Noobie questions
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 63
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From: Memphis TN
Noobie questions
Guys:
I have my first C3 - an L46 4 sp car with no air. Can you please take a look at the pics and offer some advice? I have previously rebuilt a '68 Camaro, an '83 CJ-7, and a '87 Chevy truck. This is my first 'Vette. The previous owner removed the half shafts in 2003 and it sat ever since. I was hoping to put the half shafts back in and then get the engine running, but the more I look at the rear suspension, I'm thinking I should recondition before moving forward. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Here are my questions:
1) The shocks are marred both sides. I assume the tires are too wide? Tires are P225 70 R15.
2) The body mount should be replaced. Probably need to replace them all.
3) Are the rotor rivets drilled out? What am I seeing?
4) Sway bar bushings are really bad.
5) I'm worried about the spindle. It looks somebody beat the end with a hammer, and that's hole on the end is oblong.
6) The strut rods are curved. I thought they were supposed to be straight?
I have my first C3 - an L46 4 sp car with no air. Can you please take a look at the pics and offer some advice? I have previously rebuilt a '68 Camaro, an '83 CJ-7, and a '87 Chevy truck. This is my first 'Vette. The previous owner removed the half shafts in 2003 and it sat ever since. I was hoping to put the half shafts back in and then get the engine running, but the more I look at the rear suspension, I'm thinking I should recondition before moving forward. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Here are my questions:
1) The shocks are marred both sides. I assume the tires are too wide? Tires are P225 70 R15.
2) The body mount should be replaced. Probably need to replace them all.
3) Are the rotor rivets drilled out? What am I seeing?
4) Sway bar bushings are really bad.
5) I'm worried about the spindle. It looks somebody beat the end with a hammer, and that's hole on the end is oblong.
6) The strut rods are curved. I thought they were supposed to be straight?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Guys:
I have my first C3 - an L46 4 sp car with no air. Can you please take a look at the pics and offer some advice? I have previously rebuilt a '68 Camaro, an '83 CJ-7, and a '87 Chevy truck. This is my first 'Vette. The previous owner removed the half shafts in 2003 and it sat ever since. I was hoping to put the half shafts back in and then get the engine running, but the more I look at the rear suspension, I'm thinking I should recondition before moving forward. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Here are my questions:
1) The shocks are marred both sides. I assume the tires are too wide? Tires are P225 70 R15.Looks like maybe an e-brake cable rubbed. Cable mount is in the pic, but no cable.
2) The body mount should be replaced. Probably need to replace them all. Not great. I'd put that on a list for little later
3) Are the rotor rivets drilled out? What am I seeing?Rivets are drilled out. Not the neatest job drilling.
4) Sway bar bushings are really bad.Spring bushings are not really good.
5) I'm worried about the spindle. It looks somebody beat the end with a hammer, and that's hole on the end is oblong.Pretty beat up, no cotter pin, looks rough
6) The strut rods are curved. I thought they were supposed to be straight?Yep, they're bent. I bet the rear alignment is a bit off too.
I have my first C3 - an L46 4 sp car with no air. Can you please take a look at the pics and offer some advice? I have previously rebuilt a '68 Camaro, an '83 CJ-7, and a '87 Chevy truck. This is my first 'Vette. The previous owner removed the half shafts in 2003 and it sat ever since. I was hoping to put the half shafts back in and then get the engine running, but the more I look at the rear suspension, I'm thinking I should recondition before moving forward. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Here are my questions:
1) The shocks are marred both sides. I assume the tires are too wide? Tires are P225 70 R15.Looks like maybe an e-brake cable rubbed. Cable mount is in the pic, but no cable.
2) The body mount should be replaced. Probably need to replace them all. Not great. I'd put that on a list for little later
3) Are the rotor rivets drilled out? What am I seeing?Rivets are drilled out. Not the neatest job drilling.
4) Sway bar bushings are really bad.Spring bushings are not really good.
5) I'm worried about the spindle. It looks somebody beat the end with a hammer, and that's hole on the end is oblong.Pretty beat up, no cotter pin, looks rough
6) The strut rods are curved. I thought they were supposed to be straight?Yep, they're bent. I bet the rear alignment is a bit off too.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi D,
The tires at 225-70-15 are just one size larger than the original and shouldn't cause any rubbing problems.
It appears in the first photo that perhaps the rear brake hard line or steel sheathed flex line might have been bent and rubbing on the shock.
The parking brake is on the other side of the trailing arm.
The 4th photo appears to show the spring to trailing arm bolts and bushings. Unless you've already removed it there doesn't appear to be a rear sway bar.
The strut rods were sometimes bent with a sledge hammer by someone trying to set the rear wheel camber that didn't want to fool with the cams at the inner ends of the strut rods. (Or maybe didn't even know they were there?)
Regards,
Alan
The brake hard line.
The parking brake position.
The camber adjustment locations.
The tires at 225-70-15 are just one size larger than the original and shouldn't cause any rubbing problems.
It appears in the first photo that perhaps the rear brake hard line or steel sheathed flex line might have been bent and rubbing on the shock.
The parking brake is on the other side of the trailing arm.
The 4th photo appears to show the spring to trailing arm bolts and bushings. Unless you've already removed it there doesn't appear to be a rear sway bar.
The strut rods were sometimes bent with a sledge hammer by someone trying to set the rear wheel camber that didn't want to fool with the cams at the inner ends of the strut rods. (Or maybe didn't even know they were there?)
Regards,
Alan
The brake hard line.
The parking brake position.
The camber adjustment locations.
Last edited by Alan 71; Jul 9, 2017 at 04:48 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,808
Likes: 1,950
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
looks like a lot of rust, before you blow a lot of time & money, check the birdcage & frame for rot !!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Yes, it looks rusty. Yes, there's a bent strut rod. Yes, the shocks are 'scuffed' on the side.
But, other than those things, I don't see anything really wrong with the rear suspension. Those shocks may not have been correct for the car; the outer shell looks to be larger diameter than stock parts...which may be why they are rubbing on the trailing arms. If they ARE correct for the car, the trailing arms may be flopping around too much and NEED to be rebuilt. But, you will have to figure that one out.
If you intend (long term) on refurbing the car, you might as well redo the rear suspension now. But, if you just want to check it out, I'd stick the half-shafts on and run it....
But, other than those things, I don't see anything really wrong with the rear suspension. Those shocks may not have been correct for the car; the outer shell looks to be larger diameter than stock parts...which may be why they are rubbing on the trailing arms. If they ARE correct for the car, the trailing arms may be flopping around too much and NEED to be rebuilt. But, you will have to figure that one out.
If you intend (long term) on refurbing the car, you might as well redo the rear suspension now. But, if you just want to check it out, I'd stick the half-shafts on and run it....
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,222
Likes: 9,359
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
get it running, get it running good, get it stopping. then worry about suspension, and such.
looks like surface rust, not serious.
looks like surface rust, not serious.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 38,361
Likes: 2,085
From: California
Outer spindles are a pain in the butt! No one would try to remove one generally unless there was a noise coming from the bearing! Even if you got some skills, and a press that is better left to someone familiar with working on those! You can do a runout test for play out there and rotate it to try to see if you feel anything (roughness). A hard thing to analyze by hand!
The spindle flanges are available out there! Check those Ujoints, by pulling the caps off carefully over a magnetic pan to caught the needle bearings as they like to fall out if not greased up! I like to look at the ends to see if there was wear, and some guys mistake u-joint noises thinking it was the axle and bearings.
Simple figure out what was rubbing, and fix that and some paint!
On the struts I would never put the stock style back but move up in quality to an aftermarket unit of the appropriate handling level you are looking for! Any that adjust are far nicer to have!
The spindle flanges are available out there! Check those Ujoints, by pulling the caps off carefully over a magnetic pan to caught the needle bearings as they like to fall out if not greased up! I like to look at the ends to see if there was wear, and some guys mistake u-joint noises thinking it was the axle and bearings.
Simple figure out what was rubbing, and fix that and some paint!
On the struts I would never put the stock style back but move up in quality to an aftermarket unit of the appropriate handling level you are looking for! Any that adjust are far nicer to have!