Bonemaro's '73 Ghia

[Piledriver]

Soak it with PB Blaster or ATF/acetone mix overnight.

I had a 36" hunk of 3/4"x2" or so steel welded on a 36 mm socket for many years...
(I probably still do, somewhere)

You could hit it with a hammer.

One also could stand or jump on it.

[sideshow]

3/4 drive, the cheap stuff is just fine...19mm (hard to find), 36mm(duh), 46mm if you do busses over 1/2 ton

1/2 drive is a waste of money

[helowrench]

I use a torque dude or what ever their name is. 30# of pressure to get 270# of torque (9:1). Can't help you with the bigger stuff other than get something larger than 1/2" drive!

http://www.mooreparts.com/store/search.asp

I cannot promote this tool enough.
i have removed that axle nut with the torque tool and......
A six inch long 1/4dr ratchet.

[Bonemaro]

I was about to ask, cause it seems a bit tight... and actually I did spray it with PB Blaster last night. I love that stuff.

All I have is my big 1/2" and a four foot piece of pipe. Hopefully, I won't break that socket.

[Bonemaro]

Anyone have the torque spec on that bolt?

[Ol'fogasaurus]

A half inch breaker bar can be too light weight of a tool. I broke the swivel pin in one of my 1'2" drive breaker bars trying to get the axle nut off and I have seen others do the same thing. Spend the bucks for at least a 3/4" bar and socket or go to the torque dude design (there are several names for the same too depending on where you purchase it).

As far a torque, on of the guys I know who races buggies and has 1" (I think or bigger) torque wrench w/4' long handle says "a minimum or 300#s". I also have witnesses the use of a axle nut whacker with a bar on it and a 4' tube over it to apply pressure actually break the threaded area off an axle nut so it can be done.

I also have (had?, I can't find my tool box that has all those tools in it) an axle nut whacker. My experience with it has been pretty much zilch as whacking the thing just puts a sharp temp load on the nut allowing the stub axle to absorb the load torsion-ally even with a "helping Hands" tool being used at the same time.

A couple of years ago the guys in the camp next to us were salvaging some parts including some rear trailing arms. Even using a 4' long tube on a 3/4" breaker bar or an axle nut whacker they could not get the axle nut to break loose so they could salvage the stub axle. I had my torque dude with me and myself and the guys wife went after the axle nut; she had it off before they all got back to their rail (the trailing arm was off the rail so I held it from rotating while she worked the breaker bar). The nut came off very smoothly so no tired old muscles were pulled. They bought one very quickly!

[helowrench]

Mine is the Torque Meister brand.
the only single thing that irritates me about it is that it is the ONLY place I need an 11mm socket, and I have to go find one any time I am using it.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Mine is the Torque Meister brand.
the only single thing that irritates me about it is that it is the ONLY place I need an 11mm socket, and I have to go find one any time I am using it.

Yup, life is a bitch and then you die!

Sometimes I laugh so hard that my tears run down my leg!

[Bonemaro]

What a pain the ass just to do brakes. Definite disc brake conversion.

[helowrench]

Mine is the Torque Meister brand.
the only single thing that irritates me about it is that it is the ONLY place I need an 11mm socket, and I have to go find one any time I am using it.

Yup, life is a bitch and then you die!

Sometimes I laugh so hard that my tears run down my leg!

I know.
every time I use it, I make a note that I need to grind it down to fit 10mm.
Then I forget.

[helowrench]

What a pain the ass just to do brakes. Definite disc brake conversion.

It really is not that bad. You only do the brakes every 30-40k miles

[Bonemaro]

Day 5:

I got under the Ghia a bit. The pans look pretty decent. Thus far, this is the only concern I've ran into. It's behind the passenger front wheel. The door rubs too. Pretty sure it was wrecked at some point.

[Piledriver]

The spec is 230 Ft/lb.

Typically ...400 ft/lb (or 50, you have not LIVED until you have been passed by one of your back wheels going off solo)

I strongly recommend the rear discs with real parking brakes that self adjust, but T3 rear drums come off and have separate hubs, are bigger and bolt on.

[Bonemaro]

Day 9:

The Ghia got it's first bath in 25 years. Got all the rat poop out of the front too. Maybe it'll smell better now.

[Bonemaro]

I have come to the point where I want to decide my intentions for the engine, mainly to go with a conservative 90-120 HP design, or to aim for the 160-200 range. Anyone have any thoughts or want to share what they did? Since this car isn't a DD, it allows a little more room of options.