Post a picture you took today

[Matt_aka_Dale]

I don’t think I fully transported the portion of my cars thread covering my experience with these to this forum but it was quite a task. The big problems you’re going to run into is the bolts will likely be rusted into the IRS bushing sleeves, and if they aren’t there’s the possibility they’re rusted into the captured nuts in the frame rails causing them to just spin and spin.

Before you tackle replacing those brackets, prepare yourself for the worst; new (good used) bolts, new (or good used) IRS bushings, (good used) top cups as those tend to be as rotted as the stabilizer brackets (not needed if you got aftermarket delrin bushings) and be prepared to cut a hole in the sides of the frame rails to access the captured nut(s) if they end up spinning.

If I didn’t prepare for the worst having those parts on hand I probably would have had my car stuck on jackstands for a month

That sounds like what I was expecting. Just shy of a nightmare. I was definitely going to need replacement bolts.

 

[Ericv8thunderbird]

So did you get a ticket, warning, or did the officer just want to see what was under the hood ??

He was actually really cool, I down shifted and got on it, I didn’t see him. He said he only pulled me over to check out the car and because there was a bunch of old people sitting outside, and if he didn’t do anything they would have bitched.

 

[3_97_Sports]

I decapitated a groundhog starting my car at work; bent the fuck out of the ps pulley. and wasted the belt.

Those things ate my injector wires, spark plug wires and my hood liner.
They are marmots up here, same shit different pile.
Through the summer I have to leave my hood propped open about a foot to keep them out. They will only go in there and eat if it is dark like a burrow.
They shit and piss on the exhaust pipes and top of the tranny, so you can smell the piss burning away as the car warms up.

 

[XR7-4.6]

That sounds like what I was expecting. Just shy of a nightmare. I was definitely going to need replacement bolts.

Its a full nightmare

 

[Vicinity]

He was actually really cool, I down shifted and got on it, I didn’t see him. He said he only pulled me over to check out the car and because there was a bunch of old people sitting outside, and if he didn’t do anything they would have bitched.

Glad to hear that! That was a pretty slick picture

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

Its a full nightmare

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Yikes! Those look way worse than mine and I'm hoping that's not the case. So I'm prepping. A breaker bar, a hammer, brake fluid, and it wouldn't be fun without a blowtorch.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Yikes! Those look way worse than mine and I'm hoping that's not the case. So I'm prepping. A breaker bar, a hammer, brake fluid, and it wouldn't be fun without a blowtorch.

Add an angle grinder and pipe wrench to the arsenal

Good luck!

 

[Green T]

Yikes! Those look way worse than mine and I'm hoping that's not the case. So I'm prepping. A breaker bar, a hammer, brake fluid, and it wouldn't be fun without a blowtorch.

I like a hand sledge over a hammer.

 

[Grog6]

Does anyone have a pic of where to add the access holes, for when the bolts spin?

 

[LukesCougar]

Sitting at a gas station waiting for my wife to bring my serpentine belt tool.


View attachment 11361

My ac compressor pulley ate 2 belts before i finally decided to rip it off and do an ac delete temporarily so i can still drive it

 

[Grog6]

The ac clutch, and/or compressor went bad. The compressor on the tbird was bad when I bought it; Turning on ac or defrost would kill a belt in seconds.

 

[1997ThunderbirdLXV6]

Found this thing while cleaning the garage. IYKYK. (And if you don't, trunk torsion bar adjustment concoction. Do not attempt.)

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

Does anyone have a pic of where to add the access holes, for when the bolts spin?

My guess is in either of these spots on the unibody or directly above from inside the vehicle. Which is as simple as popping the seat bottom out, pulling the carpet out of the way(maybe the wire harness too), and probably a hole saw.

 

[MadMikeyL]

The 2nd pic is the right spot. I would preemptively drill a small hole there, like 1/4” and load it up with penetrating oil.

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

2 1/2 hours later, we're free. Glad it went as well as it did. The forward bolts took an hour each and the cradle bolt is in really good shape so only about 15 minutes. I'll clean up the cradle bolt and somehow acquire those two bolts because they are shit.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

2 1/2 hours later, we're free. Glad it went as well as it did. The forward bolts took an hour each and the cradle bolt is in really good shape so only about 15 minutes. I'll clean up the cradle bolt and somehow acquire those two bolts because they are shit.

 

[XR7-4.6]

My guess is in either of these spots on the unibody or directly above from inside the vehicle. Which is as simple as popping the seat bottom out, pulling the carpet out of the way(maybe the wire harness too), and probably a hole saw.

Bottom pic is the one most choose, also easier to access to patch up

The rear ones can spin too, those you can hole saw through the trunk floor to access

 

[XR7-4.6]

2 1/2 hours later, we're free. Glad it went as well as it did. The forward bolts took an hour each and the cradle bolt is in really good shape so only about 15 minutes. I'll clean up the cradle bolt and somehow acquire those two bolts because they are shit.

Congrats! I got those pairs of smaller bolts from Ace, they have 8.8s and 10.9s at my store.

Coat everything liberally with antisieze, especially the bolt and inside of the bushing sleeve. I had to remove mine again a few years later to swap in a rust free IRS subframe(and good used bushings as I kinda band aided my hacked old ones back into service earlier) and it was a breeze getting them out!

 

[LukesCougar]

2 1/2 hours later, we're free. Glad it went as well as it did. The forward bolts took an hour each and the cradle bolt is in really good shape so only about 15 minutes. I'll clean up the cradle bolt and somehow acquire those two bolts because they are shit.

all those little yummy bits. Reminds me of doing shocks that are rusted to the shock rod.

 

[Matt_aka_Dale]

all those little yummy bits. Reminds me of doing shocks that are rusted to the shock rod.

I like to think of it as weight reduction

 

[Jim3inVirginia]

That big tree in the front yard finally fell down from the wind.

 

[Green T]

That big tree in the front yard finally fell down from the wind.

View attachment 11410
View attachment 11412

Whoa! But at least the Tbird is ok! That is too close!

 

[Rodeo Joe]

That's why I hate pines! Looks like it was compromised too.

Joe

 

[LukesCougar]

Birds on the bird

 

[XR7-4.6]

Birds on the bird
View attachment 11444

Followed by turds on the bird

 

[ilovemy89sc]

Love these clusters at night

 

[Vicinity]

Thats beautiful. Lots of movement and the night sky is fully gradient

 

[supergordo]

Followed by turds on the bird

TurdBird??

 

[Wile E. Coyote]

Strike two getting a booster that's at the correct angle

 

[XR7-4.6]

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Strike two getting a booster that's at the correct angle