Time to get this 2 ton ishtbox back into working order.
So, my subframe sits alone in the backyard with a cracked rear diff mount and no arms attached to it whatsoever. While replacing the first diff mount that had cracked, I took a closer look at my subframe and noticed that the rubber in the other diff mount was beginning to show its age. Instead of leaving it alone and risk having to drop the subframe sometime soon in the future, I decided that it made more sense to take care of it now. I ordered a new diff mount from the dealer and replaced it using the same tactics as I had used on the other diff mount. I set fire to the mount while continuously pouring water over the rest of the subframe to make sure the rubber in the other diff mount wouldn't heat up and become brittle. I went to town on it with a sawzall, punched it out, and pulled out the new diff bushing from my freezer. Pounded it in like my life depended on it, and alas, I was done, though pounding it in and keeping it lined up proved to be a mission.
So, my subframe sits alone in the backyard with a cracked rear diff mount and no arms attached to it whatsoever. While replacing the first diff mount that had cracked, I took a closer look at my subframe and noticed that the rubber in the other diff mount was beginning to show its age. Instead of leaving it alone and risk having to drop the subframe sometime soon in the future, I decided that it made more sense to take care of it now. I ordered a new diff mount from the dealer and replaced it using the same tactics as I had used on the other diff mount. I set fire to the mount while continuously pouring water over the rest of the subframe to make sure the rubber in the other diff mount wouldn't heat up and become brittle. I went to town on it with a sawzall, punched it out, and pulled out the new diff bushing from my freezer. Pounded it in like my life depended on it, and alas, I was done, though pounding it in and keeping it lined up proved to be a mission.
It's quite a bit off but I can't see it being detrimental.
The subframe was finally done. It was ready to have stuff bolted back onto it. One problem. I still hadn’t fixed the problem of my rear camber. When all is done, I wanted my rear camber to be around -1* or -1.5*. I now realize that this was too much to ask from a stock metal sc, but I went on nonetheless. The stock arms obviously wouldn’t allow for this at the ride height I was at, so I did a bit of research, but came up with very little. There were a couple of options available, but the one that made the most sense to me was the TC Sportline uca made for a jza80 supra. They don't have the best rep because of the design, build quality, etc but it was the only route I had available to me. I do plan on doing some other mods to the rear suspension to attain the alignment that I want, but this was a decent starting point.
I broke loose both axles using a giant hammer to pound them out of the hub to gain clearance to pull the upper control arm off. I bought the aforementioned pair of adjustable rear upper control arms for an MK4 Supra off a fellow CL member, though I did have my concerns. I was worried that it wouldn't fit because I had heard the upper control arms for the supra and sc weren’t interchangeable due to the different subframe designs. I ordered it nonetheless because I figured that if they were all that different, only a bit of tweaking was necessary to make it fit. This isn’t to say that I was confident at all. I was pretty nervous, but also extremely anxious to get my hands on them to test fit and hopefully install onto my subframe, taking me a step closer to a running car.
The subframe was finally done. It was ready to have stuff bolted back onto it. One problem. I still hadn’t fixed the problem of my rear camber. When all is done, I wanted my rear camber to be around -1* or -1.5*. I now realize that this was too much to ask from a stock metal sc, but I went on nonetheless. The stock arms obviously wouldn’t allow for this at the ride height I was at, so I did a bit of research, but came up with very little. There were a couple of options available, but the one that made the most sense to me was the TC Sportline uca made for a jza80 supra. They don't have the best rep because of the design, build quality, etc but it was the only route I had available to me. I do plan on doing some other mods to the rear suspension to attain the alignment that I want, but this was a decent starting point.
I broke loose both axles using a giant hammer to pound them out of the hub to gain clearance to pull the upper control arm off. I bought the aforementioned pair of adjustable rear upper control arms for an MK4 Supra off a fellow CL member, though I did have my concerns. I was worried that it wouldn't fit because I had heard the upper control arms for the supra and sc weren’t interchangeable due to the different subframe designs. I ordered it nonetheless because I figured that if they were all that different, only a bit of tweaking was necessary to make it fit. This isn’t to say that I was confident at all. I was pretty nervous, but also extremely anxious to get my hands on them to test fit and hopefully install onto my subframe, taking me a step closer to a running car.
As I waited for the arms to arrive, I did a bit of tidying up in the SC's engine bay. Vacuum lines that ran through the exhaust side of the motor were foil wrapped for heat protection. SRS wires for the airbags were extended using 18gauge wires, solder, and heatshrinks, instead of having yellow looms and connectors just hanging around in the engine bay. Wires were cleaned up into new plastic looms or wrapped in electric and foil tape. Also took out the cruise control module thing since I have no use for it with my Nardi wheel. Saved me a whole 3 lbs.
peek my insanely bone stock engine bay.
tiara on a turd:
peek my insanely bone stock engine bay.
tiara on a turd:
The evening the UPS tracking for the TC Sportline arms updated as "Out for delivery", I rushed home from work, only to come to, what seemed like, a vast open space of nothing at my doorstep where a box should be awaiting my arrival. I went inside and ransacked the whole house thinking that my sister had brought it in with her. Minutes later, I hear the loud roar of an overused diesel, followed by the gut-wrenching crunch of an abused transmission. A brown truck then pulled up and stopped abruptly, only to let out a driver who was obviously in the biggest rush of his life. He dropped off a big box on our doormat and only a few seconds passed before I heard the poor truck roar back to life and speed off. This was at 7pm.
I ripped open the box and took the arms out and ran to the subframe. Perfect damn fit. There was a bit of play between the bushings and brackets on the subframe, but bolting it up squeezed the brackets together.
I ripped open the box and took the arms out and ran to the subframe. Perfect damn fit. There was a bit of play between the bushings and brackets on the subframe, but bolting it up squeezed the brackets together.
Forgetting I hadn't had single bite of food that day, I went to work, reassembling my subframe with the parts I had.
The axle got bolted back onto the diff. Axle was passed through the hub and bolted in. Traction rod, bolted in. LCA, bolted in. Then came the confusion. I have little experience with aftermarket arms, so I had little clue as to what was going on. To top it off, these arms come with no instructions. My confusion cleared up once I figured out that the bolt going through the rod end didn't have a lip, instead was just a washer that was stuck onto a spacer. I took the bolt apart, threadlocked it, and tightened it down. Got some lithium grease and soaked the insides of the bushings and slid bolts through the bushings and attached the rod end to the hub. I went back inside for a drink, only to look at the clock and realize that it was already 1am, and here I was banging away and dropping tools while everyone struggled for their nightly sleep. Went back out to attempt a quiet cleanup, but first took a step back and became overjoyed that the parts that had been lying around separated in my backyard for the last 4 months were now back together. Only things missing were the toe rods and subframe bushings that would get picked up the next week.
The axle got bolted back onto the diff. Axle was passed through the hub and bolted in. Traction rod, bolted in. LCA, bolted in. Then came the confusion. I have little experience with aftermarket arms, so I had little clue as to what was going on. To top it off, these arms come with no instructions. My confusion cleared up once I figured out that the bolt going through the rod end didn't have a lip, instead was just a washer that was stuck onto a spacer. I took the bolt apart, threadlocked it, and tightened it down. Got some lithium grease and soaked the insides of the bushings and slid bolts through the bushings and attached the rod end to the hub. I went back inside for a drink, only to look at the clock and realize that it was already 1am, and here I was banging away and dropping tools while everyone struggled for their nightly sleep. Went back out to attempt a quiet cleanup, but first took a step back and became overjoyed that the parts that had been lying around separated in my backyard for the last 4 months were now back together. Only things missing were the toe rods and subframe bushings that would get picked up the next week.
Fucking done. for now.
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