Goodbye 44 year old Front Suspension

[anlauto]

Found this tonight... I love the internet!
http://www.popularhotrodding.com/tech/1401_how_to_install_qa1_k_member_suspension_system/viewall.html

That's what I'm talking about 

[Cudaragtop]

Do you have a thread on your engine build?

No I don't. I could post a few pictures and a parts list. When I do I'll link to it from here.

[Cudaragtop]

It's VERY do-able. With the introduction front wheel drive most repair shops have a special tool designed exactly for this porpose. To support the engine while removing things like the transmissions, half-shafts etc...   The tool is basically an "A" frame that sits on top of each shock tower with a cross bar that goes across with a chain to support the motor.

I've done it using a good solid 1/8 wall pipe and some rags. 

picked one up for $75 1000# load rated

[anlauto]

Hey that's awesome...I wouldn't mind one of my own...Did you buy it locally or on line somewhere?

[Cudaragtop]

Hey that's awesome...I wouldn't mind one of my own...Did you buy it locally or on line somewhere?

Local Harbor Freight
You can order online too.
Hope it's ok to post, don't want to break any rules...

[Cudaragtop]

No tubular UCAs?  Most (all?) have the corrected castor built in.
[/quote]

I thought about tubular control arms but decided to save a couple bucks and just rebuild a pair of uppers with offset bushings.
Maybe in the future though...

[anlauto]

Thanks

[Cudaragtop]

Still haven't swapped the front suspension and K member. Decided to wait until I have receive the Hydroboost I ordered from Hydratech.
But today after work I was able to replace one leaf spring.
Those U-bolt nuts fought me every turn!  Penetrating oil and a torch helped a little but not much.
I went with ESPO HD springs in stock height with all new hardware based on reviews here.
New front adjustable mounts, new rear shackles, new U-bolts, a pair of freshened up 70 E-Body shock mounts.
What a PITA to get the new U-bolts to line up with the holes in the shock mount. 
But I did get the drivers side done. 
I'll get after the right side tomorrow.
Here is a question:
They came marked "L" and "R" and the paperwork described the half leaf orientation...
"LEAF SPRINGS 6-LEAF LFT - BACK"
"LEAF SPRINGS 6-LEAF RT - FRONT"
What has me a little concerned is the springs that were on the car were just the opposite with the left side half leaf in front and the right half leaf in back. 

Anyone else running the ESPO HD springs that can confirm the half leaf orientation?
 
Thanks,
Randy

[crash340]

Cudaragtop, I posted a pic of how I supported my engine from above across the top of the inner fenders in the 'what are you doing to your e body' post about a month ago, used heavy walled RHS , threaded tiedown rod, has worked a dream, dropped k member, all suspension, manifolds, exhaust, everything. Allowed me to change out freeze plugs to brass ones as well with ease, clean up chassis rails, repaint things etc

[crash340]

http://s3.photobucket.com/user/crash520/media/enginehanger.jpg.html

[Cudaragtop]

http://s3.photobucket.com/user/crash520/media/enginehanger.jpg.html

Nice! I like it.
I considered building my own bridge until I saw one at Harbor Freight on sale for $75 and couldn't pass it up.
I think it will do the trick when I'm ready to do my swap. 

[1 Wild R/T]

Not that it will help at this point but if you had new U bolts & a torch you could have cut the old U bolts....

FWIW I'm not a fan of poly lower control arm bushings.. They allow the inner end of the LCA to shift fore & aft... Lots of people run them most are happy, the guys who are under their cars looking at whats going on usually take them out.... 

[HP_Cuda]

Trippy way to keep the motor in the car and drop the K member.

 

[Cudaragtop]

Not that it will help at this point but if you had new U bolts & a torch you could have cut the old U bolts....

Yup, no torch... but when an immovable object meets an irresistible force the irresistible force wins! 
Finished leaf springs yesterday afternoon. All new now including front mounts, U-bolts, shock plates, leaf springs and rear shackles.

FWIW I'm not a fan of poly lower control arm bushings.. They allow the inner end of the LCA to shift fore & aft... Lots of people run them most are happy, the guys who are under their cars looking at whats going on usually take them out.... 

I hadn't heard that... Oh well, I expect that they will be better than the 44 year old rubber bushings that I'm replacing.
Thanks for the tips!

[Cudaragtop]

Installed my Bilstein RCD shocks on all 4 corners and adjusted the torsion bars to set the ride height.
I got the front even at 24-7/8" floor to bottom of fender and the rear are at 25-1/8th" and 25-1/4" Don't know what the ride height is supposed to be... I was just trying to get level.
When I started the right rear was .75" higher than the left rear. Its still an 1/8" higher.
Don't know what to do about that 1/8" difference...
Couldn't test drive yet since it started to rain. But I think it has stopped long enough to go for a quick spin.
Also installed an AEM Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge and sensor.

Putting off the major front end change of swapping the QA1 tubular K-Member until the fall monsoon season.