Lower control arm / strut rod assembly...

[Malicious]

So I'm trying to get my Coronet on road for the last two car shows of the year and some simple stuff is giving me grief. Hopefully you guys can give me some help.

Assembling the lower control arms into the k frame, I've hit two problems. First, I've installed one of the lca's with out slipping the stock strut rod in. It looks like I have to have it at least inserted in the lca before installing the lca in the k frame. Is there any way to fit the stock strut rod in with the lca in the k already?

If the lca has to come out, how the heck do I do it? She's in TIGHT I've had a crack at it with a hammer and destroyed the 2x4 that I was protecting the new pivot with. Any ideas??

So learning my lesson, I installed the strut in the lca on the other side and started to install the lca. Now on this side the pivot has started spinning instead on being pulled into the k frame. How to I hold the pivot so I can get it into the k? Or do I need to hit it with a big fn hammer to get it in??

Last question, if I want to swap to adjustable strut rods later, will I have to remove the lca's?? If so, faaaarrrrrrk that.

Thanks guys

 

[300]

Just did this on mine
Take out torsion bars from lca
Back out lca arms
Install strut rods on lca arms and into k frame ( leave all nuts loose)
Lca arms and struts rod have to into k frame at same time
Torsion bars back in ( lca arms hanging at this time

 

[Malicious]

Thanks 300, the K fram is out of the car, and I did try a few angles. I'll have another crack tonight tho. Here's hoping.

If not is there a way of pulling the LCA with out using a BFH? I don't want to damage the new LCA Pivots.

Also How do you hold the pivot so you can tighten it if its decided to spin?

- - - Updated - - -

Thought about a ball joint fork, but I want to avoid damaging the new paint on the K as well...

 

[Malicious]

Worked it out. Brought a big arse clamp, tightened it up which held the lca in place to get the nut firing again.

The other I tapped the lca off the pivot, lucky I've got poly bushes. Dropped the strut in, hammered the lca back on the pivot.

Win.