Dropping front crossmember that easy?

[Chris H.]

Well, I started out by removing my engine and trans to rebuild them. Nothing much else except a quick clean up, just get it back in and go.

My rebuilt engine is sitting pretty in my garage almost all back together. Took out my cleaning supplies and started under hood on the frame and wheel wells. Of course took out the rad support and cleaned that up. Looked like it would be a lot easier to take out the steering parts to clean and restore so I dropped them. Now I am looking at the front crossmember. If I drop that it would be easy to derust and make it look like new.

Is there really only like 16 bolts to drop the crossmember other than the brake lines? When will I stop? What is wrong with me?

Chris:)

[Chuck S.]

Re: Dropping front crossmember that easy?

"When will I stop? What is wrong with me?"

Chris, as long as you keep taking parts off, refinishing them, and putting them back, you'll be OK. It's the taking parts off and piling them in a big pile until the entire car is completely disassembled that nails most of us.

I can't remember any particular problems to removing the bolted in crossmember under the radiator support; the main front cross member between the front springs is a part of the frame...i.e. it's welded in.

[John M.]

Re: Dropping front crossmember that easy?

Chris,
That is all there is to it! You have been infected by the restoration virus. There is no known cure, but it can be treated by removing and restoring every single nut and bolt on your car! Unfortunately, if has a tendency to re-occur any time there is a less than perfect car parked in your garage!

Regards, John McGraw

[John M.]

Re: Dropping front crossmember that easy?

Hey Chuck,
He is talking about a C1 car, and everything comes apart on these old cars! The pile of total parts however, is much smaller on these cars. I take my hat off to guys doing full restorations on C3 and later cars as the complexity and number of parts starts growing rapidly on later model cars.

Regards, John McGraw

[Chuck S.]

Re: Dropping front crossmember that easy?

Dohp! Sorry, John, I was thinking Chris had a C3...Must have been thinking of someone else.

[Dave F.]

Thanks Chris !!

I think that was the first laughing out loud I've done since I completely took apart my '68 coupe about a year ago, which is still in several piles some of which are shinier than others. I needed the encouragement, and you just provided it. Thanks again, and stay with it - you'll be laughing out loud yourself soon....

[Tony Reilly]

Re: Dropping front crossmember that easy?

Hi Chris. Thought I'd add my $0.02. I've been taking things apart since my crib and even put some of them back together. It's easier to take them apart than put them back together. The car didn't hatch the way you see it- some average guy put it together, so the process can be repeated. If you don't have a fantastic memory, take pictures, make notes, put things in labeled baggies. Don't be suprised if after you're done that you don't think it's good enough- you can see the mis-steps but someone who hasn't done it won't and those who have understand. For relaxation, go to a junkyard some afternoon and take things apart just to see how they were put together- leave them apart. Loosen all fasteners first before removing- one or more may require "special" attention and you don't want that one to be the last. Oh yea, you're infected, there is no cure! Good luck.

[Chris H.]

C1 xmember drop-should I be scared?

OK, it took more than 16 bolts to drop. I had to take off all the front bumper brackets which I found out support the whole front end.

Now my front end is hanging out there unsupported. Do I need to put the bump-er and brackets back on while I drop the crossmember and clean up the bumper brackets or can it support itself sitting in mu garage? It seems to be ok but I am not sure. But I do recall someone saying that the C1 body was extra stiff.

thanks.

[Chuck R.]

Re: Yeah, Me Chuck !! *NM*

[Chuck S.]

Nope, Wasn't You, Chuckster...

When you start asking questions about "reely beeg tahrs", then your big pile of LOOSE parts is definitely shrinking down to manageable size.