so a little update.
i was working on the driver side front suspension. i had the old ball joint pressed out, bearing pressed out, new ARP studs pressed in, new bearing pressed in. i was pressing in the hub to the new bearing and i gues i didnt support the inner race and it popped out the back side. i tried to press it back in and it seemed to go back in, but the seal got pushed in in the process. it probably would have been fine but i didnt want to chance it. so i pressed the bearing back out and bought a new one. so the front is on hold for now til i get the new bearing.
i also removed the bumpers and fenders. itll make working on the car a little easier, plus i want to do some minor body work and paint it. im thinking about getting the gear and painting it myself, though i know nothing about it and have never attempted body work before. we'll see. im replacing the fenders and doors to help get rid of the rust.
and i did some work today as well. i installed the new lower ball joint. after that was done i figured i would install the ES poly shifter bushings. got under the car and realized i had to remove the header to get the linkage off (tight fit), so i took that off and fought with the bushings a bit to get them installed.
while under there i looked up at the steering rack saw the worn/torn boots and the worn out inner and outer tie rods on the drivers side. so i said fuck it. i removed the rack and im going to rebuild it. new seals, lube, rack end bushing, etc. ill get some ES poly rack mounts too to stiffen up the connection to the subframe. i know i used to have these laying around, but i may have discarded them, ill have to look. also im throwing around the idea of using the quaiffe rack and pinion. not sure though.
i also decided that i was going to go full spherical bushings. front and rear LCAs, trailing arm, camber arms, toe arms. poly will remain in the sways, shifter, front upper control arm, steering rack. and im gonna bump up the rear springs from 400 lbs to 600 lbs.