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My $300 a month budget 69 RR project (AKA, Wholly crap, what did I get myself into)

GearAddict said:
The secret is patience I guess...
Click to expand...


erere.jpg
 
That's awesome

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For my own records, since I'm doing my front end rebuild next week, here are some helpfull threads...

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?30197-total-front-end-rebuild&highlight=front+end+rebuild
 
Grrrr... My best laid plans to do the rear suspension tomorrow were foiled by my shock plates not being shipped out (still not shipped). Need to find another project...

Luckily, there's plenty to do!

Here's a great link to a vast array of Mopar literature...highly recommended reading

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/library-2.shtml
 
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Did you try to mount the axle on the spring first. Then raise the axle and spring as all one unit
 
Coronet 14 said:
Did you try to mount the axle on the spring first. Then raise the axle and spring as all one unit
Click to expand...

I haven't, but since it is the rear diff that has to move towards the rear of the car to line it up, I'm not sure it will be any different once I have the spring under it and I'll be in the same place, needling to move the rear axle backwards. If I needed it to go forward this would seem like the solution because I could use the front hanger bolts to pull it into place.

I just need to find a way to move the rear axle back without dropping the diff. I'm thinking that a bottle jack might do it, but I don't want to tweak the axle tubes.

If not, than maybe a tranny jack with a block under the pinion to prop it up might do it?
 
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ok...problem solved... a good nights sleep was the answer.

The old leafs had a lot more arch to them than the new ones. It occurred to me that I was twisting the diff by leaving the other side hang in on the leaf. So I bought a second jack this morning and jacked up the drivers side and presto, it dropped right into place.

sometimes you just have to step away from the job to see things clearly.
 
I have to show this post to my father in law... Very inspirational for him I bet. He is on a tight budget aswell and he also has a 69 383 tq flight factoy console floor shift roadrunner he has been trying to get done...
 
bigran250 said:
I have to show this post to my father in law... Very inspirational for him I bet. He is on a tight budget aswell and he also has a 69 383 tq flight factoy console floor shift roadrunner he has been trying to get done...
Click to expand...

That's great! I started this thread as motivation for myself, the tight budget sucks, but it is forcing me to really learn about the car before I spend money. Best of luck to your father in law.
 
Ok, So here's my Saturday afternoon Leaf Spring and Shock replacement update.

Passenger side done! Feels good and looks good compared to the rusted crap I took off the car. Here's a pic of the driver side with old spring, hangers, shackles, U-Bolts and unwanted traction bars vs. a pic of the new set-up on the passenger side, with new spring, shock, shock mounting plate, U-Bolts.

Thanks to many here on FBBO for recommending cutting off the U-Bolts, They were rusted on solid, but I was able to cut them off with a little effort and a cut-off tool, no problem. Biggest issue for the passenger side, was from my post above... just took a good 8 hours of sleep to clear my head and figure it out.

IMG_8747 - 2014-04-19 at 08-17-18.jpgIMG_8746 - 2014-04-19 at 08-17-09.jpg

As for the drivers side, I got everything apart fine until I got to the front hanger. I should say that I very liberally sprayed everything down with Seafoam penetrating oil 24 hrs in advance. The first nut came off with an air ratchet, no problem, second one fought me and out came the breaker bar...Snap! followed by #3 and 4..snap...I don't know if it was the rust or if they were overtightened in the first place, but the hanger is toast. I will be buying new ones from Mancini along with a pinion snubber (which the vehicle doesn't have).

IMG_8752 - 2014-04-19 at 10-26-19.jpg

I will have to wait for next week to finish off the job, which really sucks as I was hoping to start on the front suspension and disc conversion kit.

All in all I'm glad I tackled it. Here is a pic of the heaping mess that came off the car. Notice the 2 air shocks and how 1 is longer than the other (extended). The shorter one is frozen solid and won't move, this could not be helping the ride quality.

IMG_8750 - 2014-04-19 at 10-25-57.jpgIMG_8749 - 2014-04-19 at 10-25-52.jpg
 

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yeah sometimes you just need to get away from the project for a while. You could just knock out the broken studs and replace them with some grade 8 bolts.
 
Basket case said:
yeah sometimes you just need to get away from the project for a while. You could just knock out the broken studs and replace them with some grade 8 bolts.
Click to expand...

Or some weld studs.
 
hunt2elk said:
Or some weld studs.
Click to expand...

My welding skill and equipment is nil. But its a great suggestion. Maybe I can find a local shop too do it cheap.

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Basket case said:
yeah sometimes you just need to get away from the project for a while. You could just knock out the broken studs and replace them with some grade 8 bolts.
Click to expand...

Possible but I would worry about having enough access to get a wrench in around the front spring eyelet. Seems more important to have the hanger on the eyelet before mounting?
 
You will be blown away how much better and nicer the car will ride with the new rear suspension - looks really good. Good job!
 
Nice work! I agree with the other guys, pop them studs out of there, replace with grade 8 bolts...Save yourself a few bucks. You could grind them studs flat, toss the hanger in the vise, throw a little heat on the studs, and knock them out with a punch. Replace with grade 8 bolts, nuts, washers and lock washers. Spend $3 bucks instead of $70-80. Either way, she's gonna ride 10 times better after the work you've done back there.
 
Against my budget and the great suggestions from veterans here, I went ahead and ordered a new set of hangers from Mancini (The AR Engineering ones). I replaced so much new on the rear suspension it only seemed right.

Spent some time stripping the rust and paint off of the rear drums to paint them...Just couldn't stand them looking so bad next to the shiny leafs.

Also, went overboard and spent $50 of next months budget on this bad boy... My impact was a piece of crap and they were discontinuing this model at Lowes... seemed like a steel and it works beautifully.

2132G_Impact_Silo_l.jpg
 
your car,your time,and YOUR $$$ do it to make YOU happy.
 
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