I dont know if this belongs in the help section or project section so here goes. I've got a 76 pinto sedan, it has a 2.3L and manual steering. It's got quite a bit of slop in the steering wheel. Part of it is due to the rubber ragjoint but the most of it is due to the inner tie rod ends being lose. I bought a used power rack and pinion plus the power steering pump, alternator, water pump brack and power steering pump bracket, and hoses so i can do a complete coversion to power steering. I am going to use the used rack for a core. (the core is $100 and i bought the rack for $25, so im saving myself $75) The new rack isnt bad either but the inner tie rod ends are bad. They are $60 each and a new rack is only $20 more than that ($140) so i figure i might as well get the new rack that includes the tie rod ends. It will be nice and clean and all new...anyways. I also bought rack and pinion bushings, strut rod bushings, and complete upper and lower (for both sides) control arm bushings, all from energy suspension. Im going to get MOOG balljoints and outter tie rod ends so that i have a complete new front end. The problem im having is, since everything is going to be apart i figure i might as well clean it all up and repaint it. The question is, can control arms and the shaft that runs thru them be stuck in the bead blaster? Ive heard on somethings, the beadblaster will warp them. Ive also wondered if beadblasting takes a layer of metal off the top of the piece being blasted...which would cause some slop in the bushings which i dont need. I'm running on (to my knowledge) the original 1976 rubber bushings. Anyways thats what i was wondering is if i can safely bead blast and pain my control arms. Another thing, somone sugested having them powder coated instead. Is that doable? or would the coating be too thick to allow the bushings to fit right? I want this to be done nicely, and correctly. I wouldnt say im trying to restore this car, but it will probably end up being d*mn close. (Would be more like a restomod) Its getting a 2.3L Turbo, T5, has an 8 inch, may ger a 9inch, 3.80 gears, positrack unit, rear disc brake, 5 lug conversion, all new paint inside and out, new interior, new wheels, and of course all new bushings and things in the suspension front and rear, all new suspension and steering parts (balljoints, rack, tie rods etc, as listed above) Im also adding sway bars which will get energy suspension bushings as well. This will all be done over the course of a few yrs... im not made of money and i ahve to drive the car at the same time. But anyways ill be glad when it is done. Im excited about getting started.
Hi pintoguy76,
If you're planning on driving your pinto while you fix it up, you may want to consider buying a full set of control arms and then just swapping them out. It would save a bunch of time and have the car down for a lot less time. Sets are being sold on eBay from between $150-$250. There was an outfit that sells sets with urethane bushings installed, but I haven't seen them for a couple of weeks. Or you could get a used set of arms, clean them, rebuild them, and paint them while you are still driving the car. You may also want to get a spare set of mounting bolts for the arms on the chance one or some may get damaged when removed. Here in California that is not normally an issue, but if the car has seen snowy winters, that may be a completely different situation. Good luck with your Pinto!!