Front End
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
From: Show me a cold beer and I will show you a happy man Maryland
It veries on removal, depeds how rusted your front is. I personally had a heII of a time removing my siezed calipers. Are you going back to stock? Poly or rubber? Do an advance search, you will get alot of info.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Oakton VA
How much do you want to remove? Steering? Suspension? Brakes? Power Steering? I've about completed my removal of everything and had issues all along the way, but have worked thru most issues. There's help here for everything.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
The most difficult parts of a front end rebuild are the spring removal (not so much difficult as dangereous), removing the old control arm bushings, and removing the rivets that retain the ball joints and rotor (if you have original parts installed). If you search the archives you will find numerous posts on each of these topics. Good luck.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Sorry let me rephrase i meant the fiberglass front end just the body not the cars front end sorry for the confusion. I do plan on overhauling the suspension and brakes. just trying to take it step by step starting with the body and interior
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
First question is: Why remove the doghouse? If you do not have extensive repairs to make, my advice is to leave the factory installation as is.
Part Two: removing the doghouse is not particularly difficult but there are things you want to plan for. Do your homework before you take the chisel to it. Lots of references on this subject through the aftermarket providers. Eckler's has a book; Glas-Ra has a nice How To. Buy a couple and thumb through them. You will also find the assembly instruction manual to be helpful.
Part Two: removing the doghouse is not particularly difficult but there are things you want to plan for. Do your homework before you take the chisel to it. Lots of references on this subject through the aftermarket providers. Eckler's has a book; Glas-Ra has a nice How To. Buy a couple and thumb through them. You will also find the assembly instruction manual to be helpful.
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Easy Mike
First question is: Why remove the doghouse? If you do not have extensive repairs to make, my advice is to leave the factory installation as is.
Part Two: removing the doghouse is not particularly difficult but there are things you want to plan for. Do your homework before you take the chisel to it. Lots of references on this subject through the aftermarket providers. Eckler's has a book; Glas-Ra has a nice How To. Buy a couple and thumb through them. You will also find the assembly instruction manual to be helpful.
Part Two: removing the doghouse is not particularly difficult but there are things you want to plan for. Do your homework before you take the chisel to it. Lots of references on this subject through the aftermarket providers. Eckler's has a book; Glas-Ra has a nice How To. Buy a couple and thumb through them. You will also find the assembly instruction manual to be helpful.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: cincinnati oh
Personally, I would pull off the front end, do my suspension work, then put the fiberglass back on. Things are easier without your head in a wheel well! The Glas-Ra book is pretty good. If you don't care about the front clip that is on there then you can chisel it off the cowl, just split the glue and no the cowl though. It is better to do it with the doors off also.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by will_2006
Thanks for the help i dont want to have to replace it but the guy who owned the car before me hit a deer and a good bit of it is broken off
Thread Starter
Navigator
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
well the on the left side half the front is broken off
from the fender to the hood and on the right side just a piece of the fender is broken off i thought about just doin pieces but because of the left side i think i need a another front end.
from the fender to the hood and on the right side just a piece of the fender is broken off i thought about just doin pieces but because of the left side i think i need a another front end.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Sounds like minor fender repair and an upper surround panel would be the fix for you. Leave the fenders, inner fender panels, and hood on it and align the replacement upper surround panel with the OEM fenders and hood. Much less work.