30 October 2016 - General

Cleaned up the garage.  Swept and mopped the garage, it was kinda dirty.  At least it is clean for the time being.

 Todo;

• install driver and passenger side tie rod assemblies
• install idler arm
• install coil springs - driver & passenger side
• install coil spring covers- driver & passenger side
• Grease all suspension points/ball joints
• install front sway bar - partially installed, will finish when full weight is on suspension
• install wheel/tires(tire shop has both front rims and will install new tires by 1 Nov 2016.  Tires are Cooper Cobra 235/60r14.
• on the driver side, tighten lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt(do not torque until engine/transmission is installed)
• on the passenger side, loosen but make sure its tight, the lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt.
• lower vehicle - all four wheels on the ground
• install brake power booster/master cylinder assembly 
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses
• manually adjust front drum brakes
• bleed brake system
• try to do some kind of front end alignment so car is driveable...

29 October 2016 - General stuff

Didn't do much today.  Just put the engine bay wiring loom in place with several wire loom clips.  Mounted the engine bay headlight vacuume switch, voltage regulator and windshield washer reservior.

28 October 2016 - Front Suspension

Greased all the ball joints/suspension components.  I used "Green Grease" a synthetic grease.

Advance Auto - Green Grease - Part Numebr 101

I also partially installed the front sway bar.  I installed the sway bar mounts and bushings loosely and did not install the end links.  The end links will be installed once there is full weight on the suspension.

Todo;

• install driver and passenger side tie rod assemblies
• install idler arm
• install coil springs - driver & passenger side
• install coil spring covers- driver & passenger side
• Grease all suspension points/ball joints
• install front sway bar - partially installed, will finish when full weight is on suspension
• install wheel/tires(tire shop has both front rims and will install new tires by 1 Nov 2016.  Tires are Cooper Cobra 235/60r14.
• on the driver side, tighten lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt(do not torque until engine/transmission is installed)
• on the passenger side, loosen but make sure its tight, the lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt.
• lower vehicle - all four wheels on the ground
• install brake power booster/master cylinder assembly 
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses
• try to do some kind of front end alignment so car is driveable...

Driver side bushing mount

Driver side bushing mount

 

Driver side bushing mount

27 October 2016 - Front Suspension

 The front suspension components are installed for driver and passenger side.  The tie rod adjuster sleeves have not been torqued.  Before the car is on the wheels I will tighten the tie rod adjuster sleeve bolts.  The driver side lower control arm eccentric needs to be tightened but not torqued before its on the wheels.  I need to loosen the passenger side lower control arm eccentric bolt, then tighten but not torque it until the engine/transmission is installed.

Todo;

• install driver and passenger side tie rod assemblies
• install idler arm
• install coil springs - driver & passenger side
• install coil spring covers- driver & passenger side
• Grease all suspension points/ball joints
• install wheel/tires(tire shop has both front rims and will install new tires by 1 Nov 2016.  Tires are Cooper Cobra 235/60r14.
• on the driver side, tighten lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt(do not torque until engine/transmission is installed)
• on the passenger side, loosen but make sure its tight, the lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt.
• install front wheels/tires
• lower vehicle - all four wheels on the ground
• install brake power booster/master cylinder assembly 
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses
• try to do some kind of front end alignment so car is driveable...

 

26 October 2016 - Front Suspension

 Continued working on front suspension;

• Installed tie rod assemblies for driver and passenger side and torqued to specs
• Installed idler arm and torqued to specs 

Todo;

• install driver and passenger side tie rod assemblies
• install idler arm
• install coil springs
• install wheel/tires
• on the driver side, tighten lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt
• install wheels/tires
• lower vehicle - all four wheels on the ground
• install brake power booster/master cylinder assembly 
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses

25 October 2-16 - Front Suspension

• Installed wheel bearings and seals for both drum hub assemblies

• Installed driver and passenger side drum hub assemblies and torqued to specs(20 ft-lb)

Didn't have time for anything else today.

Todo:

• install driver and passenger side tie rod assemblies
• install idler arm
• install coil springs
• install wheel/tires
• on the driver side, tighten lower control arm eccentric eliminator bolt
• install wheels/tires
• lower vehicle - all four wheels on the ground
• install brake power booster/master cylinder assembly 
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses

Here are some pics of the suspension components;

Driver side adjustable strut rod

  

Testing a possible fix for the seal problem with the roller idler arm.  Ended up using a high density closed cell foam seal.

 

Passenger side suspension - tie rod assembly is next piece of hardware to be installed

 

24 October 2016 - Front suspension

Installed the driver side adjustable strut rod.  That piece of hardware is a PITA to install/adjust.  All pieces are torqued to specs.

Installed the passenger side adjustable strut rod.  That piece of hardware was VERY easy to install, everything lined up/fitted and just bolted into place.  All pieces are torqued to specs.


Tomorrow;

• prep both hubs for spindle installation(grease inner and outer wheel bearings, install inner grease seal)
• Install coil springs - both sides
• install hubs  

23 October 2016 - front driver side suspension

Assembled the brake hardware for the driver side front spindle.

• Started installation of the driver side front suspension. 

•  Installed and torqued the upper control arm.

• Installed the lower control arm and installed the eccentric eliminator hardware(will torque this when the coil spring is installed so the suspension can be loaded).

• Partially installed driver side adjustable strut rod assembly(needs to be tightened and torqued).

I used a strut rod hardware kit to install the adjustable strut rod to the lower control arm.

22 October 2016 - Todo List

Todo ;

• assemble driver side headlight grille assembly
• assemble driver side front brake spindle
• assemble driver side front suspension
• assemble passenger side front suspension
• install adjustable strut rods - driver&passenger side
• install swaybar(can do after wheels are on the ground) 
• install power booster and brake master cylinder
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses
• bleed entire brake system

Assembled the driver side headlight grille assembly.  Touched up the paint where I scuffed it during assembly.

Cleaned up the driver side spindle to begin installation of the brake hardware.


 Suspension installation for passenger side will involve; 

• install spindle assembly
• install tie rod assembly(outer and inner need to be assembled)
• install adjustable strut rod assembly
• install coil spring
• install coil spring cover
• install drum hub assembly(install inner and outer wheel bearings)

Suspension installation for driver side will involve;

Starting from scratch, nothing has been installed...

• install upper control arm
• install lower control arm
• install eccentric eliminator in lower control arm
• install spindle assembly
• install tie rod assembly(outer and inner need to be assembled)
• install adjustable strut rod assembly
• install coil spring
• install coil spring cover
• install drum hub assembly(install inner and outer wheel bearings)

21 October 2016 - Todo List

Todo ;

• assemble driver side headlight grille assembly
• assemble driver side front brake spindle
• assembly driver side front suspension
• install adjustable strut rods - driver&passenger side
• install swaybar(can do after wheels are on the ground) 
• install power booster and brake master cylinder
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses
• bleed entire brake system

16 October 2016 - Driver side headlight grille assembly

finished with cleanup and painting of all pieces-parts of the driver side headlight grille assembly.  I'll let those parts dry/cure for a week.

Next week end I will start with reassembly of the driver side headlight grille assembly, then move on to driver and passenger side suspension installation. 

Todo for next Friday/Weekend;

•  assemble driver side headlight grille assembly
• assemble driver side front brake spindle
• assembly driver side front suspension
• install power booster and brake master cylinder
• install front driver side and front passenger side brake flex hoses
• bleed entire brake system

15 October 2016 - Driver side headlight grille assembly

I was able to dissassemble/clean and paint the major components of the driver side headlight grille assembly.  currently the mounting bolts/fasteners are soaking in Evapo-Rust and if they clean up well enough I will paint that stuff tomorrow.

Driver side headlight grille assembly

My plan this weekend is to disassemble, clean and paint the driver sider headlight grille assembly.

14 October 2016 - suspension hardware

I received the adjustable strut rods from Rosehill Performance Parts.  I will assemble them and put them aside until they can be installed.

I ended up having to call WCCC today.  I found out the parts person that was dealing with idler arm issue went on vacation today!  So the person I talked to said that they don't have a "fix" or replacement except that a refund could be done.  I was told if I find a suitable substitute that I should send a link of that part to them so they can verify that part as a suitable sub and then they could do a refund.

So I guess I can let the paint dry on what has been painted so far, and clean/paint other hardware until the idler arm is re-purchased from another vendor and then shipped here.

struts rods fresh out of the box...

assembled and ready for installation...need to get some anti-sieze compound first

 

13 October 2016 - Passenger side grille/headlight assembly

I assembled the passenger side grille/headlight assembly.  I will set it aside and begin working on cleanup/painting/reassembly of the driver side grille/headlight assembly tomorrow.

I received the strut rod to lower control arm fasteners.  When the strut rods arrive I will then mount the passenger side.

Its been about 10 days since I initially contacted WCCC about the idler arm I purchased from them.  I have also contacted them via phone about 5 days ago and then 2 days ago I contacted them via email.  I need them to get the ball rolling with the idler arm situation, I would like to get that part installed... 

* * * I need to order rubber pieces/parts for the headlight assemblies * * *

Here is a pic of the driver side(top) and passenger side(bottom) grille/headlight assembly. 

Top grille(driver side) as removed from the car and bottom grille(passenger side) after cleanup/painting

12 October 2016 - Driver side front suspension

I finished cleaning up and painting the bolts, nuts and fasteners for the driver side wheel well components.

I was going to put together the passenger side grille/headlight assembly but I noticed that the headlight bucket has rust.  I will have to sand/grind those areas and repaint.

The driver side brake hardware is still soaking, I will clean those items up tomorrow.

I am thinking about buying some Eastwood rust converter and use that on the headlight bucket.

11 Oct 2016 - Driver side front suspension/brakes

The nuts and bolts and mounting hardware that has been soaking in Evapo-Rust looks like its ready to clean and paint.  I'll see what I can clean and paint tonight, or I just might wait until tomorrow...
 
I was able to clean and paint the spindle and hub today.  I also did a little touch up work on the driver side engine bay where the power booster is mounted.

Right now while the paint is drying/curing for the spindle, brake drum and engine bay I will finish cleanup of the drum brake parts.  They need to soak a bit more, and then I can clean/paint them.

Also the driver side wheel well needs to dry/cure for a few more days then I can begin installation of the suspension components.

While I was positioning the pitman arm on the steering box I noticed a bit of looseness.  I will see if I can make adjustments on the box to square away that problem.  It looks like I have to wait until the suspension is completely installed tho, before that gets adjusted.

10 October 2016 - driver side brakes

Started clean up of the spindle.  Removed the brake hardware and put what hardware I could, in a container with Evapo-Rust.

The spindle is a PITA to clean!  So far I have cleaned it 2X and there is still grease/dirt to be removed.

Cleaned up the spindle 2X already.  Coated it with WD-40 until I can start cleaning it again tomorrow.

Brake hardware soaking in Evapo-Rust...I misplaced a spring retainer washer