Rearend finally came out

[fordtrucks4ever]

Today I planned to get rearend out of car. These 1/4 elliptics are a pain when all rusted and stuck. The long front bolts ahead of large u bolt snapped off on left side. Right side came out, not without difficulty. I had to raise left spring, and torch off the lower rivet head and broken stubs of bolts so it would pullout. Driveshaft was still connected, which made it easy to pull axle back and set in lap then lower to floor. The body is sitting on a roll around about 30" off floor. Now I see how bad these cars rust. Looks like a lot of panels welded to make any stength. But most will need to be replaced. Back to start drilling spot welds and peeling apart panels...Well they used to be panels. Maybe just shake a little bit and see what is left.

 

[jlaird]

Springs can be a real pain, nod.

 

[fmichaels]

nearly distroyed my tub removing mine. especially if you don't know which nuts are captured

 

[jlaird]

Had to actually drill two of the front most bolts up from the bottom the whole way. That was a fun couple of days let me tell you.

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

Yea those were the ones giving trouble. Impact removed the right side, but left ones snapped off heads. They are about 3" long. Thats way tooooooo much drilling. But so far completely stripping the body I only had one hinge bolt that didnt give up without some metal removal and these two spring bolts. Oh yea the front bumper mount bolts were welded to frame. Along with anything else the last "specialist" could find to repair brackets with.

 

[jlaird]

Terry, I did not use heat on the springs as I wanted to reuse them.

 

[fordtrucks4ever]

I didnt put any heat on springs to cause damage, just to slice rivet and reminents of broken bolts off, so it would pull out. Had to pry up bottom of spring to get torch head in far enough to cut. It was a tight squeeze. I left top threaded bar intact the long bolts screw in to. But since springs look to be in poor condition and several leaves are broken, they will get replaced with new.

 

[jlaird]

Wow, awful lot of rust there.