MAQ's72

I ended up getting all my stuff except my new tires Friday and started on my rear end upgrade. Got 2 15X8" with the 5" offset rallies, the Moog cargo springs, 1' spacers, boxed trailing arms, new shocks and a UPI 1" anti sway bar kit. Had a hell of a time removing the upper shock bolts as I posted with help and guidance needed on those but got it all done tonight, I'm just waiting for my Cooper GT Cobras to arrive to get them mounted and drop her down.... here are some photos of the job. Will post some when I mount the tires and drop her.

Well, I like to thank you all for the good ideas and Inspiration. After another 1 1/2 hours playing with it today I was able to get it to grab with an off-set wrench I bought today at O'reilly's among some other things like the distributor wrench that I would have to heat up and bend as it did not want to lay in there just right ( I needed one anyways). I will be honest I brought out my angle grinder and was about to cut it when I gave it one last shot and the socket grabbed that pesky nut... halleluja ... So I got inspired and finished her up....

I guess I'm not alone, I feel a little better at least.. 2 good alternatives, I will head to the auto parts tomorrow and try to find a 1/2" distributor clamp wrench.. that would be the easiest to try first... din't think about that one.. John, your option would be next we have a maintenance shop at work I can get some welding done if I need to.... a custom made wrench is what i thought I would need to come up with too. Thanks !!

So I started my rear suspension revamp with new springs, new boxed trailing arms, sway bar and new shocks and I'm extremely frustrated with the engineer that thought of just using a bolt and a nut on the upper shock mount (2 studs would have been nice)There is very little space to work with on the drivers side but manage to remove and remount new shocks w springs and trailing arms and all that ... but the passenger side... wow... what the secret guy's?????? The hard brake lines go next to the mounting frame and I have not been able to get a tool in there to keep the nut from spinning, I am using and air ratchet with 1/2 socket and extension on the bolt side.. that's easy but have tried a mini wrench, a agleled cupped pliers a screw drive to wedge but nothing gets that nut on the top to keep from spinning.... what am I missing... any advice would be appreciated before I torch or cut the damn bolt off....

Thanks Dennis, thinking of going the mig welder rout as my exhaust looks like old rusty pipes... has to be at least 15 years old or more and thinking of a new system.....it's also 2" going with the 2 1/2" upgrade would definitely flow better... that might be a contributing factor on the louder tone, from what I understood with your application you had a 2" also. As you can see from this photo of the left side mine looks like ...well .. crap

By the way Dennis nice welding job, It's been a long while for me since I did some welding but like to buy a new welder ...use to do all stick welding back in the days... a good tool to have in the shop... is that a mig with argon that you used. clean looking beads around those pipes.

Hey guy's thanks for all the great feedback !!!! 420ponies & Rock... yes found them on Submmit Vintiques 15X8 with 5" backspacing... ordered a pair along with the Moog CC501 cargo spring... I'm not a light guy and with the wife and some stuff in the trunk like a small tool box and folding chairs and such figured I better go with the cargo springs.. I also ordered a pair of 1" spacers for good measure.. LOL Hey MCfan/Dennis I so appreciate your responses.. you are one detailed oriented dude !! Just like me ..... and it's very much appreciated... the photos are great add too !!! I'm going to go with the 235/60 15 front on the stock rim and 255/60 15 on the rear with the new 15X8" rims... my rear end is a peg-leg with 2:73 and the bigger 275 will really kill me.... I figure for now I can roll on the 255/60's until I burn them off or install an posi unit..have my eye on an original gm unit on ebay that's for a 12 bolt with a 3 carrier... probably will go to a 3:23 or something like that... I don't want a drag car but a quick cruiser.. I also ordered a pair of boxed trailing arms (original type) with rubber bushings as I want to add a rear anti sway bar and also orderd the top rubber replacement bushings ... how tough are those to change out... ?? I figured while I am add it do it all... It's going to be like Christmas for me this upcoming week...

Great job, some garage fab. work... way to go! That's not a bad price for that Sumit exhaust kit... hum.. food for thought

Thanks guys, Sounds like some of you have used the 1' spacer with success so definitely will purchase a set as well as the new springs. I have not had much luck finding a set of 15X8" Rally rims with 5" backspacing on ebay, most are all metric now and have even less than the 4.5 the stock one have. Any references on the rear rims with 5" backspacing? I prefer to stay with the stock rally look.

Hey guy's, I am about to order new rear springs for my sagging rear end. I like to raise it enough to add 255/60 15 or maybe a 275/60/15 but don't want to add air susp. These would be on my stock 15X7" Rallys .... Would a stock new rear springs with a 1" spacer due? or the load leveling spring they offer? give me the added height I need to clear ? Also... Do I need to go to a 8" wide rim in the rear to go that wide ? I'm going with a narrower tire in the front, like 235/60/15 and will replace the front sprigs also. But going to do the back first. Thanks, Mike http://www.ebay.com/itm/311408457103?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT http://www.ebay.com/itm/351462530020?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Man I like that front spring chart....I have to replace my fronts and needed that... thanks Sam !

I did not think so, that motor you got there has some serious HP, sounds great, cammed out... So you swapped out the one on the build for this one? I'm looking to pull my current motor out probably next year to put in a serious 454. Working on rear end / suspension first. Just got my Monte last month.

Is this the same motor he has in it doing that awesome burnout on a driveway on his signature?

Those UMI units are real nice Rock.. !!They are the same as stock price wise @ $209 need to think about that.... MCfan...truly nice description of the process, I'm fairly good with mechanics and do have an air Impact and compressor so will definitely tackle this in the garage. Going to replace the springs and will probably replace the upper bushings too while at it and get that sway bar on there .... should make a big difference from the saggy springs set up I have now... And THANKS for the drawings !!!!! sweet !!

Thanks Dennis & Rob.....Good points rubber will be what I will replace the bushings with. She sags more than I would like so I figure since I will be replacing the springs (rear first) I should go ahead and the the boxed trailing arms.... do you need a press or any special tools to swap out the trialing arms? and you just replace the lowers uppers stay original?

Not to comindire the thread but I also want to add a rear sway bar and replace all bushings on the front one. Do I need to do something special or have to completely change the trailing arms in the rear to add one? Would you all recommend replacing the front one also for a thicker one or replacing the rubber with polyurethane bushings be enough? Thanks, Mike