North American Turbocoupe Organization



Front end work LCA
turbobird63 Offline
Senior Member
#1
I started to take apart my front end today and the springs would not come out of the control arm. It was locked with rust had to pry it out. Then I tried to get the LCA bolts out and managed to break a 24mm impact socket (twas a cheepie I guess).

So is there any special way or tricks to get those bolts loosened ?

I spent 5 hours trying to get this thing apart just see if I got the correct energy suspension bushings(ENS-4-3132) or not.

I also got the greasable sway bar bushings, rack and pinion mounting bushings and the coil spring isolaters.

I didnt think that blowing and engine would turn into such long project, it seems to have a snowball effect.

Could not stop at the motor, its been done since july.

Sorry for the rant, but it seems I will never get this thing back on the road.
Christopher Taylor
85 TC, 2.3l, LA3, T3/T4 Turbo 25psi, Stinger FMIC, Forge BOV, Full 3" Exhaust, Esslinger crank pulley- Timing Gears and overdrive WP pulley, BBK 255lph FP, Kirban AFPR, Kirban Shifter, K&N Cone, 3g Alternator, Energy Suspension Bushings throughout, CHE LCA's, Welded SFC's, and TON's of other parts.
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Joe F Offline
Posting Freak
#2
Lots and lots of torque. I couldn't get them out with an impact gun, I wound up using a 1/2" drive breaker bar, a Craftsman socket, and my legs for the necessary torque. It was still a real witch breaking the nuts loose but in the end I won. Big Grin
JR's Place - My '87 Turbocoupe
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Matt S Offline
Posting Freak
#3
Ditto here what Joe said, plus lots of PB Blaster and a 2 foot pipe on the end of a 2 foot breaker bar. That way I could step on it and use my weight.
Sold it Sad*
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DonH Offline
Posting Freak
#4
All the above but wire brush all the rust off, throughly clean any exposed threads and apply heat with a torch 'til the PB Blaster evaporates, spray some more on, use the impact wrench and repeat. It will come apart.
1987 TC stock except ATR 2.5"
1983 Pontiac Transam T-top 5.7 T56 [email protected] top speed: 176mph
1978 Fairmont 2.3 4-spd Big-top S/W
1946 Willys CJ2A 134.2ci L4 No-top
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Spooler87 Offline
Posting Freak
#5
I used a combination of a breaker bar, an angle grinder, and a cutting torch on mine. And then I had to re-weld the flange on my aftermarket k-mamber back on. Sad
All hail Project "Marauder" !
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tps87turbo Offline
Posting Freak
#6
Quote:Originally posted by turbobird63:

I didnt think that blowing and engine would turn into such long project, it seems to have a snowball effect.

Could not stop at the motor, its been done since July.

Sorry for the rant, but it seems I will never get this thing back on the road.
You will. Glad to see I'm not the only one who starts a project that mushrooms into a full blown replace/rebuild/restore project. It will be worth it in the end & will not have to go back for another 5 or 6 years.
Tony Sceia -

HIS Red 88 TC
http://turbotbird.com/showroom/data_r-z/...a_88tc.php
HERS - Blue 87 TC, fully loaded with every option, Work in Progress
87 Gray TC Parts Car - Gave to BJL and is now his daily driver
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turbobird63 Offline
Senior Member
#7
Well Tony , I know it will be worth it in the end. But I do miss my driving the TC.

I only get 5 or 6 years though ???
Christopher Taylor
85 TC, 2.3l, LA3, T3/T4 Turbo 25psi, Stinger FMIC, Forge BOV, Full 3" Exhaust, Esslinger crank pulley- Timing Gears and overdrive WP pulley, BBK 255lph FP, Kirban AFPR, Kirban Shifter, K&N Cone, 3g Alternator, Energy Suspension Bushings throughout, CHE LCA's, Welded SFC's, and TON's of other parts.
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83zombi Offline
Senior Member
#8
Having a sunny California car I didn't have the issues you are having when I changed out the bushing in my front end. However pulling parts at the bone yard is another story. A can of liquid wrench, they don't allow torches, and a 3/4 drive with breaker bar. You can twist bolts in two with this set up. I had to do this to get the shells I needed for poly bushings. All that and a five pound hand slege. It is precision work.
83 dead bird, in pieces however I'm reading from the book of the dead, should be running soon.
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