saturday was almost a complete waste. I had planned to install the left driveshaft, ( so I could turn the engine, so I could install the distributor...) But to get the triax case into the differential, il faut move the vertical link between the upper control arm and the anti roll bar. But the pin on the top part of the link would not come free from the upper control arm. I went to Pepboys & got a pickle fork, but all that did was fuck up the boot around the pin. I called Rich, who offered to loan me the tool to pop the pin out. So out I drive all the way across Jersey to get this tool

I get back home around 7pm. enough.




Sunday is off to a not-so fortuitous start. The instructions for the tool simply say to put the flat part of the tool against the pin and push it through. But the pin is completely recessed within the control arm, so there is nothing for the tool to press against. I pester Rich again, to my embarassment. Rich says, " normally the pin extends a good half inch out of the control arm. " No such luck here. This must have been a running design change. It's not because the pin has already been pushed out partially. It's supposed to be recessed like that. I end up putting the securing nut partially back on, I shove four mending plates in between the tool and the nut, and manage to put enough force on the pin to pop it out. Of course I have my head in the wheelwell when it pops out. This pin and getting the lower control arm off the lower balljoint are like juggling with a loaded pistol. You never know when the thing is going to pop off, and just hope that it does so in controlled manner when it does.

The rest of the job on the left swivel goes pretty smoothly. The drive shaft settled into place without too much fuss.

Lower ball joint is a bit of a struggle to liberate from the pivot. I end up bolting the slide hammer directly to the pin on the balljoint to pop it out. I also gave it some TLC with the propane torch to help it along. The new balljoint is proving to be a bit of a headache. The resistance of the nylock nut is greater than the resistance within the the joint. So after a certain point, turning the nut results in turning the entire pin inside the balljoint, instead of screwing the nut further onto the pin.

I red flag the pin and go for lunch.

after lunch, I install the new (well NOS) master cylinder for the clutch. Fairly easy and painless installation.