Monroe's 70 GTX

[monroegtx]

Glove box

Put the glove box liner in and the door on. Wasn't sure about the correct location of the 8 track crossover box, but there were two holes in the top of the liner that lined up with those on the box, and since the wiring came down in the same area I thought that'll do. Need a new lock for the door so better order one. Not happy with the look of the plastic trim. It's a bit too faded for the rest of the dash, and I think the glove box door may have been replaced at some stage as well, seems to be a different green. I'll take them off again later on down the track and paint them up to match the ashtray and the console when that goes in. I know I've said that I like the used weathered look, but some things just stand out as bad alongside new bits.

 

[GetX'd]

You're doing a first class metal job on that car, it's going to look awesome in the end. You're a giver of life! Rock on!

 

[monroegtx]

Oh My!!

Was attempting to adjust some things up and ended up running into more issues than I would have liked. I put the drive shaft in and then went to adjust the auto linkages. They were pretty sloppy, but I already had new torque rod bushes, just hadn't put them in yet.

After putting them in I started the adjusting. Well, I couldn't put the steering column in lock could I. Turns out that I didn't pay attention when putting the column in and the center rod wasn't all lined properly. I took it out again, moved the steering lock around so that the key and everything was in the right pozzy and put it back in. That's when I realized the coupling was 180 out when I went to line up the centre marks with the worm shaft. Ok, fixed that and then realized with the wheels straight the centre mark on the worm shaft wasn't in the right position. Turns out I had the Pitman arm installed 1/4 turn off. Took the arm off, centred the steering box, and placed the arm back on again. All good. Or so I thought.

When I put the front end on, I noticed that the centre link sat quite high in relation to the torsion bars. At the time I thought it was just adjustment so I didn't worry about it. After moving the steering arm I had a closer look and then did some googling and realised that this was not just adjustment. The tie rod was actually rubbing against the torsion bar when turning.
I read a lot of forums which had this problem and ended up putting 2 shims under the top bolts of the steering box. This did give clearance, but it's still very close.

I'd really be interested in some feed back here on whether or not this is ok, or something else needs to be done, or looked for. I tightened the tie rod and arm studs up but haven't bothered putting the pins in yet in case I had to pull it apart again. Never did get back to the auto adjustment, thought I had better take care of this one first. Look forward to hearing your thoughts or experiences about this. Time for a beer. :VB toast:

 

[kiwigtx]

That is very unusual Monroe. I have the same car and a stock setup, and have no issues with the steering box like you are describing. I assume that all your parts - steering box, Pitman arm, Idler arm and K-Member are all the correct parts for the '70 GTX. The only thing I can think of is that somewhere along the line someone has installed maybe 'E' body Pitman & Idler arms, or something is bent out of shape. I don't think shimming the steering box is a very good idea either (that's my personal opinion of course).
If you are certain the steering box is centered and the items are all in place correctly, I would check out the parts mentioned. :icon_scratch:
Hopefully it will become obvious soon for you.

 

[kiwigtx]

Just another thought - are you checking this with the car jacked up, or have you checked when the car is on the ground with the weight on the front end? That would make a difference. :icon_thumleft:

 

[monroegtx]

Thanks for the input Kiwi. As far as I can tell the parts are correct. I googled the cast number on the original pitman arm and it came back as being correct, and the new one is the same shape. The tops of the tie rod ends and pitman arm and idler arm do sit a bit higher than the originals but really shouldn't make that much difference. The car is on stands at the moment but I still wouldn't expect it to be touching. I wasn't keen about puting in spacers, but the search online that I did had it come up several times. I might start a new thread on the problem and see what the general consensus is. There are a lot of knowledgable heads on this site so I'm keen to get some ideas on right and wrong and possible causes. :icon_thumright:

 

[monroegtx]

Finally got the tie rod issue sorted with a bit of help from the guys on here. Special thanks to nm9stheham for his input and everyone else who helped out. Turns out the K frame must been knocked pretty hard at some stage, and even though had been repaired still lifted the centre link a tad higher than normal. It seemed that the cheaper tie rod ends that I had originally bought as part of a front end kit, had too high a step on top. Once I purchased a good set the difference was great. Photos don't quite show it but the clearance is fairly good now. Can finally slide out from under and tackle some other stuff now.
:VB toast:

 

[Ron 73]

Good deal! its always good to get one problem done so we can move on to the next half a dozen, seems that way hear anyway lol, my wife says "we have a little problem", "only one?" my response any more! Good luck moving on! It will be, is, one great ride, love the body style on these...

 

[daytona kid]

I've been noticing some small differences in most of the brake and suspension parts that I've been getting at the local parts stores. I think a lot of these parts are made in China, and they just don't copy them the way they should. The parts usually work but are just different enough to piss you off with some little problem that most people wouldn't notice like we do.

 

[monroegtx]

I was making some adjustments to the qtr windows, as I thought I could get them a little bit better than what I had. After mucking around for awhile I jumped back on the forum to see if I could get some pics of other peoples results. Came across a good one with good pics, and someone picked up on his roof lining not being in. He recommended putting the lining in before the roof rail weathertrim to make it easier to glue the sides. So you guessed it. I haven't got mine in yet either. So down went the windows and off came the roof rail again. Put on some roof underlay to help with noise and heat. I already had the rubberised sound deadener on the roof but I went a bit further and put the padded underlay on as well, thought it couldn't hurt.

Found out that I'm missing 4 bow retainers so that now puts an end to that great idea until I get some more.

I also have 5 clips that I removed ages ago but I can't remember where they go, or what they do. I know they are from the roof somehow as I kept them in the bag with all the other roof lining related stuff. Does anyone recognise these, and where do they go and how many should I actually have. :edgy:

 

[kiwigtx]

I'm fairly sure those clips pop into the top of your windscreen frame for the inner trim piece to screw to. You should have a black or brown flat bow trim that covers the front of the headliner at the windscreen level. Be careful with those small tabs - they break easy if bent too many times.

 

[monroegtx]

Thanks for that Kiwi, that makes sense.

 

[roadrunnerman]

everything you've been doing here has been nothing short of top-notch work. I know trying to get all the "small" thing to go right makes all the difference sometimes. Did you take the shims back out when you got the tie rod/pitman arm clearance fix, or just leave them in?

 

[monroegtx]

Thanks for the kind words roadrunnerman. Yes I did take the shims back out. I was a bit weary about putting them in in the first place, but the forums that I read seemed to say that this was not an unusual thing to do. However I was a bit skeptical, that's why I asked for other opinions on here. I'm glad I did because it made me chase up a better quality part to solve the problem, rather than a quick fix.

 

[Ron 73]

i hate admitting it i guess, but ive been guilty of those quick fixs to many times, not just with the cars and sometimes i end up in an argument with the wife but i tell her what my grand dad always said, pay me now or pay me later but you will pay me and i learned my lesson several times before i got with the program, a quick fix can get me/us in trouble more often then not... Good deal!

 

[HawkRod]

Monroe,

I have been lurking for some time checking out your restoration thread. Your work is top notch and I hope my restoration can turn out as nice as yours! Super job! :headbang:

I am just now working on my dash, and struggling through many small details. It is the small details that can take a tremendous amount of time, and many people just give up and leave them be. Your dash (and the rest of your car) shows that you obviously HAVE been sweating the details - it looks fantastic!

Hawk

 

[747mopar]

Looking good, I see your like me (I couldn't remember where those went either along with many other things).

 

[monroegtx]

Looking good, I see your like me (I couldn't remember where those went either along with many other things).

I was a bit slow getting on the smartphone bandwagon, so when I first started pulling things apart I didn't take a lot of photos. I'd take something off and think to myself, "no need to write that down, I'll remember cause it's obvious how it goes back on". A couple of years later and several brain cell killing beverages and it's more like, "where the F did that come from". :confused2:

 

[Ron 73]

I was a bit slow getting on the smartphone bandwagon, so when I first started pulling things apart I didn't take a lot of photos. I'd take something off and think to myself, "no need to write that down, I'll remember cause it's obvious how it goes back on". A couple of years later and several brain cell killing beverages and it's more like, "where the F did that come from". :confused2:

Been there done that and i will bet you'll never do it again! I almost thru out all four curtsey lights for my 73 after the work lol, of course i said then like you may be thinking now, that ill never have to worry again about the 'BAG AND TAG" cause this is the last one, lol, my wife told me not to say that, over 41 years together now and shes right? man that go's against the grain GRUuuuuuu

 

[monroegtx]

Never say never Ron, you never know what's around the corner. If I ever get the opportunity again I'll make bloody sure that I bag and tag and take a thousand photos as well. :VB toast: