Need a little advice on removing the 2 bolts on each upper control shaft. The Van Steel video shows using a slide hammer with a L shaped attachment and going thru the wheel well. I can't find a slide hammer with this attachment. The engine is in, so I can't get to the backside to drive them out. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Matt  

I,am assuming that the upper control arms are out,put the nut back on the bolt, us a larger socket over the hex head of the bolt, use a heavy duty c-clamp and try to push the bolt out, you only have to push it the thickness of the bracket anips38437.783587963

The arms aren't out, that's the problem, these bolts have to come out in order to remove the control arms.

Matt

THe control arm shoudl come out without removing them, unless you have a big block.  You may need to remove an accessory to get clearance.

Thanks Guys.

I got 'em out. I had to remove the alternator, then I took out a small piece of the lower radiator shroud and that gave me enough access. I did have to remove the bolts to get the arms out, the bolts were long enough that when I pushed the arms back they hit the fan shroud. Now they're off to the sandblasting and powder coating shop.

Matt 

I can definitely see how difficult it could be depending on which fan shroud you have.  In my case though I was pulling the fan shroud so that I could pull the radiator without disturbing the A/C.  It turned out to be a real bear to pull the shroud (I have the one that is essentially one piece), but it made it really easy to pull the upper control arms once it was out.  AND, the shroud went back in easier without the arms bolted in.  I just dropped the arms in first but swung them backwards to create clearance for the shroud.  I then dropped the shroud in and pushed it forward (radiator goes in last) so that I could mount the arms.

I would highly recommend combining these two projects for anyone considering one of these items. 

Matt,

For future reference, you may want to try renting that tool from your local autoparts store. Some of them carry tools to rent. Sears has them too.

Van Steel38454.8551388889

I got all the bolts out but one on my '81 - the passenger's side front. The one that's close to the fan shroud. I cut the end of it off with a sawzall and tapped the remainder out. I ordered new bolts anyway so ruining one didn't matter.