<VV> Fw: 64 Stabilizer bushing replacement

Mon May 12 09:34:04 EDT 2014

You have done way more work than I'd even have tried, but then I'm no mechanic. Have you considered driving it to a shop that does chassis work (maybe Midas, Tuffy or Meineke)? If you do, one of two things will happen:

* The bar will break loose as you go down or up a driveway apron, and then you can call AAA and have it hauled home where you can finish your work on the bushings.

* You'll leave the car at the shop, along with the new bushings, and they will do that grunt work using tolls and knowledge they already have for not a lot of money. 

Don't mean to be snide or spoil your "fun," but that's what I would do. :-) 

--Tom in Ohio
On Monday, May 12, 2014 9:26 AM, Kurt Guttensohn via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:

Got to drive the vair yesterday.  Spent most of the morning Saturday cutting at that bolt and sleeve.  Went through the three more cutting blades doing it.  Then I took a screw driver and stuck it in the cut.  Hearing that pop of the bolt snapping the rest of the way was music to my ears.  I am so thankful that the other side was not stuck also.  My hands are still vibrating from holding the cutting tool.    I blasted and painted all the parts.  Put in the new bushings and bolts, then went for a drive.  Really does make a noticeable difference in the feel of the front end with those new bushings (could just be in my head.)

Thanks again for the suggestions,
Kurt 
On Thursday, May 8, 2014 2:14 PM, Kurt Guttensohn <rizakoyt at yahoo.com> wrote:

I tried using the vibrating cutter from Harbor Freight, cutting through that same spot.  I did not get to far before the blade broke.  I bought three more and will attempt to cut through it this weekend.  I think this will do it.  I will let you all know how it turns out
Thanks for the suggestions.
- Kurt
On Thursday, May 8, 2014 12:25 PM, Ray <xramzl1 at yahoo.com> wrote:

I once resorted to using a sawzall with a very long blade to cut the bolt  away on the inner side next to the bushing. 

.rcs

On May 8, 2014, at 7:20 AM, Danny Davis via VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:

> Kurt,
> Heat
Gun.
> No open flames, of course, but a heat gun directed at the durn bolt may do
> the trick.
> Could you  remove he gas tank instead of the suspension?
> 
> 
> 
> On Mon, May 5, 2014 at 8:15 AM, Harry Jensen Executive Secretary via
> VirtualVairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hi,
>> 
>>  It has been a while since I posted anything to the forum.
>> When I sent an email in the past, it would post almost immediately.  I
>> tried posting the attached email this morning and I still have not seen it
>> post to the emails.
>> I was not sure if there was something I had to do to my account since the
>> changes the other week.
>> 
>> Thanks for the help,
>> Kurt
>> On Monday, May 5, 2014 8:27 AM, Kurt Guttensohn <rizakoyt at yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> Started out the other morning getting what I thought would be a few simple
>> maintenance issues with the Corvair done.
>> I got the car up on jack stands, changed the oil and filter, and then
>> headed to the front to replace the very brittle, almost non  existent
>> stabilizer bushings.  No problem until I got the the top stabilizer
support
>> bolt on the passenger side.  The bolt sheered off on the nut side.  No
>> problem, I would just break it loose and tap it out.  Well I spent the
>> entire day trying to get the bolt loose from the steel sleeve so I could
>> tap it out.  I tried everything but heat (thought it would not be a good
>> idea so close to the gas tank.)  The bolt head was rounded off, so it took
>> a bit to fit a vice grip on with enough clamp pressure to even get enough
>> on it to get it turning.  I tried drilling the bolt from the sleeve, but
>> that was slow going, tough on the bits I was dulling very quickly, and
>> getting me nowhere quick.
>> So I decided to take a break from it and see if I could think of
anything
>> else before dropping the front suspension.
>> Does anyone have any ideas of something to try in that confined space, or
>> am I doomed to pull the tie rods and break lines and drop the suspension.
>> I had an idea this morning about using the vibrating cutter too from
>> Harbor Freight.  It does have a flat metal cutting blade.  I am not sure if
>> there is enough room to get the blade between the stabilizer support and
>> the frame, to only cut through the sleeve and bolt, without cutting the
>> support or frame.  I am also not sure if the blade would just be eaten up
>> by the sleeve and bolt.  If no one has any other ideas, I may try that
>> tonight after work.  I really don't want to drop the
suspension out.
>> 
>> 
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Subject: Re: <VV> Fw: 64 Stabilizer bushing replacement
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