Front End Tear Down

It's been a while, but I got word from the machinist that I had risen to the top of the list and my engine will be finished in a couple of weeks.  So, its time to tear down the front end and get all the suspension and steering work done, along with cleaning, sanding and painting the engine well before I install the engine.

The engine has been out for a while.  Now it's time to strip everything else.

Pulled the tranny.  After draining it, I just man-handled it onto the floor, jacked up the side of the car and slid it out.  Doing this project in a home garage is at least twice as much work has having a full shop.

 Ok, so this is new.  I knew the blower motor didn't work.  I wasn't to worried.  I figured it was going to be a wiring issue or something.  Well, apparently, the blower had gone bad once before.  I hadn't noticed the quick and easy method of replacement until the wheel well came out.  Instead of removing the wheel well to get to the fan, the prior owner simply cut a hole in the wheel well, large enough to get the old fan out...then just left it open.  Driving in the rain and snow, did a job on it as the water was flung up from the tire.  The replacement was rusted solid.  I'm deciding between getting a new wheel well or fabricating and "door" that can be bolted and sealed in place in case I ever need to get back in there again.

 Getting close.  Everything is off except for the control arms and the front brace.

 I intentionally left the shock inside the spring until I removed the knuckle and wheel.  That way, as you see above, the spring "chunked" down to extend the bad shock and that was it.  I was then able to unbolt the shock and work it out.  By that time the spring had little tension on it and more fell out on the floor than jumped across the garage into my wife's car or something like that.

Next up?  Take off a few brake lines, the front support the control arms, clean sand and paint.  I'll finally be at a point where I can start putting things together instead of tearing them apart.  That will be a good corner to turn.