Ben's Satellite

[747mopar]

Fun ,Fun, always fun tearing them apart. Looks like you've got your hands full, doesn't seem that long ago I was doing the same just focus on one job at a time and before you know it you'll be done. As for your frame rails, I'd really go over them and check them closely, they look like they may need replaced. They are often worse on the inside then the outside so just check them over. Keep up the good work

 

[aldal]

Looks like a great project, keep us all updated.

:headbang:

hey, all....

Got my Grandma's old car (1974 Satellite) moved from my parents' yard this weekend... below are a few shots of the process...

Onto the trailer... we had some issues....

Pit stop for a pressure-wash...

And here she is at my house.

I have a five-phase restoration planned... starting with 'move on its own power'...

 

[killi6]

Fun ,Fun, always fun tearing them apart. Looks like you've got your hands full, doesn't seem that long ago I was doing the same just focus on one job at a time and before you know it you'll be done. As for your frame rails, I'd really go over them and check them closely, they look like they may need replaced. They are often worse on the inside then the outside so just check them over. Keep up the good work

Yeah, the driver's side rail will be getting the replacement/repair cap from autorust:

http://autorust.com/store/index.php...ducts_id=113&zenid=6tq87j1m929elcpaskca24mlc2

And the driver's torsion bar mount from the same site. I need $$$, is all. :santa:

 

[killi6]

I need to get the pictures off of my phone, but I've made some progress. I cut into the floor some more to get at the torsion bar crossmember mounts, took the crossmember out... also took out the tie rods/center link/idler arm from the front end and more stuff off of the passenger side of the front... working towards getting the k-member out so I can repair it and also prep everything for repairing the driver's frame rail.

I bought the torsion bar frame repair piece... so once get the driver's side mount off for the crossmember, I can clean it all up, cut the repair piece to fit (it's a little too long, it looks like) and weld it in.

Passenger torsion bar is being stubborn, won't come out from whacking it back with the vice grip on. That's why I just took the crossmember off. I'm going to clean up the crossmember good and paint it and get new mounts for it... got it on my workbench so it's easy to putz with.

 

[roadrunnerman]

Yea, those torsion bars can be a real stickler if they want too.

 

[killi6]

Here's a shot of the actual torsion bar mount which looks like it's welded onto the back of the rotted out piece that I need to repair there... I thought that square 'nut' was loose but I guess it's welded to the mount because it didn't turn at all when I unscrewed the torsion bar crossmember. I should redo the setup I put in place to hold it... I'm pretty redneck.


Cut myself a window in the passenger floor.


Finally got the steering stuff out. I acquired ball joint spreader which did the trick.


Trying to knock the torsion bar out of the lower control arm. It's still there.


Torsion bar on my bench after cleaning it up at the car wash.

 

[idrivemopar]

Wow, that's a lot of body work with your project, I don't feel so bad with what had to be done with mine now. Anyways, that Cobalt blue paint color is awesome, I almost was going to do that to my 73 Roadrunner, I think once you get to the paint stage, it will look killer on your car!

 

[killi6]

Sandblasting is fun.

Worked on the crossmember with my el-cheapo sandblaster. My compressor runs pretty much 100% while I'm blasting, I'm sure I'll burn it out this year, but it was free so oh well. Also, I wound up with a dusting of black media all over the snow in the driveway... so that was nice. I may set up our old little tent and just blast in there (I have no blasting cabinet) to keep the media spray under control. I also pulled the torsion bar (came out easily by hand with the crossmember/mount out)... so I'm ready to take out the k-member... but also ready to drill out the spot welds on the torsion bar mount so I can repair that frame piece. It's exciting to have a few options to work on. s_dancing2:

 

[killi6]

Hey, got the K-member out! Car's all up on jackstands on the frame now... I actually don't have any jackstands under the driver's front quarter, since that frame's all rusted so bad right now. It seems stable... <shrug>

'Empty' engine bay...


And here's the dirty k-member and assorted other stuff still attached:


I took it to the car wash this afternoon and gave it some attention. The 'good' ear turns out is pretty rusted too, so I'll use it as a template to fix the one that's totally gone and then repair/replace the other one as well, so I need to fab and weld on both of the ears. I'm hoping there isn't any other structural rust anywhere... doesn't look like it. <fingers crossed> When I have some time I'll finish breaking down all of the pieces off of the k-member so it's just bare and I can blast it down, repair the ears and paint it. Or get one of those nifty spot weld drill bits and get the torsion bar mount crossmember bracket off of the frame piece I have the repair for... so I can get that welded in and then turn my attention to the rotted front frame rail on the driver's side... which is terrible of course. I'm excited to get that stuff done and then get the front end back together... once I get the car back to being a 'roller', I think I'll rebuild the motor... maybe sometime in 2015. :icon_cry:

 

[Ron 73]

You do have work ahead of you but sounds like you have it covered with how your going to shape things up, keep up the great work and you'll be building that engine to have it ready! Good luck and hope you enjoy it, i think the building of one is as much fun as driving them.. Just my opinion but the "Blair spot weld kit" is one i bought and it does the job good!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/brc-11082?seid=srese1&gclid=CJaU6smN9bwCFTFk7AodwyMAbQ

 

[killi6]

You do have work ahead of you but sounds like you have it covered with how your going to shape things up, keep up the great work and you'll be building that engine to have it ready! Good luck and hope you enjoy it, i think the building of one is as much fun as driving them.. Just my opinion but the "Blair spot weld kit" is one i bought and it does the job good!

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/brc-11082?seid=srese1&gclid=CJaU6smN9bwCFTFk7AodwyMAbQ

Nice, thanks Ron!

 

[Ron 73]

They really are a good set, im thinking on another as ill be needing more this summer but im sure there's a few here that have used them and will give you a good report!

 

[killi6]

What do you use to drive it, an air wrench?

 

[Ron 73]

I use a 1/4 in drill for drilling the spot welds. Using a punch and hitting it (weld) in the middle you'll have a place for the guide thats in the middle of the bit to hold it straight on, kind of looks like a finishing nail to keep you from slipping.

 

[killi6]

Well, I got everything off of the K-member except the passenger strut rod which is being obstinate. Question... is there any place to get a new replacement strut rod for a 74 Satellite??? I can't find it anywhere. I'd love to just cut the old one out but... obviously not if I can't get a replacement. :sad1:

 

[killi6]

Well, I got everything off of the K-member except the passenger strut rod which is being obstinate. Question... is there any place to get a new replacement strut rod for a 74 Satellite??? I can't find it anywhere. I'd love to just cut the old one out but... obviously not if I can't get a replacement. :sad1:

Nevermind, I got the strut out... enough liquid wrench and then just the breaker bar. I had to take my bench vise and clamp it to the opposite end of the strut and then stand on it to keep it from twisting when I was pulling on the breaker bar. Good times.

Need to order those spot weld bits...

 

[Ron 73]

Liquid wrench,,Its been a long time, i forgot about that stuff! Any parts you may need, you might want to check out right here in the parts for sale, ive seen some parting these old cars admitting-ly been awhile with this particular one but i would keep tabs on it.. If your ordering those, Try,,,,,
http://www.amazon.com/Blair-BLR11096-Cutters-Spotweld-Cutter/dp/B002XML5HK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395283877&sr=8-1&keywords=blair+spotweld+cutter

 

[killi6]

Well, not quite a year later... <sigh>

I've been trying to get my driver's side torsion bar frame cap installed... I can't do it. First of all, I'm not a good welder... second, I've only got a cheap stick welder. Third, the car is just up on jackstands, not a nice rotisserie... and thirdly, the piece I got doesn't fit... it's clearly not for my car. But... I spent 150 bucks on it so I tried to get it in anyway. I got it sloppily welded in from the front, absolutely can't do it from the back because the lip of the existing piece overhangs the cap that comes in and I just can't get any decent kind of bead or pool or arc or anything in there.

So... I think what I need to do is find a replacement for the whole piece that spans the car. I could weld that back in on either side (after cutting the whole floor pan out... might as well, both sides need to be replaced anyway). Problem is, I don't know where to GET that piece for a 1974 Satellite. Anyone have any suggestions? I may ask around here to see if there's someone that could fab me up a replacement if I bring in the existing piece. They won't have a press obviously but they should be able to (I hope) cut pieces and weld them together for the same dimensions. What do you guys think?

 

[roadrunnerman]

check with Moparmarks for your part or there is a guy in the parts section parting out a 74 satty

 

[Ron 73]

You can check AMD and maybe they will have what you need... I cant place it, need pictures... I definitely would ask Mark though!!

http://www.autometaldirect.com/index.php

http://www.eastwood.com/71to74-e-body-71to72-b-body-full-front-floor-pan.html