There has been a lack of progress updates due to a lack of progress
The front uprights are the most seized I've ever seen. I'm having to drill out all the bolts, even the tie rod end bolts
I decided to do something else for a bit - sort out the downpipe support brackets. The car has bottomed out on something and broken a few things, and mangled these brackets. In addition to that, the bolts are seized, as they usually are. I started by cutting the head off the bolt to save the spring and bracket.
The exposed thread is too crusty to come out
New toy
Oh mapp gas, where have you been all my life?
Heat the bent bit until cherry red then straighten it out. My calor gas torch would never manage this!
These brackets have a poorly-captured square nut, which just bends its housing and spins. I wedged the sides with a bit of 6mm rod.
With some heat and the mole grips I managed to get the bolt moving and wound it in.
then cut the unthreaded portion off so it will continue going right through the captive nut
Double nuts locked on to the rusty thread
and wind it out
I cleaned the thread with a tap and its good to go again with a new bolt
The other side is even more of a mess!
It took a bit more of a fight to get this one apart but I won in the end
Downpipes back on the engine, and lower arms loosely on the subframe
