Blue's Barracuda

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Wed Aug 02, 17 9:25 pm

Good to catch up at the weekend, Blue. Finally found enough time to catch up on this thread and a great read.

How are you finding working without a lift at this place?

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Aug 03, 17 6:58 am

I get on ok, the lift was a nice thing to have for a while but it was just a tool that made some jobs a bit easier. I still have the option of bringing the car into work If I really need to get it up in the air.

Stu · Post by **Stu** » Thu Aug 03, 17 10:50 pm

Good to see that even the pro's find rusted control arm bushes a complete Bananarama! of a job.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Sep 07, 17 6:07 pm

Fitted a pair of "002" & "003" super stock springs as fitted to the Hemi A bodies. You can see how much these differ from a stock spring, it's not just a higher ride height. As this is a street car I used KYB shocks instead of the usual longer drag shocks. A pair for a Dodge Dakota were long enough with just the tube to press out of the top bush and a couple of washers either side and they bolt right in. I didn't buy the cheapest rear spring bushes, instead I went for AC Delco which I thought would be decent quality, they are too loose in the spring so don't buy those....

Mossy68 · Post by **Mossy68** » Thu Sep 07, 17 10:23 pm

Out of interest Blue , how did you get to the Dakota shocks ?

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Sep 08, 17 6:32 am

Mancini list a KYB shock for use with S/S springs, when I checked their part no. that was the original application so I ordered a pair from Rock auto when I was getting some other stuff.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Fri Sep 08, 17 12:47 pm

Interesting in the Dakota shocks. I ordered just normal Dart ones when i picked all this up a while ago.

Keep me updated on the bush you go for for the shocks please Blue. I need to order the same as ive got the same SS Springs!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Sep 08, 17 1:21 pm

All I did was use a hydraulic press to push out the tube, removed the shock stud from the car and pressed that in instead with a couple of washers each side to take up the width. Job done no need to use a different bush, the tube and the stud are the same diameter.

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Fri Sep 08, 17 2:32 pm

I didn't need to do that with the Dart set I had

dunno if there was any difference but I think they just fitted up

I do remaber mashing some rusted on sleeves with a chisel to remove them and cleaning something up with emrery clocth but can't remember if that was the pins from the lower control arms or the big bolts in the boot for the upper shock mount. all the front end and suspension work merged into one.

either way leave the plastic straps on the shocks while fitting and no big trauma

I guess the Dakota shocks were an inch or so longer?

Dave

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Sep 08, 17 5:55 pm

More like about 3" longer, the standard shocks are way too short.

Dave81 · Post by **Dave81** » Fri Sep 08, 17 9:08 pm

Blue wrote:All I did was use a hydraulic press to push out the tube, removed the shock stud from the car and pressed that in instead with a couple of washers each side to take up the width. Job done no need to use a different bush, the tube and the stud are the same diameter.

Sorry John. I meant the SS Spring Bushes you had issues with not the shocks.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Sat Sep 09, 17 10:04 am

Gotcha Dave, I will use either genuine Mopar or Energy suspension poly, both of which I've used before without issue.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Sep 13, 17 4:24 pm

I tried, I really did but it's just no good, heater delete is the only way forward...

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Sep 13, 17 7:05 pm

That Radio looks heavy.

You can see which way this build is going.....

ScottyDave · Post by **ScottyDave** » Wed Sep 13, 17 7:31 pm

It does look a tad on the weighty side don't it???