problems with rebuilt front end
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 3
From: Shreveport/Bossier Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
problems with rebuilt front end
Hi, my dad and i put a new motor in his 1972 stingray and we also rebuilt the front end with all new rubber bushings. the problem is that the front end is sitting way to high and we cant figure out how to get it down. Any help or suggestions would be great thanks guys
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 7
From: Ontario
Check that the springs are sitting properly in the spring pockets. The spring ends sit in a recessed area within the pocket against a stop. Actually they should not be right against the stop...perhaps 1/2" away. There are some small drain/alignment holes where the end of the spring should be located.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,593
Likes: 173
From: Clayton NC
Did you tighten the "A" Arm bushings while it was still in the air? This seems to be the most common mistake that is made. Any rubber bushing shouldn't be tightened until the full weight of the car is on the suspension and been driven around the block. Then torque to spec... Dave..
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 3
From: Shreveport/Bossier Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
My dad is a professional mechanic and ownes a service station so we checked and double checked everything. The springs are in their correct pockets and we did tighten everything while the weight of the car was on it and then also drove it around the block. Still baffeled.....
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 3
From: I KNOW JESUS... HE'S MY GARDENER
Tell us about the springs. Was this a BB car that now carries a small block? Did you reduce weight significantly (e.g. aluminum heads, radiator, A/C removal)? Are the springs new? Are they the correct springs for the car?
P.S. - If your dad is a professional mechanic, why are you asking us?!? And, if you have an hour to spare, call me. I'll tell you the stories of how "professional/certified mechanics" have f'ed up my car, boat and work van...
Sign me,
Amateur mechanic & Gynecologist
P.S. - If your dad is a professional mechanic, why are you asking us?!? And, if you have an hour to spare, call me. I'll tell you the stories of how "professional/certified mechanics" have f'ed up my car, boat and work van...
Sign me,
Amateur mechanic & Gynecologist
Last edited by SkunkApe; Jul 20, 2005 at 09:21 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,323
Likes: 3
From: I KNOW JESUS... HE'S MY GARDENER
Originally Posted by youwish2bme
Come on the suspense is killing me.... What does daddy have to say about all of this.......
I think we (knuckle-dragging ruffians) scared him back to the safety & comfort of the C5 section:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/sear...earchid=435407
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 687
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 02blackbeauty19
My dad is a professional mechanic and ownes a service station so we checked and double checked everything. The springs are in their correct pockets and we did tighten everything while the weight of the car was on it and then also drove it around the block. Still baffeled.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Be nice guys.
He is 19 and has a father that is still around. That is something - these days.
Remember back when you were 19 ... did you want anyone calling him your daddy ?
Qs: Did you put new shocks in - perhaps gas charged ?
Stock springs are tough to get back in the pocket correctly - double check this.
Last one: After replacing the bushings - and before installing
the control arms - could the shaft be rotated inside the inner sleeves ?
If not - perhaps the arms were slightly bent and binding up on the shafts.
We just did a members front end rebuild last weekend. In the
end, it looked to sit high. Unfortunately we did not measure
"before". After looking over old pictures, the owner stated that
it was sitting about the same as before.
I was worried, as we needed to torque one of the shaft bolts
BEFORE installing the arm (dang plastic radiator shrouds).
From now on, I am suggesting poly bushings to overcome this issue.
He is 19 and has a father that is still around. That is something - these days.
Remember back when you were 19 ... did you want anyone calling him your daddy ?
Qs: Did you put new shocks in - perhaps gas charged ?
Stock springs are tough to get back in the pocket correctly - double check this.
Last one: After replacing the bushings - and before installing
the control arms - could the shaft be rotated inside the inner sleeves ?
If not - perhaps the arms were slightly bent and binding up on the shafts.
We just did a members front end rebuild last weekend. In the
end, it looked to sit high. Unfortunately we did not measure
"before". After looking over old pictures, the owner stated that
it was sitting about the same as before.
I was worried, as we needed to torque one of the shaft bolts
BEFORE installing the arm (dang plastic radiator shrouds).
From now on, I am suggesting poly bushings to overcome this issue.