C3 Corvette Forum - Yellowjackets VBP's front monospring install.

Jun 10^th, 2007 at 8:09am

yellowjacket Offline
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Yellowjackets VBP's front monospring install.

I'll be posting more detailed pixs with instructions when done.
Last night we had it jacked up and took the drivers side wheel off, brake off and proceed to try to take off the upper controll arms without success. Emailed Alan for instruction and look at the great instructions he sent back:

Ok
1. PUT THOSE BOLTS ON THE UPPER & LOWER CONTROL ARMS NOW DO NOT TIGHTEN, BUT THREAD THEM ON UNTIL THE BOLT IS COMPLETELY ON.
1A IF THOSE BOLTS ARE NOT ON & EVERYTHING CAN & COULD COME LOOSE...VERY DANGEROUS.................

2. GET THE JACK OUT OF THE WAY & TAKE THE SHOCK COMPLETELY OUT.

3. DO YOU HAVE A 3 LB HAMMER? IF NOT YOU'RE GONNA NEED ONE & A STRONG ARM TO SWING IT

4. TRY HITTING THE LITTLE FLAT SPOT 5-6 TIMES AS HARD AS YOU CAN, THEN HIT THE PICKLE FORK THE SAME UNTIL IT BREAKS LOOSE.

5. THEN TAKE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLT OFF ONLY & REMOVE (REMEMBER THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BOLTS ARE PRESSED IN.

6. NOW WITH THE JACK STILL OUT OF THE WAY & THE BOLT ON BUT LOOSE ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARM USE THE HAMMER & PICKLE FORK TO BREAK IT LOOSE. THE BOLT KEEPS IT FROM BREAKING FREE COMPLETELY

7. PUT THE JACK UNDER THE LOWER CONTROL ARM & JACK IT UP & TAKE YOUR FRONT SWAY BAR BOLT OFF (REMEMBER HOW THIS GOES BACK ON)

8. WITH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM JACKED UP & THE HANDLE POINTING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR TAKE THE BOLT OFF CAREFULLY LOWER THE JACK

9. WHEN IT'S LOWERED ALL THE WAY YOU'RE HOME FREE ( THIS IS WHERE I STOP & HAVE A BEER)

I'LL BE IN MY SHOP UNTIL AROUND NOON MY TIME , CALL ME ANYTIME BEFORE THEN. AFTER THAT I HAVE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL & TAKE VEDA LUNCH (SHE'S WITH HER MOTHER), THEN I'LL BE FREE FROM 2PM-5PM MY TIME. THEN OFF TO A FUNERAL AT 6PM.
BOY I HAVE A FUN DAY AHEAD.

REMEMBER YOU HAVE TO HIT THAT PICKLE FORK HARD SO EAT YOUR WHEATIES...IT'LL HELP IF YOU HAVE A WEIGHT LIFTER NEAR BY.
ON THE DODGE THE UPPER CONTROL ARM WAS FROZEN SO BAD HIT THAT BOLT FOR 3 HOURS WITH A 3LB SLEDGE UNTIL IT CAME OUT...IT'S A DIFFERENT SETUP THAN THE VETTE ,BUT STILL A PAIN IN THE BUTT.. MY ARM WAS SORE FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT.

Alan is our mentor! And Da Man!

« Last Edit: Jan 31^st, 2009 at 12:37pm by yellowjacket »

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Reply #1 - Jun 10^th, 2007 at 2:16pm

yellowjacket Offline
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all off the drivers side now per Alans great instructions getting ready to put the new stuff on. I painted in there too.
Took serveral baseball swing with the 5lbs sledgehammer at the pickel fork to get it... Nathan couldn't get it after several tires... I got it in 3 tries.
We're on the phone with Alan now yakkin' about the next steps...

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Reply #2 - Jun 10^th, 2007 at 11:47pm

yellowjacket Offline
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Only took 2 hours 29 minutes to do the other side. Not bad.
Will post pixs with explainations sometime this week.

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Reply #3 - Jun 12^th, 2007 at 8:43am

yellowjacket Offline
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Some pixs to whet your appetite for VBP suspensions. I will post a detailed photo essay after the All Corvette Show this weekend. Right now installing the alumn radiator from DeWitts.

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Reply #4 - Jun 12^th, 2007 at 12:48pm

69Shark Offline
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I'm looking forward to seeing this in person. Suspension is next on the list for Sharky! I will not however start until the summer is over! Last year I did the motor and the year before I did the tranny! Both in the summer! Won't do that again!

Scott

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Reply #5 - Jun 12^th, 2007 at 1:13pm

68-73 Offline
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Well Jack knows how to do this in a day now...so you have a teacher...he also knows how to swing a big hammer Grin

Alan :cheers:

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Reply #6 - Jun 13^th, 2007 at 12:58am

yellowjacket Offline
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Quote:

Well Jack knows how to do this in a day now...so you have a teacher...he also knows how to swing a big hammer Grin

Alan :cheers:

Yup... I know sledge hammers now... a couple times I want to use that hammer on yellowjacket besides on that pickel fork.

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Reply #7 - Dec 10^th, 2007 at 11:52am

69Shark Offline
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I'm getting very close Jack,
I may be looking to you for advice very soon.

IE List of tools necessary, etc for this job.
I see you used a pickle fork tool and a 5 lb hammer.
Could you put arrows on photos for me describing whatand where you had to hit?

I see Alan suggested leaving bolts in place, etc while hammering. Could you highlight these bolts also.
I want to check Sharky out and understand each piece before I make a move.

Thanks!
Scott

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Reply #8 - Dec 10^th, 2007 at 12:29pm

68-73 Offline
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Scott I leave the upper & lower control arm bolts (the ones connected to the ball joints) on LOOSE so everything doesn't come apart until you're ready. Get Jack over there he's an expert now Grin

Alan :cheers:

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Reply #9 - Dec 10^th, 2007 at 4:29pm

69Shark Offline
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Thanks Alan,
I know I was himming and hawing about whether or not to start this project but I've decided to do it.
Now I just have to define "it".

I'm seriously considering the front and rear mono leaf springs. I'll be speaking with VBP tomorrow. I hoped to do it today but work yet again got in the way. Go figure.

I think that system will be way over kill for me but heck, I figure I won't have to do it again for a very long time.

By the way, do you have to get an alignment each time you change the ride height or stiffness?

Scott

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Reply #10 - Dec 11^th, 2007 at 4:21am

68-73 Offline
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Anytime the ride height is changed it affects allignment. But when you install new frt control arms your alignment will change , I had mine alligned after the front install, but in the rear I set the height where it was before so no change in alignment. If you do trailing arms make sure you get stainless steel shims & put them back exactly like you took them out. If you replace the rear struts just set them so the tires are just about horizional ...I have mine very slighty out at the bottom & I feel this helps with the handling.
Alan :cheers:

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Reply #11 - Feb 12^th, 2010 at 12:38pm

Urmulley Ex Member

Well done Jack. Now, take your drummel and hack off that long bolt hanging down so you don't catch anything when you drive over something.
Pat

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