Finish Up The Rear

Worked on The Fresh Prince some this afternoon.  Finished powder coating a brake backing plate and rear panhard bar.

Once they cooled off, I had to put all the brake components on the plate.  Put the axles through the plates and tapped into rear end.  Then I installed both brake assemblies and hubs along with the emergency brake cables/brackets.

Rear end is done except for the wheels.....so I decided to polish on one of them a little too:

Before:

After:

What's Next:  Finish polishing rear wheels and install.  Then start on getting drive shaft ready for installation.

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Spring Compression (In The Fall)

I am not a big fan of using spring compressors to install/remove springs:

I fear the contraption may fail and I might end up looking like this guy.....

Nevertheless, I am going to break down today and borrow a kit from AutoZone.  Driveshaft and I were having a difficult time last night trying to get the rear springs in without a compressor.  We need more pressure to push down on the frame so that we can get the trailing arms up to the correct mounting bracket holes.  With the body off the frame and the shocks already installed we can't apply enough downward force to compress the springs.

Rear lower control arm after spring removed.

Cuz showed up tonight to check out our progress.  We ended up putting him to work helping get the bolts in the front of the trailing arms.  The spring compressors did make the job a lot easier.  I don't think we could have done it without the extra set of hands either.  I told him that he may have earned himself a short ride once the car is done!

Before:

After:

What's Next:  hope to get the brakes and axles installed on the rear.
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Rear Springs

Today I began installing my rear springs.

Driveshaft was around to lend me some assistance, but we still weren't able to get the lower trailing arms pushed up to their correct mounting holes.  Looks like I may have to look into a spring compressor to take a little pressure off the arms.

What's Next:  Finish up installing the rear end suspension.
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Road Clearing, Hunting, and Trailing Arms

First job today was to plant hunting plots for the upcoming deer season on November 19th.   We are expecting some rain towards the end of the week, so I decided to get the seed in the ground before then.

I had to limb up some trees along my hunting road so that I could get the truck to the fields with the seed and fertilizer.  Driveshaft plowed up the fields and "cut in" the seed once I put it out with the spreader.

Once I got through with that I moved on to the shop.  Got the shocks, upper trailing arm, and rear of lower trailing arms installed.

Driveshaft was kind enough to polish up the hardware that I needed before I got home which saved me a lot of hassle.  The "first shift" came through for me today!!

What's Next:  finish up trailing arm/spring install.
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Change of Pace

Worked on Red a little for Shea Butta.  Cleaned out the fuel filter and removed the old heat choke lever.  It is running pretty good, but probably needs to fave some fresh gas put in it.  Transmission needed two quarts so it might have a leak somewhere.  It was overheating a little after a few minutes.  Radiator needed some water and antifreeze.  Brakes are working so far after a new master cylinder.

Red

What's Next:  back to The Fresh Prince.

Rebirth of "Red"

Shea Butta has been wanting me to get Driveshaft's old truck "Red" going so she will have something to drive to school when she turns 16.  I got a wild hair and decided to work on it a little today.  Didn't have a lot of time between football games (Roll Tide!) and cutting the grass at Driveshaft and MawMaw's church though.  Cleaned out the cab (Driveshaft had left it in a mess) and put a battery in it.  Replaced the old leaking brake master cylinder and fired her up.  She didn't run very well and we couldn't keep her idling.  Football was calling, so we will work on her a little more next week maybe.

A-Arm Bushings

I stopped by Autozone today and rented a control arm bushing remover through their loaner tool program.  I had never used one before, but they are worth the money.  Plus I can take the tool back to AZ for a full refund when I am finished.

Driveshaft and I had been mulling over how we were going to get the bushings out the last few days.  The problem is they are pressed in you have to be careful not to bend the flanges on the arm when you remove them.  The bushing remover made it a breeze.  I think I had them all out in about 15 minutes once I got the tool set up.

I am going to hold on to the remover until I get the lower arm bushings removed and press all the new bushings back in.

What's next:  Try to get some of these parts back on The Prince.

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Cooking Up Some Goodies!

Now that the frame and rear end have been painted I decided today would be a good time to try out some powdercoating.  I already had a few of the rear suspension and brake parts blasted and ready for the oven.

I knocked the flash rust off with a wire wheel before powdercoating.

I got my gun and powder at Harbor Freight since I had read some good reviews on them.  It didn't take long and I was putting out some pretty decent pieces:

Before I new it I had done all the pieces I had prepped. Later when Driveshaft commented on how much I had done in such a short time, I told him I was on a roll and was going to powder coat anything that didn't walk away!!  I told Jimmy that she might even be next!?!?!

Powdercoating didn't make too much of a mess.  I really like it because once I get a part coated it is ready to put back on the car in about 20 minutes at 400 degrees.  I intend to powder coat everything that I can fit in the oven.

What's next:  finish powdercoating all of the rear end suspension/brake parts.
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Paint....finally!!

Finally got the frame and rear end painted today.  I took off work so I could have a full day to get the paint done.  Had to do a little more cleaning first thing, but I had the first couple of coats (Zero Rust - Red Oxide) on by lunch.  The Zero Rust goes on great.  One of the mixes was a little too thin and I got a run or two.  The rest of the painting was a breeze with my $12 Harbor Freight spray gun.

Driveshaft fed me a burger and then I got about 3 more coats (Zero Rust - Black) on this afternoon.

 

Now I will just let it sit outside for about a week to cure in the sun.

Getting Ready to Paint

I have a lot of parts ready to go back on the frame, but it was not ready for them.  For this reason, I decided to take off Friday and paint, so I have been working like a mad man this week to get prepared.

I think if I do this again I will blast the frame myself or send it off to get blasted.  I used a wire wheel and it took a LONG time.  There are also places on the frame that would have been a lot easier to get to with a blaster.  Plus the blaster would just make it look a lot better.  You live and you learn I guess.

What's next:  paint tomorrow!
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