Well, yesterday was quite the fight. She was not going to give up her almost 40 year old parts easily.
Started working on the rear. Got the shocks out. Just went ahead and cut the u bolts this time with the cut off wheel. Much easier. Got the shackle mount loosened but saw the there was no way I was getting that bolt out as the head was on the frame side.
Honestly I did not even try to loosen the frame mount bolt. Figured it was seized anyway. So the only solution I had was the sawzall. Had a couple lenox blades that finally wore out about halfway through. At this point, I thought she may finally win. But I had determination.
I bought these:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Diablo-6-in ... /205426155
Let's just say these blades are worth their weight in gold. The went right through those bolts, finally. Was able to get both sides cut. Loosened the shackle bolt enough to get my cut off wheel in there and cut the heads off and pulled the bolts out.
Putting the new Springs in was not going to go easy either. They were almost 3" short from lining up. So I had to resort to the same process AZ took with his. 4x4 post and ratchet straps on top of the spring to stretch it enough to line up the holes. Got them all lined up and bolts in.
At this point I was starting to celebrate a little in my mind. That's when she put up her last major fights.
First, u bolts. Holy #%@$, you would not think a 1/4 in wider spread in a u bolt to the plate was that big a deal. But with grade 8 u bolt, trying to squeeze them to fit results in hoping that no children are around to hear your potty mouth. That was probably 30-45 min to finally get them squeezed enough to go through the plate.
And finally, when trying to get the spring pack bolt head into the locating hole in the perch, the parking brake cables said "no". Had to jack up the rear axle enough to gain some slack in them and then ratchet strap the rear axle and pull to where I needed it. Another almost hour long job. At this point it was dark outside (working in a carport) but I was not giving up.
Got them finally located, u bolts tightened, and shocks in. Still have all my torquing, drop pitman arm, and figuring out all brake lines today. But man what a transformation over stock. This thing should have rolled off the line this way.
I will get a picture up today since it was dark last night.
On the parking brake issue, I have read on here and ifsja.com about similar problems. Seems the short term/easy solution is to disconnect the parking brake from the frame bracket and move the bracket back or leave it hanging. But I can't figure out how to disconnect it? Is it just clipped in there? I don't think it's bolted in. Both sides will be a PITA since one is behind the muffler and the other behind the gas tank.