Topic: grab a trak spring perch

[jonnyship]

Hi, it's me again. I think this one should be straight forward. So, with my 67 it came with the grab a trak suspension kit. I installed the upper control arm and the spring perch. For one, is the perch supposed to rotate? It looks like it should, but, it's not going anywhere. I did some research and found most people trash their grab a trak perches for different ones. Should I look at doing the same?

On a side note, I went to install the 620 springs and after I compressed them as far as the air ratchet would let me and then hand cranked a bit more, I still can't get the spring into the spring seat and move the control arm into position.

Thanks again, I know I'm slow, so thanks with the patience.

Jon

[66GTKFB]

Here's how I get the springs in or out. The rod is 5/8-18 and the top plate is 3/8 in thick steel. Coil springs are under a lot of tension and that's one "deadly" trap sitting in there.
As to the perch, don't know. My Mustangs use stock components (mostly) and my Baja uses torsion bars.
Jim
 

[jonnyship]

Well, after a few cuts and scrapes, 24 - 5/8" washers I got the spring compressed enough to fit it the housing. Floor jack and a 2X4 to lift the control arm into place and rotate the perch I got together. Only problem, no I can't get the damn compressor off. Oops, I'll figure that one out sure enough.

[66GTKFB]

I'm glad you survived. There are all too many reports of coil springs coming unglued and making a permanent dent in someone.
Jim

[Soaring]

Yeah, the danger is very real when compressing the springs.  Glad you survived.  Shoot us some pics of the project, with a description of how you did it. 

[jonnyship]

Alright, finally had the time to complete putting the tires on for the move. I got some pics and I'll describe what I did the second time since the first time took 4 hours to do and the second time around it took 20 min.

First, there is no motor in the car and it's stripped to the bone, so the car is light. Too light to go about it the normal way with a single screw compressor. I have an "outside" the spring compressor with two screws. I had to get 24 x 5/8" washers to offset the screws since compressing the spring without them made the screws taller than the top of the spring.

I got the spring situated and used a 2x2 and the floor jack to jack up the upper control arm to position the perch and install the shock with the compressor still attached.

[attachthumb=1]

After I attached the shock to the perch I left the jack in place since I jacked it up and it compressed the spring slightly more than the compressor had. (Danger note: since the car is so light by doing this the car is now jacked about a .25" off the jack stand.) I loosened the spring compressor enough to wedge the lower compressor hook out of the coil loop and then repeated on the other screw.

I then lowered the floor jack and installed the spindle assembly.

[attach=2]

Then I put the tire on and attached the lug nuts and lowered the car to floor.

[attach=3]

Again this was for the second time I put the spring in. The first time I was shooting in the dark and it took forever. Here's the car with both wheels on. No sway bar or steering attached. I'm just pushing the car on a trailer and then to my new house.

[attach=4]


Again, thank you to everyone who helped me get past a couple of my hiccups and roadblocks! You made it all possible.

Jon

[jonnyship]

Oh yeah, these aren't the final wheels either. Just to head off any questions. The guy I bought the car from gave me 4 wheels with tires and that's what I'm using until I complete the project. 

[66GTKFB]

Do yourself a favor - throw those spring compressor clamps away, and paint the shocks black, unless you want that to be the first thing that people see. (If that's your objective, what are you trying to hide?)   
Jim

[Soaring]

Do yourself a favor - throw those spring compressor clamps away, and paint the shocks black, unless you want that to be the first thing that people see. (If that's your objective, what are you trying to hide?)   
Jim

I agree.  I painted my KYB's black as soon as I indtalled them.