Well, I'm a little late getting this posted as I said I would. But here is the rest of the upper and lower control arm bushing job. The spring is already out so I need to remove the lower a arm. I use the impact gun to remove the 2 bolts and nut on the lower arm.
both arms off

rod75152011-08-10 08:11:16

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now its time to start removing bushings. I use an air chisel with a flat blade and vibrate the bushings from the back. before you do this make sure you get your safety glasses and hearing protection.
Here are the new bushings.  The upper and lower are different sizes the larger goes into the lowers smaller in uppers
I remove the bolts and washers in the bushing ends
with the arm placed into the vice and I dont clamp it that tight that it would bend it I am ready to remove the bushings.
I remove all 4 bushings from the two arms with this method. Im lazy so this makes quick work of them. You could always use a chisel and hammer but that is more work!
this is my installation tool. Its just a 1 5/8" socket that fits over the end of the bushings.
I put the bushings in by tapping them with a hammer.
It doesnt take that much to drive them flush.
Once the first bushing is in I put the mounting bar back in then put the remaining bushing in.
this completes the bushing installation. I put the washers and nuts back on the ends but I wont tighten them till after my engine is back in so all the weight is loaded on the arms and bushings.
Now also when I'm this far i replaced the ball joints. again I chisel the rivots out using the air chisel.
then knock out the rivots and the ball joints. I cleaned everything up then painted the arms, and spring then I installed the new ball joints using the nuts and bolts supplied to tighten them too the arms. 
Of course there was a bunch more cleaning and painting to complete this.
Engine compartment painted close to finish. Its not going to be a show car so its not getting detailed to perfection! (they say you can only put so much lipstick on a pig becasue it will always be a pig! ) But i'm ok with it.
Hope this may help someone that is considering taking on this project. I have other pics if you need any. Just let me know.
Rodney


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EXCELLENT write-up, Rodney!!! Bravo!

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

What kind of paint did you use to paint everything

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DanT

I actually used POR15. The driver side I did by brush, the Passenger side parts I sprayed with a gun. I will say that the gun is easier and cleans up quicker than I thought it would. Also it goes on smoother as well. Another type of paint I have used in the past is called chassis saver. It too is a poxy type finish. Both dry to a very hard finish and I like both of them. The key is to use the metal ready to prep the parts. This allows the paint to bond.
Rodney


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Rodney, just in case you're still monitoring this thread, a couple of questions regarding air chisel use to remove the bushings:  

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Dave, using an air chisel should not ding up your arm. On the lower bushing I went straight down then once the bushing moved I started angling it out. Neither of my vettes that I did came out really hard. I am a mechanic by trade so I have done this often over the years. Sometimes you will run into a bushing that will fight you and might take a little extra time but they have always come out this way. If you get a tight one just work from side to side on the bushing. Just be careful that you dont chisel onto the arm instead of the lip of the bushing and you wont ding up your a-arms. the chisel will do the work! You will be glad you used it! When your ready to do it if you have any questions shoot me a PM and I'll send you my phone number so you can call. You can do this!
Rodney

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Nice work Rodney!!

Thanks for the input, Rodney.  In my last post I forgot to also thank you for all the pics and the step-by-step -- they're very helpful.   I have the arms off, removed ball joints yesterday, and today I'm going to try to get those bushings out.  I'll let you know how it goes.  

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Got 'em out!  Very pleased that's all done.  There's a small amount of damage to the lips on the upper arm, but not much and structurally it will be OK.  Just need to clean them up a bit with a file and emery paper.  Thanks again for the advice.  The driver's side took several hours multiple days before I got 'em out.  This way is much better.  

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Dave, glad to hear this worked out for you. Its makes it much easier then trying to push them out with a hammer and chisel. Some press them out but I find this easier. Hope it all goes together well. Keep us updated on your progress.
Rodney


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