Rear Trailing Arms for 72
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Rhineland MO
Rear Trailing Arms for 72
I recieved an e-mail from a friend that needs a little help. I am hoping someone here can help. Here is what he sent.
can you get on your corvette forum and find out if anyone has replaced there rear trailing arms on a 72 vette and how they dealt with the rusted TIGHT bolts in the front of the trailing arms., You cannot get a straight shot on hitting them out., you can just get a wrench on the head to try and turn it., but thay are rusted to tight to even think about moving., Torching will not work without severely damaging the frame and body.
Let me know if he can be helped.
can you get on your corvette forum and find out if anyone has replaced there rear trailing arms on a 72 vette and how they dealt with the rusted TIGHT bolts in the front of the trailing arms., You cannot get a straight shot on hitting them out., you can just get a wrench on the head to try and turn it., but thay are rusted to tight to even think about moving., Torching will not work without severely damaging the frame and body.
Let me know if he can be helped.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Pull the shims out with a pointed pry bar. After they are out of the way you can saw off or burn the bolt off your choice. I cut the head off the bolt with a metabo and burn off the bolt between the trailing arm and the inter frame (nut side)and the arm falls out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,101
Likes: 3
From: Cruising somewhere in St. Louis, Missouri
I did my 72 which is just like and other C3 and had to cut them off by using lots of oil and lower RPMs on the saws all with what is know as rescue blades. one side cut thru in 2 minutes and the other side was about 2 hours. You have to get a good angle and try to be on the bolt and not the rusted in shims if possible.
Good Luck,
Jim
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
8 rescue blades that is
I did my 72 which is just like and other C3 and had to cut them off by using lots of oil and lower RPMs on the saws all with what is know as rescue blades. one side cut thru in 2 minutes and the other side was about 2 hours. You have to get a good angle and try to be on the bolt and not the rusted in shims if possible.
Good Luck,
Jim
I did my 72 which is just like and other C3 and had to cut them off by using lots of oil and lower RPMs on the saws all with what is know as rescue blades. one side cut thru in 2 minutes and the other side was about 2 hours. You have to get a good angle and try to be on the bolt and not the rusted in shims if possible.
Good Luck,
Jim
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
the rescue blade works very well. to keep from hitting the back of the pocket, light the area well and start cutting with the blade extended all the way out, cut with just the tip, and hold the saw still.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
i only used 1 blade per side and it was body on. the trick is to sit on a brake job stool inside the wheel well. you have to put the car up really high. a lift makes it even easier.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
We do make 8 inch blades in the metal cutting tooth configuration. I had some 9 inch blades and just ground the tip of it off. The 6 inch is most common but we do have some 8,9 and 12 inch ones also.
http://www.lenoxsaw.com/recip_gold.htm
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
We do make 8 inch blades in the metal cutting tooth configuration. I had some 9 inch blades and just ground the tip of it off. The 6 inch is most common but we do have some 8,9 and 12 inch ones also.
http://www.lenoxsaw.com/recip_gold.htm
http://www.lenoxsaw.com/recip_gold.htm
I couldn't find a local distributor of Lenox blades when I was fighting my T/As - so I grabbed what was available. I did look, though.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Missouri City Texas
Did my 78 with a saws-all and 8 blades from home depot.
Had to cut through the shims on each side of the bolt.
The trailing arm rubber bushing bound everthing together, along the bolts. The entire operation for both arms took about 4 hours.
Well worth the effort. I used anitsieze on the new shims and trailing arm bushings, and bolts, before putting together.
Had to cut through the shims on each side of the bolt.
The trailing arm rubber bushing bound everthing together, along the bolts. The entire operation for both arms took about 4 hours.
Well worth the effort. I used anitsieze on the new shims and trailing arm bushings, and bolts, before putting together.