[1965 Pontiac Parisienne]

Hi friends ,

Just working at my 66 Star Chief Executive Coupé .. replaced the front clip , painted fenders and door ..rebuilding the complete front suspension …

Question : after assembling the fender / hood and radiator support with grills ..I was thinking now to replace all the body mountings .. I get all screws out without an issue.. but how can I swap the bushing with new ones without removing the front clip again ? Any chance to do it or have I have to remove the front clip again ?
Thx Bjoern

[Stuart]

I think the typical method is to loosen and remove the bolts along one side of the car, then lift the body slightly with a jack to take the weight off each mount and replace them one by one. You just have to lift the body enough to slide the old mount out and slide the new mount in.

[61-63]

I would remove the front clip or at least remove the bolts attaching it to the body and to the frame at the front and slide it forward a little bit. Of course you have to remove the bumpers to do that. Perhaps you could just remove the bolts attaching the front clip to the frame at the front, and those bolting the radiator cross member to the frame, to allow the front clip to raise up on each side as you do what Stuart suggests. If you do what Stuart suggests and leave the front clip and cross member bolted to the frame at the front you might tweak something as you raise the body on one side or the other. Just my opinion.

[1965 Pontiac Parisienne]

Phew …after thinking last night (I can’t sleep) I decided to remove the complete front clip and to do it right ..so I started this evening to remove everything ..carefully .. raised the body at the front body support and I removed one mounting to compare with one new one I had from my 65 Bonneville convertible ..same mountings but the 66 star chief coupe has a non boxed frame ..
some pictures …

Steering I already sealed
Power steering pump rebuilded
Lower / upper Control arms new bushings / ball joins and painted ..
so now it’s the way for a good detail result ..

[Stuart]

I'm impressed that all the bolts came out. Usually they're rusted in place, and/or the captive nut in the body breaks loose and just spins.

[Redpiston]

Well I just learned something. I'll admit I hadn't looked that close yet for how I was going to execute. I did not realize that you could remove the whole front clip and leave the hood attached.

I plan to powder coat my inner fenders and front core support and other misc items. While I have it off, going to pull engine and Trans to replace all the seals/gaskets and paint it up.

Thanks for the education

[1965 Pontiac Parisienne]

Starting from beginning … not what I like to do but the best way to go

[Redpiston]

Wish I could go out and look at mine. I did not realize the hinges are bolted to the firewall. My 66 2+2 is 1300 miles away at the moment.

[1965 Pontiac Parisienne]

Hi Redpiston
Why you parking your baby 1200 miles away ?


QUOTE=Redpiston;6402947]Wish I could go out and look at mine. I did not realize the hinges are bolted to the firewall. My 66 2+2 is 1300 miles away at the moment.[/QUOTE]

[Redpiston]

I'm working down here in Augusta GA. The house I had with 2 car garage sold and the project is nearing completion. So I moved into an apartment. No garage space for the car. Had 3 bedroom house. 2 bedrooms had my parts on shelves. Had to send the baby back home to Kansas City. She's complaining about the cold garage. Got spoiled here in GA and when I was in Phoenix.

[1965 Pontiac Parisienne]

Redpiston ..that’s not a good story but for sure there’s story behind and hopefully you will have soon your cars at your new place with a well heated and good garage to enjoy the hobby ..I’m happy to have my cats around me so I can enjoy the evening after work at my projects if family let me go ..
stay save and have a good time ..new year new chances

[Rapdron]

Originally Posted by 1965 Pontiac Parisienne

Phew …after thinking last night (I can’t sleep) I decided to remove the complete front clip and to do it right ..so I started this evening to remove everything ..carefully .. raised the body at the front body support and I removed one mounting to compare with one new one I had from my 65 Bonneville convertible ..same mountings but the 66 star chief coupe has a non boxed frame ..
some pictures …

Steering I already sealed
Power steering pump rebuilded
Lower / upper Control arms new bushings / ball joins and painted ..
so now it’s the way for a good detail result ..

Ok, my question is how hard is it to R&R the front clip?
Any helpful suggestions on the process?
I have a 66 Catalina I would link to do this to this spring.
I need to take both fenders off, left side to weld a bracket, and the right side to do a new heater core.
Thanks, Ron

[1965 Pontiac Parisienne]

Hi Ron,
I removed the front clip within 2 hours ..
Because I done it already a few times ..all screws are okay and greased .. easy going ..to raise the body is than easy .. if the mounting screws working with you .. WD 40 ..heat gun ..and a little love to the old rusty screws and you be save ..