<VV> Front Suspension Rebuilt Advice - Consolidated Advice -Long!!

[John Kepler]

My fear is
the bolts break off and I cannot get the nuts replaced
to reinstall the front cross member. 


I have one comment on the issue of the suspension bolts.  

To date, EVERY suspension fastener I have encountered on a Late-Model
Corvair has fractured at a SIGNIFICANTLY lower torque than the factory
specification when removed, and showed ample evidence of hydrogen
embrittlement....probably due to Galvanic corrosion of the 40 year-old
hardened alloy.  Those of you living areas without road salt may not have
this problem.....but up North, it's an issue!  I have replaced EVERY
critical suspension fastener with new Grade 8's.

Also.....the rather "Mickey-Mouse" caged nut-plate was designed for speed so
a good Union-wage earning UAW member could do the job faster and
cheaper....not better!  I pull the nut and cage off the car, make a steel
reinforce roughly the same dimensions as the nut-plate, and go back in with
a Grade 8 Nylock nut that I can actually torque!  YMMV!

John