02-21-10 Suspension work

Uncooperative parts, tools and a generally crappy build weekend

Sometimes stuff isn't going right and you need to take a step back, work on something else for a while, and come back to the trouble spot later. Each time I did that this weekend, something else went crappy too. On the third time I decided to bag it and go play some Grand Theft Auto. The while I'm workin on this blog update I notice...um...mixed up right and left parts attached on the wrong sides. (Facepalm moment).

First, the steering rack. Cleaned it up, threw some nice aluminum-ish looking paint on it to clean it up a bit. Attempted to install with the offset aluminum bushings. The right hand bolt wouldn't quite line up after the left one was in. No problem. Take the left bolt out, install the right bolt first, now the left one won't go through. The interference from other parts of the frame make it just about impossible to get any good leverage to move the rack enough. Grrrr...OK, let's try working on something else. I know, how about the upper control arms? Oh, wait. The balljoints in the upper arms need to be reversed. They won't budge. Rent a balljoint socket. Apply heat from propane torch. Still won't. @#$@#$. Let's try something else.

The rear suspension should be easy. At least this shot of the right side was. The other side seemed to be off just a hair making it impossible to get the spacer washers in between the spherical bearings on the lower arms. Then I took a look at the photos from before I disassembled the whole thing and notice I have the lower arms reversed right-to-left and upside-down. D'OH! Oh well, too annoyed to flip them over this weekend. Stero amp in the garage was on the blink. Sometime life is telling you you just need to go do something else for a while.

Anyway, in between all that I did manage to do a couple of things right. Cleaned up the gas tank and made it look all perty, even though this side won't be seen.

And the plastic shield for the bottom of the tank. It will be visible from behind the car thanks to the FFR 'perky butt' on the Mk I through III kits (not on the new Mk IV though).

My roller rocker arms finally arrived for the motor, so I did stop by Performance Machine, but they hadn't started assembling the 351 yet. The pistons are all ready to drop in, though.

Hopefully better luck next week. Winter seems like it's on its last gasps around here, so I'd better get crackin!