Stripping the Rear End

Spent today disassembling the rear end components.

First, had to get the axles and brake assemblies off the driver's side.

I have never completely redone a drum brake assembly, so I took a lot of pictures in case I need them for future reference.

What's Next:  Transmission Mount removal.

Rear End Removal

Since I have decided to remove everything from the frame for this restoration, I tackled the rear end today.  Driveshaft took his sweet time getting to the shop this PM, so I was able to get the rear end, springs, trailing arms, panhard bar, and shocks removed before he showed up.

Rear trailing arm mounting bracket

Spring removed

Upper trailing arm shims

Rear end is out:

Wheel, axle, and brake assembly removed on passenger side

What's Next:  finish disassembling rear end.
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Change of Plans

After a few days of trying to get the frame clean without removing the motor and trans, I decided to bite the bullet and take it out.  Luckily, Driveshaft was around to help me.  I purchased a load leveler at Harbor Freight and it sure did help on the removal. Took us about an hour.  Now I can finish getting the frame ready for paint.

I did notice that I will have to touch up some of the paint on the motor before re-install.

As we were removing the motor, I decided to just strip the frame of everything.  Driveshaft tried to talk me out of it, but I said "A few more bolts and we can have the rear end out".  So that is now the plan.

What's Next:  Get everything else off frame.
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Long Time, No Update

I kind of got burned out on the restoration last year and have used every excuse in the book to stay away from it.  A buddy of mine at work has sparked the fire again after he showed me some pictures of his freshly painted '69 Chevy truck.  After a few days of tinkering around the shop again, I have decided to get serious about this project.  I have tried to step back for a minute and make a "plan of action".  First thing is to get more room in the shop to work on the frame.  That means the body has to go.

I spent a couple of days pulling the frame out, loading the body on a trailer, pulling the trailer with body out in the yard, pushing the frame back in the shop, and rearranging the shop itself.  I removed three of Driveshaft's old lawnmowers which gave me quite a bit more room as well.  (One of Driveshaft's former hobbies was restoring old John Deere riding lawnmowers...until I swindled him into helping me).

Now, with more room to "stretch out", I feel like I will be quite a bit more productive.

What's Next:  Onward and Upward Men!
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Radiator, etc.

Removed radiator, support, and some engine pieces today.

No pictures, but I think I took off the alternator, fuel pump, water pump, crank pulley, and a few other pieces as well.

What's Next:  Finish motor cleanup.
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Front Steering and Suspension

Spent today getting the front suspension and steering pieces off The Prince.  They need cleaning bad!  Again, most of  these pics were taken to help me with re-assembly.

Piece of cake.  Won't be that easy on the re-install I'm sure.

What's next:  Radiator and the sort.

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Cleaning

I decided to start cleaning up the motor and transmission a little today.  

This thing was a mess:

After a couple of hours cleaning, I decided to start removing some of the stuff on the frame.  I took a lot of pictures to help me put it back together a little easier:

Exhaust brackets:

Brake/Fuel Lines:

Emergency brake:

 Transmission Lines:

Jimmy showed up a little later and helped me remove some of the transmission linkage.  She may be the next mechanic in the family.

Later on, Mama-Two-Chins helped me clean on the drivetrain a little and remove some of the exhaust.

Looks a lot better!!

 What's Next:  Take off front suspension and steering.
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