1969 Dodge Dart Swinger clean up
Making sure the K frame bolts are going to come out. Not easy, but they all move after 4 days of soaking them with PB blaster through the frame holes.
Suspension lifted up to get the upper and lower ball joint studs lined up.
Usually the uppers pop with a good 5 lb sledge hit, but not these ones. Socket over the lower ball joint nut and milling machine stack-able clamp spacers to fill the gap, with the nut installed backwards.
Cranking the nut OFF the stud to put pressure on the tapered stud until it gets hard to turn. Don't want to strip the threads.
One good wack with the hammer and POP.
Uppers disconnected on both sides. Upper control arm bushings and cam bolts have been recently changed, so not taking them apart.
Had to modify my K frame removal dolly. Big block and 4 speed sat across nicely before. Had to add a pad for the automatic transmission pan so the headers would clear the cart and add 3.5 " at the front for the K frame to sit on
Just needs a trim to clear the Idler arm bracket
Car lowered to just above the cart. Just in case the car noses forward when I drop the rear axle assembly. It has to come out first so I can drop the one piece exhaust system that someone was so nice to weld all together. It's in the way of the transmission coming down.
Amazed that the rear leaf hanger bracket bolts came out without a fight after 52 years.
Making sure the K frame bolts are going to come out. Not easy, but they all move after 4 days of soaking them with PB blaster through the frame holes.
Suspension lifted up to get the upper and lower ball joint studs lined up.
Usually the uppers pop with a good 5 lb sledge hit, but not these ones. Socket over the lower ball joint nut and milling machine stack-able clamp spacers to fill the gap, with the nut installed backwards.
Cranking the nut OFF the stud to put pressure on the tapered stud until it gets hard to turn. Don't want to strip the threads.
One good wack with the hammer and POP.
Uppers disconnected on both sides. Upper control arm bushings and cam bolts have been recently changed, so not taking them apart.
Had to modify my K frame removal dolly. Big block and 4 speed sat across nicely before. Had to add a pad for the automatic transmission pan so the headers would clear the cart and add 3.5 " at the front for the K frame to sit on
Just needs a trim to clear the Idler arm bracket
Car lowered to just above the cart. Just in case the car noses forward when I drop the rear axle assembly. It has to come out first so I can drop the one piece exhaust system that someone was so nice to weld all together. It's in the way of the transmission coming down.
Amazed that the rear leaf hanger bracket bolts came out without a fight after 52 years.