I finally made tidying the garage up a priority. I got the workbench built, which got all my tools off the floor and in one place. I still have the pedestals for the belt sander and drill press, but the heat index is well into the triple digits so that will have to wait.
I got the bushings out of the rear control arms, by drilling out the rubber
then working out the ferules
Then carefully cutting through the bushing shell
And then crushing them out with a cold chisel and 3# hammer.
All four, curled up.
I did get some advise from 2 GM engineers on the lower crushed control arm. Both were of the opinion to heat it up and bend it back, brace it internally, and then box them in. So I tried a propane torch, which was sort of a joke. So I went out and got a propane tank for the forge, which I needed to anyway. The arm wouldn't actually fit in the forge, since I bought a knife making one, not a blacksmithing one. But I cranked the PSI up to 10 and the resulting "dragon breath" was more then enough to get the control arm glowing a dull orange. That's short of forging temps but enough to make it slightly more pliable. It's slow going, since I don't want to thin the metal or move more then the damaged areas. I have the crushed zone opened up more. the down side is the bushing end has now moved as well.
Which has moved the bushing holes.
I was able to remove 'most' of the torsional mess, but that will need to be tweeked as I get it straightened more. Twisted metal is all ways tricky though.
It's slow going. The metal is fairly thin and doesn't hold heat long, plus I can't beat the living day lights out of it. Little taps here, heat, little taps there, heat, and so on. I'm working on getting the main straight part good, then I'll figure out the bushing end since that will more finessing. If you can call what I'm doing that, lol.
I'm going to give a good go, though. My wife likes the idea of making ones we have work. Her feeling is that this is what Gabby came with, we owe it to her to try and make her whole before resorting to more drastic surgery. I like my wife, she keeps me grounded to the plan.