Well I spent a good amount of time today with the 72. Got my shock mounts in the mail and went to replace both as one was already broken. Got the broken one out with a little bit of luck. However the other one is still rusted on good! No dice moving that one at all. Just used the removal tool, didn't add heat yet cause I don't have the bushings. Knew I forgot to order something, doh! So I'll have to try again on that one next week sometime. I also replaced all four shocks, nothing fancy just some KYB GR-2's. Already a much smoother ride. Having never worked on a car before I was surprised at how easy they were all to replace.

As I was banging away as the passenger side mount I got caught in a nice little rust shower. The trailing arm has had it. That looks like it's about as much fun as the shock mounts. Are trailing arms easy to replace or is this something that's out of a noobs league? I have access to a hobby shop at the Navy base. I can get a lift and they have tons of tools. Are there any unique tools inloved the shop may not have? Thanks for all the help guys. I've never worked on my own car before but it's a lot of fun and a great feeling to accomplish something. Even if it is something as simple as changing my shocks. Later!
-CR

 

I have done a nearly complete frame-on restoration on my '70. Like yours, when I dug into the T-Arms I found them to be krispy kritters. Except for the windshield replacement and T-Arms, I have done all the work myself- front end, brakes, motor rebuild, recovered the seats, sanded & painted, swapped TH400 for muncie 4-speed, etc.,etc.....there is a special (and expensive) bearing shim setup tool that you need for getting the endplay on the rear wheel bearings right (or you can make/have one made by slightly turning down an old rear spindle) and there are special pullers available for getting the T-Arms apart. All this added up to more money than it would have cost me to pay a local Vette shop to replace the bearings themselves. I initially did this because I noticed excessive play in the rearend and like most guys wound up taking the entire a$$ end of the car apart, sandblasting and repainting everything, and then putting it all back together. Some guys (like myself) find themselves getting more and more emotionally attached to these old crates as they spend more time and $$$ on them, and some others get disillusioned and eventually give up in disgust. Maybe I'm a fool, but I don't fancy myself a quitter....