Front control arm reinforcement!

Reinforcing the front control arms...

Seeing as BOTH of my front control arms were bent....some reinforcing was in order.

Now I have seen many racers do this to their arms. I've seen some stitched and some with 1 plate added. I did one better and stitched the arm and added plates. Each plate once dimpled only added 6oz. so total weight gain in this crucial unsprung weight area was 12oz per side....not bad I think....

Stock control arm sand blasted = 2lbs 5.5oz
Gussets (dimpled) =6oz each
complete welded assembly = 2lbs 12.2oz

....plus they look kick ass! don't you think? worthy of a baja trophy truck!

click here for all the pics...

Front subframe reinforcement

Believe it or not my subframe was bent!!!!!

Weather it was from my little incident at BE or from before is unknown. But now we know it can happen. I bought a junkyard subframe and had it sandblasted.

I fabricated a plate that I welded to the inside of the engine mount and added another brace on the other side as well. On top of that I decided to go all crazy and add a steering box brace/support.

why not I got time, tools and nothing else better to do.

While I was at it added some dimpled plates to the bottom and stitch welded some of the seams around the subframe

see all the pics CLICK HERE.

Shiney steering box?

Decided to do a overhaul of my front suspension components including some new paint on everything!

cleaning, brushing, sanding, spraying....

Even the steering box got some nice silver paint.......

All the pics CLICK HERE.

Rear subframe down....

...and for my next trick I removed the rear subframe...

This was a bit more tricky to do alone....but I did it.

You put at jack under the diff.
remove the wheels
remove the drums and pads
remove the brake lines
remove the drive shaft
undo both subframe bolts
lower the complete assembly
roll it all from under the car

...admire your handiwork

see all the pics CLICK HERE.

Getrag cleaning

Next I removed the tranny.

I cleaned it up and set it aside for now....
It will get new seals and fresh juice before going back in...


See all the pics CLICK HERE.

Subframe out!

Next I removed the front subframe....in preparation for complete overhaul and reinforcement....

quite simple really.....

1- disconnect steering
2- remove rotors and calipers
3- unbolt struts
4- put a jack under it
5- unbolt subframe
6- lower and remove!

I had 2 bent control arms....

see all the pics CLICK HERE

To rebuild or not to Rebuild...humm....

So......what to do....what to do........

FUCK IT. I'm pulling the motor and rebuilding it.

I'll get the block checked and put in some new bearings just in case my low oil pressure were indeed caused by knackerd bearings....


Borrowed my neighbors cherry picker. Unbolted the tranny, disconnected everything and voila! in about 30mins I had the engine on the ground.

see all the pics CLICK HERE...