Houston....we have separation

I went and picked up a couple ratchet straps this morning.  I strung them up to the rafters and started raising up the rear end.  It wasn't as easy as I thought it was going to be.  One side at a time until I raised the body high enough to clear the top of the front shocks.

After wheeling it outside, I took a little time to tape up any exposed holes or electrical connections.  I would have liked to take the rest of the wiring harness off but it was just too darn cold outside to do that.  I covered the engine with some plastic and I'll get to it later this week when it warms up.  I hope to maybe degrease the everything before I pull it inside for disassembly.  As you can see, the engine and trans need it.

Separation...

No, my wife hasn't left me.  I finally was able to separate the body from the drive-train.  The article I had read said all you needed to do was remove all the nuts/bolts except those on the top of the shock towers.  I didn't trust that and that was wise.  It would be unwise to do that.  The coils would have quickly shot the subframes downward.  Instead I left the shock town nuts on plus one nut on each side of the subframes.  Then I dropped the whole things down to the floor with a board under the lower control arms to protect the rotors.  This worked.  As soon as I removed all the nuts, the coils sprung the body upward.

My hope was to hang the body from the rafters and roll the drive-train outside to degrease next week when the temps get high enough.  Well we couldn't get it high enough without ratchet straps.  We will get some tomorrow and roll it out.  Then we'll drop the body down and remove the last items.

Almost there...

My wife gave me a wonderful Valentines present...time out in the garage.  Each time I'm out there I know I'm getting closer to getting the body off the drive train.  Earlier this week I was able to disconnect and drain all the brake lines.  I'm not going to be able to salvage the lines though.  There are a few of the fittings that just don't want to come off the master cylinder.  I've looked through the Speedway catalog and brake lines aren't that expensive.  That and I doubt I could really reuse much of it anyway.

So my son and I worked hard tonight to try to get the body and drive train separated.  I read that you can just remove all the nuts/bolts besides the tops of the shock towers while it was up, then lower it to remove them, and then lift the body off.  I didn't trust to have everything just hanging there, so I left one bolt in each corner before lowering the car down onto boards.  That's as low as I can get and still keep the rotors off the ground.

So all I need to do is remove 12 bolts/nuts, disconnect the fuel lines, and disconnect the clutch line before it's ready for a test lift.  If all goes well, the body will be ready for the chopping block by the end of the weekend.  Then I will need to build a dolly to go under the engine & transmission.  I want to keep them connected and leave them alone until I'm ready to actually work on them.  Just plan on sealing up it's holes, covering it, and rolling it into a corner.

My goal is to start on the frame in the beginning of April.  Next month will be hectic with spring break and me finishing my degree.  The only goal I have for next month is building the Build Table.  I need to sell some more parts to cover the next investment.  I need welding gas, steel, and material for my table.  I'm still at $1000 cost so far, but it sure has been worth it.  I've really enjoyed taking this car apart and spending time with my son.

I can't wait to start on the frame with him.  I even bought him his own welding helmet this week.  I figure I will do the cutting, he will clamp it to the table, and I will take weld it.  He plans to take Welding Merit Badge at summer camp this year.  Maybe after that I'll let him take a few (unimportant) welds?

Making some progress

I did some modifications out in the garage yesterday.  Hung three sets of lights to put some illumination on what I was working on.  Once they warmed up, they worked great.

I pulled a late-nighter last night despite the coldness.  It's so cold out in the garage that my fridge is keeping the beer warm.  It doesn't take too long for my beer to ice over once I open it (which is how I like it).

Earlier in the day I pulled the wiring harness through the firewall.  No way to pull the whole thing out until I could pull the heater core.  I went back later with the intention to just pull the top off.  The top was getting old and had the normal cracks along the hinge points.  Someone forgot to unzip the top before putting it down, so it had the big rip there.  Then there was a rip under the window.  I decided there was no use even trying to salvage the top.  So that made it much easier to wrestle the thing out at the end.  I pulled the latches hoping I might be able to see them.  I'll pull the vinyl off when it warms up and strap the steel.  Can't see where anyone would want the frame.

Cracked the A/C open and was able to get a few of the fittings loose.  I need to stop by HF this week to pick up some larger wrenches.  I don't want to chance things by using adjustable too much. Ripped the carpet out.  Carpet is in good shape, but the pad was shot.  It still had moisture in it from when it was as the salvage yard.  Noticed crystals everywhere (did I mention how cold it is in my garage).  Had some issues getting the passenger kick panel out.  One bolt was completely rusted away.  Finally got the computer out.  Drained the coolant so I could pull the radiator and heater core.  Got a little nervous when I seen this brown crud at the end.  I checked the web and they said that was normal.