[HWYSTR455]

A popular mod on the 2nd gen front sub is to weld the seams up, that strengthens them a lot.

Also, welding small triangle braces between the lower control arm mounts and the frame, but need to be careful, too big and it will get in the way of headers.

A member here sells some other items that help beef the sub up, one item I'm interested in is basically some thick washers that weld on the frame where the lower control arm bolts pass through. They tend to wobb out from load.

He makes a plate that braces the upper a-arm mount plate too.

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[HWYSTR455]

Here you go, it's member 'NOT A TA' :

https://lab-14.myshopify.com/collections/all

These chassis braces that mount under the front sway bar help too:

http://umiperformance.com/catalog/in...oducts_id=1026

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[72projectbird]

Picked up the subframe, control arms, knuckles, and dust shields from the blaster. They came out really nice.

Initially I was thinking powder coating them, but now I might just paint them myself. We're going to have a few warm days coming up, so I'll experiment with a few pieces and see how the come out.

[RAIVJUMB]

looks like it is coming along very nicely glad to see that and looking forward to seeing it around. Mark

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by RAIVJUMB

looks like it is coming along very nicely glad to see that and looking forward to seeing it around. Mark

Thank you!

Hopefully it'll be running under its own power this spring. I was thinking about assembling it and driving it this summer, and tearing it back down for paint next winter. I still don't know if that's the exact plan, but it would be fun to drive it.

[RAIVJUMB]

That is what I am doing with my sd

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[72projectbird]

I decided to paint the suspension parts rather than powder coating. The quotes I was getting were ridiculous, and with the metal as clean as it is, I can lay down paint and have it look just as good.

I started with the control arms. A few light coats of primer, followed by some semi gloss chassis black. They came out really nice. The pictures don't show it the finish too good.

[JUDGE3]

Very nice and enjoy seeing it do it yourself.

powder coating it all would be a fortune. and why. the paint will look just as good for sure.

keep posting pics, I'm building a humble clone but love seeing what an original like yours looks like as it is dis-assembled and how you go about restoring it.

and what a find, sheeesh without going back and reading I think you paid 6 grand? pennies for a car like that.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by JUDGE3

Very nice and enjoy seeing it do it yourself.

powder coating it all would be a fortune. and why. the paint will look just as good for sure.

keep posting pics, I'm building a humble clone but love seeing what an original like yours looks like as it is dis-assembled and how you go about restoring it.

and what a find, sheeesh without going back and reading I think you paid 6 grand? pennies for a car like that.

Thank you!

Nothing wrong with a clone! My 71 is a clone built from second, third, and even fourth hand parts. It's the most fun car I've owned!

[72projectbird]

I got the frame painted up. It looks really nice, and I'm happy going with the paint route instead of powder coating. I also got the knuckles painted up and installed the dust shields on them.

[weranc55]

Looks great

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by weranc55

Looks great

Thank you! It's coming along. I really need to start tackling the rust repair that's left on the car. Hopefully within the next month or so I'll start on it.

I got all the bushings and ball joints in today, and hung them on the subframe. I'm still waiting on the springs and shocks. I still need to refinish the steering box, and get new tie rods.

[72projectbird]

Dropped by the machine shop today to check up on things. The engine is coming along nicely. We were able to save the original crank which is cool. The cylinder heads are next in line for the hot tank, so assembly should start soon.

[3tas4me]

Great progress!

[455hota]

Good progress!!

Please be careful with the front spring install into the subframe with it out of the car!! It did mine that way and it was an absolute bear even with two different style spring compressors!! Stay safe!!


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[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by 455hota

Good progress!!

Please be careful with the front spring install into the subframe with it out of the car!! It did mine that way and it was an absolute bear even with two different style spring compressors!! Stay safe!!


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I plan on mounting the frame back on the car, and resting an engine in the rails before I attempt to mount the springs.

Springs are probably me least favorite part of reassembly.

[necdb3]

Originally Posted by 455hota

Good progress!!

Please be careful with the front spring install into the subframe with it out of the car!! It did mine that way and it was an absolute bear even with two different style spring compressors!! Stay safe!!


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I did mine with the sub frame out. I pushed the spring into the lower arm like you normally would, then set it on my floor jack. If you chain the frame to the base of the floor jack, it doesn't allow the frame to lift.

[shaker455]

Originally Posted by 72projectbird

Dropped by the machine shop today to check up on things. The engine is coming along nicely. We were able to save the original crank which is cool. The cylinder heads are next in line for the hot tank, so assembly should start soon.

Who did you guy's choose for a machine shop?

[72projectbird]

I fixed a hole in the firewall, right below the heater box. I took a pic of it completed, but I forgot to upload it. I ended up using the old door skins for minor sheet metal repairs. That's why it's white in one of the pics. lol

I also decided to replace the sides of the cowl. Initially I thought about just patching the lower halfs, but after tearing into it, it'll just be easier to replace the entire piece. Both sides are getting replaced.

If you look closely at the pic with the piece removed, you can look thru the kick panel opening and see the garage floor due to the lack of a floor pan.

I hope to get the entire firewall done by next weekend. Once that's completed, everything from the doors forward is now rust free!

[unruhjonny]

That last picture is really cool to me, because it shows me how these cars were put together;
For instance, until I looked at that picture, I didn't realize that behind those cowl sides is the filler panels that have (on a non-A/C car) the vent!?
It makes sense, it just never occurred to me.