T-Bone repairs

[Rocketdog]

Good evening. I have been away for a while. We have re-engaged the Ocelot Performance '95 Cougar build. I finally had the stomach to pull off the nose and both inner and outer fenders for a close inspection of damage.

The R inner and outer fender and the R door are junk. The windshield did crack. The R wheel assembly is visibly out of alignment, slightly to the right of correct. My header panel and lights were already junk, the bumper cover already stitched up.

The good news is the firewall appears undamaged. The sub frame and cradle appear undamaged.
The mechanical damage visually see is limited to the suspension side of the strut rod. The impact pancaked and squeezed the rubber dime thin and deformed the washer badly.
The car had fresh upper control arms and coil overs in it. The rack and the inners and outers are all recent replacements.

My plan is to replace both lower control arms including the LBJs just because I never have, and replace the strut rod bushings.

My questions are:
Am I okay or am I off in the weeds here and missing something?

I was planning to get Moog FLCAs from Rock Auto. They offer a SR bushing kit from Moog as well. Is there a preferred vendor or part?

Thanks,
RD

 

[Zep5.0]

I'd buy the strut rod bushings Bill sells at SCP due to all the horror stories about junk bushings. I think someone found some decent ones, but can't remember if they were Moog or not. I do have strut rods and LCAs that I refurbished and no longer need. I purchased them off another members car that was crushed. I was going to hang on to them until I got my AJE K installed, but I'd consider selling them.

 

[KevinVarnes]

How do the shock towers and upper frame rails look? If all the structural sheet metal is in good shape then I think you should be okay. If all the damage (under the body panels) was just to suspension components then you are fortunate.

I believe a lot of the issues with the aftermarket strut rod bushings are due to the crappy sleeves that they provided with the bushings. I don't think they could hold up to the forces of tightening the strut rods and deformed. I actually just cut some sleeves from DOM tubing and will reuse the factory washers if I ever actually get to them on the '97. If the bushings that Bill has are good then I would go with them. It has always befuddled me how we have the only Ford chassis that I am aware of that has issues with the aftermarket strut rods bushings.

 

[Rocketdog]

I'd buy the strut rod bushings Bill sells at SCP due to all the horror stories about junk bushings. I think someone found some decent ones, but can't remember if they were Moog or not. I do have strut rods and LCAs that I refurbished and no longer need. I purchased them off another members car that was crushed. I was going to hang on to them until I got my AJE K installed, but I'd consider selling them.

Hi Zep5.0,

Thanks. I will look at the SCP offering. I have a couple items from Bill in the car that I could not get elsewhere. I am not concerned for longevity, but the hardware must be stout.


I did save the OEM Mark VIII FLCAs from the donor car but the bushings and the LBJ are all done, so I would have to return as you did.

I can give you my '97 Mark LCAs so you have a set if you sell me your loaded set.

 

[Rocketdog]

How do the shock towers and upper frame rails look? If all the structural sheet metal is in good shape then I think you should be okay. If all the damage (under the body panels) was just to suspension components then you are fortunate.

I believe a lot of the issues with the aftermarket strut rod bushings are due to the crappy sleeves that they provided with the bushings. I don't think they could hold up to the forces of tightening the strut rods and deformed. I actually just cut some sleeves from DOM tubing and will reuse the factory washers if I ever actually get to them on the '97. If the bushings that Bill has are good then I would go with them. It has always befuddled me how we have the only Ford chassis that I am aware of that has issues with the aftermarket strut rods bushings.

Thanks,

The towers look fine and the frame looks fine. With the wheels and fenders off you can see it has not been deformed. It looks as if the Strut Rod took the hit and simply failed at the weakest point, squishing the bushing right out the other side. It's left about 1/4" of free end. It looks like that 1/4" is just what is needed to pull the wheel straight.

I am going to go with it then, and proceed with obtaining the Strut Rod Bushings. I would prefer to buy from any member than go to market, maybe Zep can help me out.

Thanks again.

 

[Rocketdog]

I am relieved to not be shopping for a new car at this point. I was concerned that I had crinkled the firewall or crushed the hinge corner out of whack. I would have had to start all over again.

 

[Rocketdog]

I looked at the SCP offering. I am not going to pay that much for those parts from anybody without duress applied.

If I can't find anything else I might be forced to,

My donor only had 60k on it so I went back to the barn.
I have the strut rods from the donor Mark, with the bushings still on. The frame side looks fine, as do the ones in the Cougar.

My problem is only the suspension side.

I am going to see about refreshing the Mark LCAs I have, will advise.

RD