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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The Astronomer and The 1968 Chevelle

Now, I like my car a great deal. Easy to work on, fun to drive and even with it's nicks and dings, not a week goes by that I don't get an offer to buy. Not for sale I always say, and then we get to talking about various aspects of the beast. Met a lot of nice people by the lakefront this way, and when they discover I'm setting up my scope...it gets even better.

Recently, I have been getting sporadic semi-grinding noises from underneath the car, somewhere relating to the suspension system. I crawl underneath and inspect, but all really looks fine. My tie-rods are just a bit with play, nothing serious and all else seems sound.
I never changed the parts, so my concerns rise.

I grab my grease gun and start to lubricate the chassis. One grease fitting won't accept any grease. I try and try with all my strength, and use a extended lever to force the grease into the Idle arm, but nothing. It just won't accept it. I suspect the joint dried out and rusted...ergo the noise. Ok, not good.

I proceed to lubricate the rest of the fittings, and a fitting on the center link is doing the same thing again...damn! I soon realize that it's time to replace my suspension components. I price around the neighborhood for my much needed parts. I'm aghast in what quotes I am receiving from the counter boys. One place wanted $75.00 for the center link, another $60.00!! Tie-rods were no prize either. So I return to my garage, and lift the rubber dust boot and pack as much grease as I can into the Idle arm joint as a temporary measure. It quiets it a bit, but after an extended drive, the groan returns. Sigh...

I then do a search on the net and come across Auto-zone and their site. Here, the prices are reasonable and in stock. My desired center link was listed for $33.00 and tie rods at $11.00! Great, I continue with the order. I get sway arm bushings, tie rods all around, tie rod sleeves and an Idler arm all for $150.00. Not exactly cheap, but way under what the thieving bastards wanted...in some cases over $300.00 in parts! And Auto-zone ships them free, too cool!... ;D

I should receive them in about four days right to my door. Yes, I know I should have gotten ball joints all around too, but small bites out of the checking account is preferred.

I will be quite pleased on a tight and safe suspension chassis that I won't have to worry about some years to come. I quite enjoy a pleasant afternoon under the car and tunes in the background. That, and the sweet and inviting smell of carnuba wax is summer to me... ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Hooray...my parts came in this morning!

All seems to be here, but I'll have to match them up before disassembling. Came in two boxes and via FedEx. They even included little packets of Thread penetrant to ease off the old parts. Too cool!

Let's hope they are the right parts!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

After my day of responsibilities, I was eager to start my suspension project. Started out about 5:00 pm and got my tools together, tunes ready on the garage stereo and cold drinks at the ready. I laid out the parts to check if all parts were shipped and accessory pieces included. It appeared that all was in order.

Spent the last five hours disassembling the old suspension components, re-gasketing the gearbox and cleaning the under carriage area. It took the longest to get the old rubber seal rings out from the pitman shaft, but finally...they came out. The new parts look good and will fit, (I hope!). I didn't have a pickle fork to help persuade the old parts out, and they didn't want to leave, even with hammer pounding. But I read in the Chevelle forums that someone used a pneumatic impact gun to release the parts. So I did, and 1...2...3...they all popped out! Quite cool!

The Idle arm bolts were quite hesitant to release their hold, and I needed to use a socket wrench from one side and a open end wrench on the other. But they saw it my way and old Idle arm...begone!

Put together the tie-rods, greased and measured them against the old ones for a ballpark fit. Greased the center link and the three are ready to go tomorrow morning sometime.

Replaced one of the sway arm bushings, and I must say...it's a tight fit! The other one tomorrow. Now, like putting together a 3-dimensional puzzle, I must juggle all these pieces loosely and convince all pieces to get along with each other and fit in place. But always, there are complications. My buddies feel I'm a pessimist about expecting complications, but it never fails. How come nothing just goes in easy and right?...It's all got to fight me...

But...Oohh boy....I can't wait till it's all together for it's maiden voyage... ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Project Accomplished

I started where I left off yesterday evening, and surprisingly, everything went into place easily and without complications. I loose fitted all parts to one another under the car and eased it all into their respective positions. Tie-rods were loosely attached first to the spindles and then the Idler arm. Cotter pined it all and when I was done...made sure all was tightened and secure. I tried to move the new parts by hand, but couldn't...a good sign...

I refilled by power steering unit and needed to bleed it. The unit has this bad habit of spitting out fluid all over the engine compartment when the pressure builds within it. So I constructed a reseviour tubing system from medical tubing and a bottled water container. Works like a charm!...

Took the car on it's maiden voyage with new suspension parts, and it's a tight drive. No rattles or slop. Next month I'll replace the ball joints and a failed upper A-frame bushing. This was an enjoyable project.

;D

[Al Degutis]

admin said:

Project Accomplished

Took the car on it's maiden voyage with new suspension parts, and it's a tight drive. No rattles or slop. Next month I'll replace the ball joints and a failed upper A-frame bushing. This was an enjoyable project.

;D

Cool!

I'm not much of mechanic, even though I helped my dad with many car repairs as a youth. Unfortunately I was the one handing the tools to the "surgeon", rarely doing the work.

So, when are you going to "let it stretch it's legs" and take a drive up to an rural dark sky site... like in McHenry county? ;D

[stargazer]

Glad to hear the car is back up and running. Now when are you going to come out to the BURBS for a good night of viewing. LOL

B

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

To McHenry county?.....

Let's see, Many tankfulls of fuel, 1 mile to the gallon, no air. I think I'll do the train method instead!

To Elgin, more doable. Soon Becky, soon.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Now I understand life in the big city and all it brings...good and bad, but some attempts at brain activity just amazes me.

Early on today, I was returning from my local friendly computer store, when I decided to turn left onto a major street in Chicago. Another driver in one of those futuristic looking SUV's, (with the high rear end), decides he wants the lane I was turning into. We almost do a demolition derby, practically coming into contact side by side! As he lost out to the positioning, (and probably emasculated on front of his woman), he zooms past me on the opposite side of the yellow line and pulls in front of me. So I make an aprupt lane change to the right...and he blocks my change and goes into that lane! So I change to the right lane where I was....and he cuts in front of me again!

Now, I do so enjoy messing with people, especially the ignorant kind, so now I MUST get in front of him at all costs...personal pride you understand. I see to the far right an opening that is five cars ahead of our little dance and I gun it. I like my Chevelle, as when I floor it, it squats down closer to the pavement for a split second and then takes off like the Saturn V... ;D

What we have here...is a failure to communicate!

And there I went, whoosh...left machoman in the dust, caught in traffic, unable to get out and no way to reach me and upsurp my victory. I kept looking back, but I was too far ahead for any reasonable catch up.
Yea...quite a stupid activity, but sometimes a man gotta do what a man's gotta do!

Then as a payoff later on, I have ignorant neighbors who totally enjoy double parking their autos in the alley, and in this case...two cars parked on opposite sides in my alley, with only just enough room to squeeze through. I knock my drivers mirrors side off getting by these bastards. Payback for being stupid eariler I guess. I get the cheap mirrors as they get knocked off all too often around here.

Life in the big city...