Thanks to all the great help on the forum, I've completed my most ambitous project on the '76 thus far. I stripped the front-end, repainted (most) everything, and replaced all the bushings (went with poly), tie-rods and ball joints. I took it to the alignment shop Saturday and what a difference. I still need to replace steering rag-joint, but the front steering is begining to tighten up

When I got everything apart, I found partial bushings and in one case, no bushing in control arms. Also found where Bubba had previously been. I'm now getting brave and starting to look at the rear suspension. At some point I will replace front and rear with performance suspension, but I had to get it safe for now. I have some play in the rear right wheel at the 12/6 position, so that's going to be next on my list.

Thanks again for the wealth of knowledge and support that you guys have provided on CF

Here"s BUBBA:



. . . and here is the final result:

 

Nice work! How about some more pics of that undercarriage area?

 

Good work buddy. Looks great.

 

Let me join in the thank-yous.

This is how I spent my winter and you guys made it possible.

It runs like a completely different car now.

 

I dunno....I kind of liked that nail. Made your car unique - one of a kind.

 

Looks like a great job, may I ask what you painted it with?

 

Thank's for all the kudos. It was not a 4-hour job for me. It's the first time I ever have done suspension work, so I read a lot, ask a few questions and studied it some more. Hardest part for me was getting the springs back in. I borrowed a spring compressor from AZ that had hooks on top and a fork on bottom. It took me about 10 trys per side to get everything lined up exactly right to get the amount of compression that I needed while not binding the tool on top or or hitting the lower control arm. I had my 14-year-old son helping me . . . after the 19th try, I told him that I think one more try and we'll have it. He looked up at me with sweat running done his face and said "Dad, you never give up do you?" and I responded "Hell no!!! I've been working on this off and on for six weeks now and TONIGHT I'm going to finish it!!!" Man, it takes some work to crank those springs down, again and again and again. Would I do this again, absolutely!!! It'll only take me three weeks next time.

I stripped everything and painted with 3 coats of Krylon Professional Gloss Black. I've had pretty good luck with the Professional series paints in the rattle cans; it seems fairly durable considering that it's from a spray can. I don't have any painting equipment, so I use whatever I have easy access to. Just another one of the many great tips that I have picked up from the CF.