Rear differential & suspension refresh

[theman440]

More stuff to check off the list - I finally got done cleaning all the rust off the drums and got them painted. I decided against painting them blue.

 

[theman440]

More parts painted & ready, all this stuff Eastwood cast iron grey -

Hardware - Black Oxide

 

[theman440]

I need to give a huge thank you to CKessel for hooking me up with a replacement K-member. My wife and I drove out to the California central coast for the weekend and met up with him at the local "Cruise-in" and checked out his super cool '67 Coronet Deluxe wagon. We hung out and chatted and also checked out the other cars. It was a great visit and a great weekend as my wife and I took the opportunity to take in some sights as well.

Yesterday I took the k member to a local coin op carwash and got the thing degreased & degrimed. It is in great condition, next step is more cleaning, paint and install.

 

[ckessel]

You're welcome. I hope you and mama had a great time here. Its too bad that the weather changed so fast, but I have no control over that

 

[theman440]

Got some time over over X-MAS break to get the k-member cleaned up. I also took some time to do some straightening, cut off and/or grind/sand smooth some sharp edges & corners that all these k-members have. Isn't it amazing how crappy the factory welding is on these things? Even so it held together for 58 years. Before I painted it I went ahead and mocked up the new bigger sway bar.

 

[theman440]

It was around 60 degrees when I painted the k-member - it looks glossy in this pic but when it dries it flattens up (Duplicolor low-gloss black) I love this paint, I use it for all my car project parts that need to be black.

Here it is finished - and dry. See the difference?

 

[ckessel]

Way better without the oil oozing through.

 

[theman440]

Parts ready for assembly!

 

[theman440]

Got the old K-member out, had to fight with a rusty bolt but I got it out without damage. This one was painted grey form the factory. Shown is the wallowed out passenger lower pivot pin hole, it's hard to tell from the pic but I could rock it side to side at least a 1/4 inch.

Torsion bars painted. Part number 780R & 781L - my Dad installed these in the car decades ago.

 

[theman440]

With the K-member out I could now replace the ugly dirty bent up trans cooler lines easier - too bad they didn't fit and I had to add some bends to them. At the same time I deleted the add-on trans cooler my dad installed decades ago. I don't tow with it and it aint no racecar so syonara !

Before

After -

 

[theman440]

It has been a long road but now to the fun part - reassembly! My brother came over to help, it made the whole process even more enjoyable.

 

[theman440]

Splash shields painted -