The Webmaster Zone

This was the weekend I set aside to finally work on the suspension. First my friend Ray helped me bleed the brakes - something I have been meaning to do for some time, they were too soft for comfort. The old fluid was well past due and we got some air out too. Three different bleed screw sizes on my car, nice one PO. Then I wedged a bit of 600 grit sandpaper between the closed points and cleaned them off a little to see if it would help my dwell reading (I set the gap very small and still couldn't get the angle to 60 degrees). I came to the conclusion the points really need to be changed, but it did help and I got the dwell angle from 50 to 60 degrees with a close-to-normal gap. I then adjusted the distributor to give me 10 BTDC timing (close enough). Loving my new tach/dwell meter and strobe light. We had to go out for a spin and it was a lovely day, I regret not taking the hood down but hey there was a lot more work to be done! The brakes are wonderfully stiff now and the engine pulls very nicely. Got back to the garage and changed the oil while it was warm. Took a deep breath and went at the front suspension. Up on jack stands and compress the spring with the trolley jack, then remove the lower trunnion pin. Lowered the spring pan slowly and removed the spring. One of them was broken into three pieces, and the other is shorter than my new springs by about 1" (photos coming soon). Removed the A-arms and spring pan and pulled out the old bushings, literally disintegrating in my hand. Supporting the entire swivel axle assembly with hub and caliper on an overturned bucket, I undid the top trunnion pin to free the shock absorber. It turns out both shock absorbers are bad - I knew one was leaking fluid like a sieve, but the other side has a large no-resistance zone so I have been effectively running without any shocks since I got the car. I got everything apart except the top trunnion pin on the passenger side - its stuck and I don't know why. That was enough for one day, so Sunday I used my drill with a wire brush and wire cup and stripped the a-arms and spring pan down to close to bare metal. Right now they are drying with new gloss black paint, althought I'm replacing two of the a-arms so that I can fit the sway bar I bought at a swap meet way back last fall! I also have new steering rack boots and wheel bearings coming, as well as new U-bolts, spring pads, and bushes for the rear. Had to order a few more tools, a tie rod separator (lever type) and a grease packer. Go me!! I'm so excited, this is going to make a huge difference.