Hi guys:
Having had my car ('76 wagon) for only two days, every day is yet an adventure, as I make new discoveries. I appreciate everyone's patience as my excitement overflows.
I took a good look underneath the front end today, and found that the mechanical parts (especially the rubber parts) are very dry and brittle (not the belts, but the various bushings and such). I AM concerned about the rubber portion of the brake lines. I also ordered new upper and lower radiator hoses, I will change those out this weekend.
As expected, the A-arms are quite rusty, as are the backing plates, spindles, springs, and the like. Some pretty serious rust has eaten out a rather large longitudinal hole in the inner fender beneath the battery; this area is going to require some grinding/rust removal and shaping a fiberglass mat or something such to at least temporarily repair the hole.
The car drives and rides fine, the shocks are good (they look original, and they dampen nicely if the body is pressed down), there's no apparent binding/shimmying/swaying of the car, with hands off the wheel it's rather true. Everything needs an obvious lube job. My question is this:
Should I pop the money for a front end rebuild? Will I gain any appreciable "feel", or is it just a good idea to do it considering the condition? The car has NOT been inspected yet, it may or may not pass, I could not say at this point, as I am no mechanic. I don't want any unexpected mechanical failures (who would)...I just don't know what would be recommended from a "safety/handling" point of view. If I had my druthers (and I WILL get to that point), I'd completely pull the front end apart, sandblast all the bracketing and metal parts, powder coat everything, and rebuild, but that's not gonna happen yet.
Opinions welcome, thanks!
Chris
Ask yourself this first. Is the car worth it to you?
I myself would be thrilled to do it to my own Pinto, but I drive it every day and I would hate to wreck it due to a suspension failure. My A-arms are rusty to, but deffinately still solid, as are my springs.
The hole in the battery tray I would fix for sure, just to keep rust form eating away are more and more of the car as time passes.
Here's what I would do:
Replace the shocks and the bushings, concerned brake line sections, rebuild the brakes with new calipers and pads, and even new rotors if they arn't to worn.
While everything is apart, I would take a wire brush on a pneumatic die grinder and remove all the rust from the serious parts and then use engine paint on it all to keep it looking nice.
Other than that I wouldn't do much more unless you are going for the show car feel and look.
Ask yourself this first. Is the car worth it to you?
>>YUP, it's definitely worth it, I plan to keep my piggie bank for a while :cheesy_p:
I myself would be thrilled to do it to my own Pinto, but I drive it every day and I would hate to wreck it due to a suspension failure. My A-arms are rusty to, but deffinately still solid, as are my springs.
>>I am entertaining pulling a front end off of another parts car, refurbing it all, then doing a swap
The hole in the battery tray I would fix for sure, just to keep rust form eating away are more and more of the car as time passes.
>>I WISH it was a hole in the battery tray. The "hole" is actually the inner fender, there's a reasonable amount of involvement
Replace the shocks and the bushings, concerned brake line sections, rebuild the brakes with new calipers and pads, and even new rotors if they arn't to worn.
>>Good suggestions
While everything is apart, I would take a wire brush on a pneumatic die grinder and remove all the rust from the serious parts and then use engine paint on it all to keep it looking nice.
>>Will do
Other than that I wouldn't do much more unless you are going for the show car feel and look.
>>Eventually.
Chris
Oh, and the strut rod bushings as Pintony noted!
Every time I get under my fenders I look at mine and think of how badly they need to be replaced. :(
One more thing to take a look at would be the ball joint boots. Add grease to your ball joints and watch to see where the weep from. Then take it for a test drive, and jack the car up when you're done to check how much grease is still in them.
I found out that my driver's side lower ball joint boot is blown out and I am having both sides replaced at Les Schwab this summer.
Good note. The car needs a lube job anyway, so I will get that done. Even though the car has only 65k miles (and is 32 years old), I can't imagine that there is not some deterioration of the ball joints, let alone other mechanical parts Funny part is, it has original shocks - and they are fine.
Chris
on my 75 ive been getting all the parts to get the front end totally rebuilt. i have no intentions of entertaining a failure when im driving her about town, so personally if you have the time and the money i would just rebuild it to be safe
Where does one find such parts for the front end? Is there a kit available anywhere? Or, does one need to piece together parts from various sources? Any suggestions welcome, thanks.
Chris
Strangely enough you can get complete front end pieces at a good price from a place caled Speedway motors. The also have all the brake stuff if you need it. However i will mention i got my new loaded calipers and new brak lines from my local NAPA store. These guys have been great.
jim
Do it all, spend all the money you can. Just don't expect to increase the value, except for yourself. Pinto baby! Everything else is 8uII$h1t!
No expectations at all, just want it to be right. Ripped the d$%$ rubber boots tonite when I turned the front wheels to the maximum point. Argghhh! Not a good nite for the car, another thread will follow.
Chris
Better they tear now than on the road when you are twenty miles from home! Look on the positive side and keep your chin up! Once you start to make progress on the front end you'll be glad it all happened.
Quote from: hellfirejim on June 25, 2008, 07:37:38 PM
Strangely enough you can get complete front end pieces at a good price from a place caled Speedway motors. The also have all the brake stuff if you need it. However i will mention i got my new loaded calipers and new brak lines from my local NAPA store. These guys have been great.
jim
Jim:
I just wrote Speedway and requested a catalog. Thanks for te heads up.
Chris