Well, successful!! (SORT OF) The tool did exactly what it claimed as far as the upper control arm bushings go, so I'm happy about that. However, it wont do the ball joints as advertised, but I'm thinking I can get creative enough to make it work. If not, ball joint presses are easy to come by so no biggie. Im also going to need to get creative with it for it to with on the rest of the bushings, but again I think it's doable. But as of now, one little victory.... Oh, and dont judge me on my nasty pitted up control arms! They're only going to be on a year or 2 anyways to get this darn thing in one piece and on the road. Tubulars are in its not-so-near future....haha But hey, this aint no concourse car either!
Excellent! :beers2: I think the same company makes a ball joint press with all the adapters for a fraction of the cost of the OTC tool.
If I cant get creative enough to make this one work for the ball joints, I'm just going to go do the free "loan a tool" bit from the local auto parts store. The bigger hurdle is getting it to fit all the other bushings, but again Im hoping to figure out a method. It came with (terrible) instructions on how to use it for ball joints, but the bufords are too long and bottom out on the "cup" that it came with. I need to find some small lengths of round stock I can cut up and make adapters out of, I think that will solve all of my issues.
Were you able to have any success? I too am working on a '70 and would be happy to go in with all tools at the ready.
Well, yes and no. The bushings are all in (I'm actually bolting the arms onto the frame now). But I had to run up to the local speed shop and they hooked me up and let me use their 40 ton hydraulic shop press. That and some tubing cut up for bracing and it was a piece of cake. Something to be said for having heavy duty tools on hand. As for the ball joints, I had to "borrow" one from the local Oreilly as the press I bought for the upper bushings didn't come with a deep enough receiving cup for the length of the ball joint studs. I highly recommend you go the shop press route if possible, that was the ticket!
I did mine using a couple sockets, washers, and the proper length 1/2 inch bolt, it worked great. I used a 3/4 drive socket that was bigger than the bushing as the receiving cup, a heavy duty washer that was the same as the bushing sleeve, and just pressed it in with the bolt. A 1/2 inch impact gun took all the effort out of the job. I used a smaller socket that was the same height as the open end of the rear control arms as a support brace to keep from crushing the control arm while pressing the bushing.
If you butter up them bushings they should go in fairly easy. If you can give each upper ball joynt a couple of tack welds to the control arm. ---------- Post added at 11:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:02 AM ---------- luv them sockets tricks. little 1/4 in ones work good for tilt column pin removers tool
Thanks for all the input guys. After pressing everything in at the shop, the frame is now a rolling chassis and we're on our way!
