Project with my Grandson
- Thread starter Nuts
- Start date
I don't remember having any real issues when I did the BelAir, but it's been 10 years ago now. I didn't have a motor or body in the frame ? I just used a spring compressor and everything went right together, as I recall. Well I'll let you all know after this weekend, if we are still able to get around ???? 
Bill
Bill
You have a backhoe................they come either track or rubber tired.....................
See Phil !!! That's why we keep you around
No, actually out west here we call what I have Excavators.....You have a backhoe................they come either track or rubber tired.....................
Backhoes have front end loader tires and a seat that you have to turn around in order to operate the hoe.....
Okay, so I fixed the spring problems !!!
We but the spring compresser on. Ops, the spring is upside down !!! Took SC off and turn around...
Put back on, Ops in the wrong prosition, won't go into seats... Take SC back off and move into position... Get spring and SC loaded in frame and begin jacking up the lower control arm, Ops the all thread is not lining up with shock hole on top Let the jack down and move around, big POP smell of smoke, everything still looks good... Have 250 lbs son and 215 lbs grandson set on frame and continue jacking up the lower control arm and connect upper ball joint... Whew done and everything looks good. Now all that left is getting the SC out of the inside of the spring... Ten minutes later got that done, all done with left side.
Looked at the spring compresser to see why it popped and found the threads on the all thread had stipped out, gee we paid $15 for it at Harpor Freight !!! So we looked at getting the spring in the other side without it. Put the spring up into the top seat, held it up and put into the lower control arm. Jacked up the lower contrtol arm while the son and grandson set on the frame. DONE IN 5 MINUTES total...
That is the way I did MS Bela, when I rebuilt during the frame off... Too easy and fast !!!!!
Got a few more parts hung and should be able to finish up the suspension next weekend.
Bill
We but the spring compresser on. Ops, the spring is upside down !!! Took SC off and turn around...
Put back on, Ops in the wrong prosition, won't go into seats... Take SC back off and move into position... Get spring and SC loaded in frame and begin jacking up the lower control arm, Ops the all thread is not lining up with shock hole on top Let the jack down and move around, big POP smell of smoke, everything still looks good... Have 250 lbs son and 215 lbs grandson set on frame and continue jacking up the lower control arm and connect upper ball joint... Whew done and everything looks good. Now all that left is getting the SC out of the inside of the spring... Ten minutes later got that done, all done with left side.
Looked at the spring compresser to see why it popped and found the threads on the all thread had stipped out, gee we paid $15 for it at Harpor Freight !!! So we looked at getting the spring in the other side without it. Put the spring up into the top seat, held it up and put into the lower control arm. Jacked up the lower contrtol arm while the son and grandson set on the frame. DONE IN 5 MINUTES total...
That is the way I did MS Bela, when I rebuilt during the frame off... Too easy and fast !!!!!
Got a few more parts hung and should be able to finish up the suspension next weekend.
Bill
Well, he got is driver's license last week, so now the car is more of a priority than before !!!! We got some good work done on getting things put back together !!
Got the steering put back together...
The torsion bar just doesn't look right to me, but the shop manual doesn't show an actual picture. Looks upside down to me ????
What do you all think ?? Yes, we are going to do some touch up on the paint !!!! Must have been laying on the floor ???
Bill
Got the steering put back together...
The torsion bar just doesn't look right to me, but the shop manual doesn't show an actual picture. Looks upside down to me ????
What do you all think ?? Yes, we are going to do some touch up on the paint !!!! Must have been laying on the floor ???
Bill
being a older front end and alignment specialist, i got a chuckle watching stacey david putting sand bags on top of frame for weight ,and you dont need backhoes lol i done this several times building projects, spring compressor helps to start spring of course , then you simply take a floor jack under control arm wrap chain under floor jack over top of frame as a loop , jack up control arm, frame stays down it goes nowhere control arm goes up put rags under chain to save paint, frame can be bare ,it works,
Ah yes brings me back to my teens again.When I was sixteen my gearhead brother told me to go out and find a car and he would co-sign ; what I found was a 70 stage 1 grand sport . What a car ! Don't listen to all that nailhead talk while nailheads are cool this car deserves to have a 455 ; build a clone stage 1 grandson will love it . T A performance can help with parts you will need . 455 blocks are the same you will need to put 11.25 to 1 pistons If memory serves me that was factory compression good strong 400 turbo and some 373 gears stuffed into a 12 bolt [ look on craigs list ] I have seen a few bolt in 12 bolts recently.When your done you will give your grandson memories he will be telling his grand kids about . Good Luck Dan
Dan,
Thanks for the information... We are just working to get her back on the road for now. If he really enjoys the Buick and wants to do more with it later, I will certainly support him. Don't want him to be 62 years old, like me, before he maikes his first trip down a drag stip !!!!
We have been making some slow progress on the Buick the last couple of weeks, got the front end suspension all buttoned down and new brakes install. Should be ready for tires and make her a roller by next weekend. Then it's on to butting the motor back together and getting that installed. I'll update some pictures after we get that stuff done.
Bill
Thanks for the information... We are just working to get her back on the road for now. If he really enjoys the Buick and wants to do more with it later, I will certainly support him. Don't want him to be 62 years old, like me, before he maikes his first trip down a drag stip !!!!
We have been making some slow progress on the Buick the last couple of weeks, got the front end suspension all buttoned down and new brakes install. Should be ready for tires and make her a roller by next weekend. Then it's on to butting the motor back together and getting that installed. I'll update some pictures after we get that stuff done.
Bill
Don't make it too fast and good working for the first one after getting a license. Or too good on gas, make him learn how to drive good, then tune it up for more power. I think a lot of new drivers today get in trouble, cars have too much power, are automatic, never stall, and go way too fast too easy, before they learn how to handle it.
Don
Don
That is true. I had a 79 Malibu with a warmed over 350 it. Came out of the high school parking lot sideways and managed to take down a stop sign and decapitated a small pine tree. I got a lot of respect for power after that. Oh to be dumb and 17 again
Well, I haven't updated this thread for awhile, so I thought I should catch everyone up.
We have completed the suspension...
Installed the brakes and just about ready to put her back on the tires...
The boys have been over the last three weekends and are making some real progress...
We located the missing part from the front brakes !!! It had gotten kicked out of the shop into the gravel driveway, but turned up yesterday. We had looked and looked for it and made many phone calls trying to locate another one. A trip to the salvage yard producted one that was similar, but finding the old one, completed the job, like it should have been.
Few more things to button up on the frame, then we can turn our efforts to the motor and getting the covers and things put back on ! Then we can start her up and get her out of the shop !!!!! Ms Bela is really missing her own parking spot !!!!
Yesterday, we purchased a rebuilt transmission, so that will make that part go alot faster !!!! It is professionally rebuilt, with a shift kit and new comverter.
Things are moving along, just hope they/we can keep after it. Some times, girls and play seem to side track the progress !!!!
Bill
We have completed the suspension...
Installed the brakes and just about ready to put her back on the tires...
The boys have been over the last three weekends and are making some real progress...
We located the missing part from the front brakes !!! It had gotten kicked out of the shop into the gravel driveway, but turned up yesterday. We had looked and looked for it and made many phone calls trying to locate another one. A trip to the salvage yard producted one that was similar, but finding the old one, completed the job, like it should have been.
Few more things to button up on the frame, then we can turn our efforts to the motor and getting the covers and things put back on ! Then we can start her up and get her out of the shop !!!!! Ms Bela is really missing her own parking spot !!!!
Yesterday, we purchased a rebuilt transmission, so that will make that part go alot faster !!!! It is professionally rebuilt, with a shift kit and new comverter.
Things are moving along, just hope they/we can keep after it. Some times, girls and play seem to side track the progress !!!!
Bill
Well we made a couple of good scores, this weekend on the Buick. I found a set of Buick Ralley wheels in really good condition at the swab meet. Just need one more center cap to finish the set off.
And we found this under the gas tank mat, when we dropped the tank to drain.....
Going to look good and be a rolling chassis soon.
Bill
And we found this under the gas tank mat, when we dropped the tank to drain.....
Going to look good and be a rolling chassis soon.
Bill