5.3swapped260z Posted May 5, 2018 Author Share Posted May 5, 2018 Thanks Richard and track.im trying my best to work on it as much as I can before I deploy in July because it's going to sit for awhile and I'd like it to be in a good place before I leave so I can stockpile parks while I'm gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackzpeed Posted May 5, 2018 Share Posted May 5, 2018 Thank you for serving our country my friend. Be safe and blessed wherever you my travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 7, 2018 Author Share Posted May 7, 2018 Thanks trackz I will stay safe. I'll have some more paint and new bushing updates around next weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 Alright guys I have two questions I've done alot of research on the spindle pin, mine will not budge an inch even with a hammer, how should I get them out.. Second on this diff/suspension mount have y'all ever seen them wrapped before like in the pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northwoodz Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Did you take the small bolt out of the middle? I believe it is there to keep the pin located. That mount certainly is interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 15 minutes ago, northwoodz said: Did you take the small bolt out of the middle? I believe it is there to keep the pin located. That mount certainly is interesting. Yessir the pin is out. And I have been putting penetrating oil on it for about 3 days or so. And yeah the mount kinda blew my mind as to why haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackzpeed Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Crazy mount! Try heat to the spindle pin housing and a bigger hammer 😂.... or use a press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 5 minutes ago, trackzpeed said: Crazy mount! Try heat to the spindle pin housing and a bigger hammer 😂.... or use a press. Track I tried to use my press but I can't get it level so it isn't really working. I only have a small 12ton manual press. Would it be worth buying the tool for 60 bucks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZHoob2004 Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 Add some heat. Heat the spindle pin until it's red hot, then let it cool down. Should tap right out after that. The diff mount is interesting. It looks like the mount was tearing/tore through completely so they wrapped it in cable (and used longer bolts?) to solid mount the nose of the diff. You might want to switch to a RT style top mount since your oem mount is probably gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 A lug nut is the same thread as the spindle pin. You can use it to spin the pin to break up the rust and get the penetrant moving around inside and to beat on with a big hammer. I found also when removing mine that the pin actually was moving inside the strut casting but it was stuck in the sleeve of the rubber bushing. So each hammer blow would move it, then the rubber bushing would pull it back inside. It was deceiving. As for heat, I've found that heating up the casting will cause it to expand making the pin easier to move. Don't heat the pin, heat the casting. If you're not trying to save the pins, a sawzall will do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 10, 2018 Author Share Posted May 10, 2018 So I took a sawzaw to the first pin. It's almost like it's welded in the strut tower piece. So I'mma get some heat on it and try to get it expanded a little and punch it out. Any tips on those bushings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted May 10, 2018 Share Posted May 10, 2018 (edited) People cut the bushings also then use a drift or chisel to peel them out. I've found that force and heat will almost always do it. I've used it on the front control arm bushings, and various broken exhaust studs. The parts will not move if there's no heat. I've had the front control arm bushings set up in a vise, with various tube pieces or sockets and fixtures, not moving at all under high force, and watched them move as the heat was applied. I've had exhaust studs that would not budge unless heat was applied, and would stop turning as the manifold cooled down. Many people just can't comprehend the power of heat. They'll beat and hack and drill and pry before they'll get out the torch or heat gun. The expansion of the metals reduces the constrictive force. Don't know if that's the proper term but it's close. Did you spin the spindle pin while it had an end? If not you missed an opportunity. Forgot to say, I'd use the 12 ton press and some fixturing. The tool will probably break on your problem. It only works on the not-so-bad spindle pins. Many people break the tool. Edited May 10, 2018 by NewZed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackzpeed Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 new lower control arms will solve the problem too...... I gave my stock one's away otherwise I would have sent them to you.. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 11, 2018 Author Share Posted May 11, 2018 3 minutes ago, trackzpeed said: new lower control arms will solve the problem too...... I gave my stock one's away otherwise I would have sent them to you.. Jim I was going to go with fully adjustable ones. But I did pros and cons and it's just not worth 500 extra on top of this build for a Cruze around car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackzpeed Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 I want with T3. Don’t think they were that much but i don’t remember. HUGE difference in the way the car drives and handles. The cost of new spindle pins, bushings, and labor time made the swap to the T3 easy. I track my car a lot so the improved handling and solid feel was more than worth it for me. Just my.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juxsa Posted May 15, 2018 Share Posted May 15, 2018 With the 5.3 do you need to use a ls1 intake manifold? Are you going to build your own mounts or getting a kit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 1 hour ago, juxsa said: With the 5.3 do you need to use a ls1 intake manifold? Are you going to build your own mounts or getting a kit? I will be using ls1 accessories for my swap. And I believe I'm going to go with the cxracing full kit. But I'm extremely far off from that point in this build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 15, 2018 Author Share Posted May 15, 2018 Looking for advice before I buy new wheel studs. I am replacing all 16 of my studs during the resto. Should I go with the OEM length or should I purchase the extended ones. Need a answer pretty soon as I am almost done with the front suspension. I will be postings a bunch more pictures in the next couple of days. I ended up taking my rear stuff to a local machine shop and they got the spindle pins and all the bushings out for 40 bucks so I am happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5.3swapped260z Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 So I got a decent bit of stuff done today. Cleaned the front hubs, cut the dust shields painted both, got my front and rear control arms buttoned up. Here are some pics. My hubs were terrible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trackzpeed Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Looking good..... suspension bits cleaned up nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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