Suspension Rebuild on the '73

Rodney that's funny..the look was the usual..I am sitting in the garage watchin tv now..hopefully she doesn't put some weird stuff in the crab cakes..she really doesn't cook much and she doesn't really cook much well but what she does cook well is pretty good..so what I am saying..she doesn't use the stove much!! Why they are in there..I used a BBQ grill paint and baked it on..got them warm to about 150 degrees then let them cool to touch..then took them in the garage and painted them..then after they dry for a day I stick them back in the stove at 200 degrees for an hour to bake the paint on completely ..then shut it off and let them cool down..works good and the paints sticks good too..can't wait to do the other side!

Rich

Rich, You should look for an old electric oven for in the garage and go to powder coating. Having painted parts in the oven you use for food cant be a good thing! But if they look good Im ok with it. And its for the vette so its all good! Cant wait to see this thing! I'll be home this coming weekend, maybe I can find some time to make a trip out to see it!
Rodney

It doesn't leave any residue as far as I know..since they did dry for a day before hand..the oven burned off anything before we made diner!! I don't have any plans next weekend..except hopefully putting the diff back in!..then its spin the car around and do the front bushings..still looking good for a month rebuild!!

Rich

Got the diff out ..and diff..Dern mushroom would not release..of course it did after I popped the diff out..dern itso now its cut clean and rebuild time!!

Rich

Rich, did you just cut your exhaust? Are you putting new on it? I decided when I do the exhaust on mine I am going to try butting the pipes together and use the wrap around clamps. That way it will be easier to remove when working on the car.
Rodney

Yup..sawzall power!..I will either use the wrap clamps or weld it..not really a big deal..got that clump of rear in the back of the car for the ride to work..can't wait for that stinky ride..

Rich

Ok at work this morning I torched off the u bolts so now the parts are separated properly..inside the diff now my side clearance are .066 and 0.69.. I really think its to much..also the one side is mushroomed over a bit..so do I replace the side yokes and call it a day or do the blue print diff that are really nice but the stock unit will do the job..the yokes are a buck a piece and the rebuild is another 300$..

Rich yostusota2011-05-09 08:52:36

Replace the yokes and build it yerself...save the $$$ for something else you KNOW the car is gonna need.
Too much yoke/center pin clearance can be from yoke wear, OR posi clutch wear. The yoke in your pic above doesn't look worn to me, but it's hard to tell from the pic, so....

Ok so I soaked the u joints and ended up torching them in many places..I love my blue tipped wrench! ! So I get the u joint out and the dern cap broke off!! so I cut that out also and quite for the day..soaked the other joints and broke off all the clips also..so hopefully today I can get them all out!!

Rich

Again Rich, thanks for the thread and all the pics.