What is it with car projects NEVER just going smoothly?

[Grec]

Over the last week, me and my buddy performed major surgery on the Challenger.

Every bushing, boot and bumper in the front suspension was replaced. New upper and lower ball joints installed. All nuts and bolts, brake parts, strut bar and tie rod components were wire-wheeled down to bare steel and coated with RPM. Torsion bars and sway bar stripped and repainted. Yadda yadda yadda.

A good amount of work.

Pulled a marathon over the weekend to get everything finished up. Got everything back on the car and go to tighten the idler arm castle nut... literally the last frickin nut we put back on... and the nut won't tighten down. The post it goes on simply spins once the nut gets past the 1st 5 or so threads. Ack! Time for a new idler.

After all the years working on cars, I should be used to this... but it still chaps my a$$!

Sooooo close and yet still so undriveable. :-(

I suppose the good news is that I'm now intimately familiar with a Mopar torsion-bar suspension. :-)

OK. Rant off.

[NCtrueconservative]

believe me, I have been there!!!! It seems like the Big Man upstairs just doesn't want us to drive em sometimes  I reckon this is the best place to rant though. Do it all the time, and I always come out refreshed. Best to ya, you'll be driving her soon enough Lord willing 

[dutch]

yea... I know the feeling.  luckily we own e-bodies though...  imagine looking at a non operating Chebby 

[mojavered]

Yeah....Murphy lives here at my house too! 

[CHL2T]

I just smile and say...."I never did mind the little things" 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I haven't looked at the idler in years, but are you sure a little squeeze with some channel locks to get some friction out of the taper won't let you tighten the nut?

[Grec]

Wasn't enough room between the idler and tie rod to grip it. No worries... got a new one and it went on without a hitch.

Now all that's left to do is a ballpark alignment and then get it to a shop to fine tune. I'll be driving it this weekend.   

[Cooter]

There's always the "Buy-it-now" button to get rid of all the stress...

[Chryco Psycho]

I have had a contract out on Murphy for decades now , no one seems to be able to find yet he is everywhere LOL
 It cost you a couple of days but no big deal really .