Cameljockey 3 Posted June 17, 2010 It's a pain in the butt........the torch, the heat (torch and sun), the wrench twisting, the frammin' and bammin', the vulgar language. All part of auto mechanics. Come to think of it, I can recall using the same language with my computer from time to time. It'll be worth it though. She ought to ride and handle like new! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameljockey 3 Posted June 18, 2010 Photos? Don't expect too much. She's a little rough around the edges. Once I get her mechanically sound I'll work on how she looks. I'd rather have a so so looking car that's fast and handles well instead of the opposite. After I get through with this I'm planning on going through the braking system. New rotors, calipers etc. Well it's off to the parts store to take advantage of their "Loan a Tool" program. I need a coil spring compressor. No way on God's green earth to get it in there without one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OvS 8 Posted June 18, 2010 Yo, my Shade-tree brother!! Yeah, those front McPhearson struts are a PITA!! How did you get them out without the spring compressor? I did the same to my Nova 2 years ago... I dropped the ass-end, replaced all bushing, and in the front it was a total Drum to Disc replacement. Thankfully, it's so primitive it's easy to work on. I had to buy a special spring compressor to fit the '63-67 style, and it made life easy. For $25 it's a keeper in the tool box. Good luck man, and keep us posted. Nice having a change a subject now and then. Maybe I'll take some shots of the Wagon and put those up. She's doing well and completely disassembled. All the best, OvS Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NS13Jarhead 6 Posted June 18, 2010 If it don't fit, get a bigger hammer! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameljockey 3 Posted June 18, 2010 Work stoppage! It seems that no one in this little one horse town has a centerline spring compressor. The outside ones won't work. They're for coilover struts. Soooooooo........I'm going to go ahead and tear out the other side and get it to the spring installation stage so when the compressor I ordered on Ebay ($40 from Summit Racing see photo) gets here I can pop 'em both in and be done with it. I'm done for the day though. Mother Nature's makin' noise and fixin' to cloud up and rain all over me! Not a good day to be a "Shade tree mechanic". I'll clean up my tools etc and take my frustrations out on some noob Krumpets! To be continued.................... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameljockey 3 Posted June 18, 2010 Maybe my son will think of me this way one day............... THE OLD MAN WAS COVERED WITH TATTOOS AND SCARS HE GOT SOME IN PRISON AND OTHERS IN BARS THE REST HE GOT WORKING' ON OLD JUNK CARS IN THE DAYTIME THEY LOOKED LIKE TOMBSTONES IN OUR YARD AND I NEVER SEEN HIM WHEN HE WASN'T TIRED AND MEAN HE SOLD USED PARTS TO MAKE ENDS MEET COVERED WITH GREASE FROM HIS HEAD TO HIS FEET CUSSING' THE SWEAT AND THE TEXAS HEAT AND MOSKEETERS AND THE NEIGHBORS SAID WE LIVED LIKE HICKS BUT THEY BRUNG THEIR CARS FOR PA TO FIX ANYHOW HE WAS VETERAN-PROUD, TRIED AND TRUE HE'D FOUGHT TILL HIS HEART WAS BLACK AND BLUE DIDN'T KNOW HOW HE'D MADE IT THROUGH THE HARD TIMES "If That Ain't Country, I'll Kiss Your Ass" by David Allan Coe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OvS 8 Posted June 19, 2010 I hear Harbor Freight has one.... If you have a NAPA anywhere near you, they probably have them as well. Shame Ford designed that lower control arm with the perch mount on it. It would have made it easier to remove the spring if they made it detachable. The Nova is reversed. It has the upper perch that compresses, and uses the lower perch as part of the pivot bushing. You can then cram it down as one piece providing you have the correct Chevy II spring compression tool. Not my Nova, but same year.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameljockey 3 Posted June 19, 2010 (edited) Well, I got up this morning and figured I'd go outside and take apart the other side of my front suspension. Everything was going according to plan although the heat and humidity were oppressive. Just as I was removing the control arm I heard a vehicle. I figured it was the mailman, but it was a FedEx truck bringing my coil spring compressor! I couldn't believe it! Less than 24 hours and no special shipping. I told the driver, "You just don't know how happy I am to see you! I decided that I would put it to use right away. While all of that was going on there was a storm brewing off to the West. I was hoping that it was headed South but I was soon disappointed.(see photo). Now it's raining cats and dogs so I reckon I'll do whatever I can until it lets up. Drowning in SC wishin' I wasn't.... and the saga continues............. Edited June 19, 2010 by Cameljockey Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cameljockey 3 Posted June 20, 2010 After making a necessary field modification on the new spring compressor (the screw was about an inch and a half too long), SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I can do the other side. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
