Yipes! I've had a rust hole inside the passenger side's rear wheelwell for a year or three, and I decided to eye it up this weekend. I've got a 3" long crack starting from that rust hole! I'm shocked! I guess that wheel well is an integral part of the frame? So now I've either got to weld the crack (and the holes) shut, or, just get a junkkyard wheelwell along with a junkyard 1/4 panel.

I just called about a 40 pound bottle for my MIG, it's $100 for the bottle, and $20 for a C25 (75% argon, 25% CO2) mix... not too shabby. I was hoping for a $100 bottle! I'll try to nab one tomorrow during lunchtime; the guys close at 4:30pm.

I played around with my new assortment of body tools, too. (My friend was hit by a deer- it ran into the side of his car!) Both driver's side doors are smashed, so I offered to help out. I had some gift certificates lying around to Pep Boys, and cashed 'em in. I bought three body hammers (large shrinking hammer, small pick hammer, small chipping hammer), two dollies (general purpose dolly, heel dolly), and a slide hammer, and wound up paying $12. Talk about "free"! So, I took a piece of 16 gauge steel from the basement, and knocked the crap out of it with a regular hammer. Then I flattened it out using the body tools, and I was able to get it pretty close to flat again. So maybe this (or next) weekend, I'll tackle the doors.

And, finally, the suspension rebuild... I've gotta junk those +233,000 mile rubber bushings. So here's my plan for a rebuild...

PST rebuild kit, $140
KYB struts (either GR-2's or the AGX's, probably GR-2's), $100 or $240
new KYB strut mounts (Summit, $60/each)
Eibach Proline springs, $220
Moog Idler Arm & Center Link (haven't checked prices yet)
Quick Ratio Steering Box from IROC, $0 (in basement)
New rag joint (not sure of price)
Lowering Spindles (Possibly!)
New front calipers (the originals are on the car)
New front brake hoses
New rotors (possibly, or, just turn the ones I have)

Should be interesting! Any comments? Did I miss anything? I'm not sure yet about the drop spindles; I have a feeling I might buy the springs first, and depending on the ride height, I'll determine if I want drop spindles. I was only really looking for an inch drop, nothing too dramatic.

 

Just looked up the Moog parts; (thru summit, put MOG- in front)

Center Link, DS1049, $65
Idler Arm, K6249, $55
Inner Tie Rods, ES2227RL, $46 ea, need two

Ouch. Those inner tie rods are going to kick my butt... but Moog seems to be the preferred suspension manufacturer. PST also sells those parts, and the prices aren't that far off...

Center Link, (no part # listed), $45
Idler Arm, (no part # listed), $40
Inner Tie Rods, (no part # listed), $35 ea, need two

Hm. Maybe I'll buy the inner tie rod ends from PST (since they include outer ends with their kit), and buy the other two from Moog. Hm...

 

Let Us know how it goes. I need to rebuild my front end soon. I'm getting tired of all of the clunking and rattling from my right whell. It's starting to drive me mad. If you can't hear my exhuast roaring down the road you sure as hell can hear my suspension!!!

 

Hey Tom thanks for the prices, I was just geting ready to look them up but you did the hard work for me thanks man
David