Colossus - the 1970 Concours frame replacement project

Discussion in 'Station Wagon Projects' started by chevygod, May 17, 2011.

  1. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    Thanks all for the positive words, and Cat, I have found that the light at the end of the tunnel is usually an oncoming train!
     
  2. ModelT1

    ModelT1 Still Lost in the 50's

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    It's a two way track. Wait for one going your way. Good luck.
     
  3. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    Well, little bit of an update.

    Been slowly working things out on the car (brakes, lights, neaten and organize parts inside) so it could go in for and alignment. So last Saturday I took it in, and found it lacking.

    Not in power or drivability. Thing runs great! Really scoots.

    Turns out that the upper ball joints, while seeming tight, were felt to be too loose to allow alignment to go thru. Also the center link was worn (felt it might have been marginal, it was). Finally, one of the lower ball joints was loose in the arm. Huh… The shop recommended tack welding it in, so did others. So tore the whole front end apart to replace the aforementioned parts and tack the lowers. Decided that so much had to come apart to get to the center link, heck with it, it’s getting new tie rod ends and a new idler. After this, the only part of the steering that has not been gone thru will be the steering box.

    But that’s coming.

    Obligatory bad cel phone pics of it at the alignment shop…
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    Best to all,
    Tom
     
  4. Vetteman61

    Vetteman61 Well-Known Member

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    This is really enjoyable to follow. I don't comment as much but I still like reading all the updates.
     
  5. MotoMike

    MotoMike Well-Known Member

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    Just getting caught up on your progress, looking good! Is that a 396? You may have posted but either I didn't see or forgot,lol. :confused:
     
  6. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    Lo-Po truck 454, car came with it when I bought it. LOtsa torque tho.
     
  7. jrwscout

    jrwscout New Member

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    A major milestone accomplished - congratulations!
     
  8. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for the congrats. Still a long way to go, but not having to push it everywhere is great. I will continue updating in this untill it's completely on the road, then will start other topics.

    Best to all and Happy New Year.
    Tom
     
  9. scarymonster

    scarymonster Member

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    Defintely getting there. I have yet to get my Pontiac home after finding it almost a year ago. Low paying jobs, high bills, having tio move because of ****ty landlords, yada, yada. Surprised the old man hasn't started to charge me storage! Or maybe he has...I should check in! At least you found out good things about the front end before it got too late.
     
  10. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    Scarymonster,

    Hope you can get your car closer to you soon. Hard to work on it, or even keep an eye on it, from a distance.

    And finding out the front needs more parts is OK, but I was already there with everything torna apart, and now I'm doing it again. Shoulda-woulda...

    Everything is in stock except the idler. Waiting on that right now...

    Best,
    Tom
     
  11. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    OK, got all the parts installed and had it aligned on Saturday. Drives fairly nicely, could use some stiffer shocks, tho.

    So drove it to work today. BEEEGGG milestone!

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Next need to finish some minor things noted while driving (what the heck is THAT rattle?!?) and get the roof rack and rear spoiler installed.

    Best,
    Tom
     
  12. GN300

    GN300 Tipmaster G

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    I'm confused .. you did a full frame swap restoration and didn't do a front end kit while it was off ,welding in a ball joint seams not the quality of work you put in the rest of it.

    I'd buy a complete rebuild kit ...just sayin.
     
  13. jmt455

    jmt455 Well-Known Member

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    Congrats on a major milestone, Tom!
    That car sure looks tough; nice stance.
     
  14. chevygod

    chevygod Well-Known Member

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    GN300,
    I hear you and was thinking the same thing, stupid-stupid-stupid!.

    However, I did replace all upper and lower bushings and the lower ball joints, which where tight pressing out and <felt> tight going back in. After the first try at alignment, lower left was tight on inspection, lower right would JUST move if you got it in the right position. MAybe was tight due to burrs and paint? Dunno, but the tack welding in of a lower joint seems to be the norm from the research I did.

    The upper joints had been replaced just before I got the car, and feel nice regardless of what the shop said. Same with all of the tie rods.centerlink and idler parts; the shop felt there was an unacceptable amount of slop in the center link. Still couldn't find it, but in order to replace the center link, EVERYTHING else has to come off, so replaced the tie rod end, idler AND centerlink. And to check the lower ball joints, the spindels have to come out, so I replaced the upper ball joints. Everything does feel tighter now during assemble, but was it still serviceable before? Huh... Driving and steering the car I feel no difference.

    And I agree that I should have replaced them when there, but, man, I replaced so much stuff I figured if these needed replacing later they'd be easy to do.

    All done now, need to get onto the little things that need to be fixed that are making themselves known as I am first driving now.

    Best to all,
    Tom
     
  15. fannie

    fannie Well-Known Member

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    Yiur wagon is really coming along nice. Congrats on the work so far.

    It looks great sitting in the sun. :)
     

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