Removing seats, bumpers and body to frame bolts.

Finally decided this was the year to start are the repairs to get it back on the road. The biggest issue is the rust in the frame where the rear suspension trailing arms attach. I ordered the replacement parts from TRF. I purchased a Hobart Handler 140 MIG welder and cart to handle the welding.

The first task was removing all the panels in the Trunk and the spare tire. I already had the gas tank out to repair rust in the filling neck and seal it. I removed the seats, seat belts on the floor and carpet under the seats and in the foot wells.

Next was the front and rear bumpers. I used a chair I had is the garage to hold one end of the bumper I had removed the bolts from so it would not fall. The back side of the bumpers had some surface rust so I took the opportunity to clean with Orange Blast and a green scrubber pad. I then sprayed the rust areas with the Must for Rust. The next day I painted the inside of the bumpers with silver Rust Bullet.

The next item was to remove all the bolts that connect the body to the frame. There is one in the trunk that holds the tire, 1 on each side of the trunk in the rear of each wheel well, 1 behind where each seat was, 1 on either side of the small tunnel near the hand brake, 3 on each side near the rear of the each door opening, 4 on each side near the front of each door opening, 2 on each side of the dash support, 1 on each side of the foot wells, 1 on each side under the hood on the shock tower supports and finally one on each side of the radiator. I used PB Blaster on all the bolts and only one bolt head snapped off. The one in the drivers foot well.

Next I needed to remove the wind shield frame. I knew the driver’s side was stuck, a common problem, so I hit it with PB blaster over several days. It did not budge so I went to plan B, cut the mount to release the pin. I used a Dremel and it was a tight fit and I broke about 6 cut off wheels. After the cut was made I pull on the wind shield and it came right off. I will weld up the cut before I put it back on the car.

I then removed the 4 rear and 2 front frame to bumper mounts. I took some pictures of a dent in the rear valance that was hidden behind the bumper.