[DeTomaso] A-arm bushings, camber lock kits, spring spacers

[Asa Jay Laughton]

Well, that was a chore.

Using various methods mentioned and documented by owners, I managed to 
remove the a-arm bushing by hack-sawing the ends of the bushings, then 
drilling the rubber with an air drill and driving the centers out, then 
carefully hack-sawing the outer bushing shell (to relieve the pressure) 
and driving them out with a socket and air-hammer.  Mostly it was time 
consuming and wore out my hack-saw arm.  :)

All bushings actually came out pretty well for being 30+ years old.  
After pressing in the new bushings, I set to the task of installing a 
Pantera Performance Center camber-lock kit I won during the raffle at a 
Fun Rally many years ago.  Lined them all up, drilled some holes, 
installed the kits and now it should be easier to adjust camber on the 
front end.

Last job, since I had them out, was to remove the spring spacers from 
the coil-over shocks.  I own a 1973 L which already has a factory 
bump-steer kit, but also comes with half-inch spacers installed on the 
springs.  Well I could only find one spring compressing clamp and I kind 
of needed two (one on each side of the spring).  So I found a small 
ratcheting tie-down strap, wrapped a few coils, ratcheted it compressed 
and viola, got the springs off, removed the spacers and put the springs 
back on.

Overall, having all the parts off the car, it took me about eight hours 
for all the above.  Had I been a bit more organized and simply headed 
right into it, I probably could have had it done in six, but I hemmed 
and hawed a bit on the bushings until I resigned myself to the process I 
used, which I will say was actually pretty easy.

While I was at it, I wire-wheeled all the bolts so they now look purdy, 
well purdy clean at least.  Now All I have to do is reassemble 
everything, figure that should take about two hours overall, then I'll 
need to get it aligned.  <sigh>

Time to look up the alignment specs and take to my favorite shop.

Asa Jay

Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired

& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA

1973 Pantera L 5533
[ASASCAT]
    
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http://www.asajay.com
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