it's! :)
 
Lookin' good Steve, just keep pluggin' away at it and before you know it you'll have a whole car!
What are you planning to run for steel lines? I've been using the Napa coated lines and have been real happy with how easy they are to bend and shape without crimping, much easier to work with than the standard steel lines.
Jon
 
To be honest, Jon, I was planning to drop you a line and ask what you used for your lines because I saw your posts about it and thought it made a lot of sense :)
 
"PJ Moran" said:
You're inner tie rod end is bent.

:coo

Wait what??? Am I missing something?

EDIT:
ROFL Nevermind, I get it now. Duhhh. For some reason I read "outer tie rod end"

You know why the inner tie rod ends are bent like that, right???
So they'll fit in the box. They're just a HAIR too long without the bend.
 
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