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My De-Rustification Project

Some more progress today and one little step back. I got the front axle attached and swapped the shocks from the old to the new. I was planning on reusing the front shock towers, but that is not going to happen. The bolt snapped when I was raking the nut off. Oh well. Gotta find some replacements.

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I need to swap brake parts from the old to the "new" axles. It should be easier now that it is up on the frame and jack stands.
 
Not sure of the condition of the one on my parts jeep. I can take a look and let you know if you'd like.
 
Not if if will put you out. How is your leg?

Getting better slowly. It shouldn't be a big deal , the whole front clip is gone and the drivetrain is gone. Should be easy enough to take a peak. I'll go down to the garage tomorrow. :thumbsup:
 
Getting better slowly. It shouldn't be a big deal , the whole front clip is gone and the drivetrain is gone. Should be easy enough to take a peak. I'll go down to the garage tomorrow. :thumbsup:

Thanks. Are they the tall ones that bolt on? I need them for an 84.
 
After getting home late from work and eating a little, I thought ai would give myself some mental therapy and attack a couple of little things on the scrambler rolling chassis. 0 for 2. I could only get 5 of the 12 torx screws off of the rear diff cover. Vice grips couldn't help either. Then I tried to turn the adjustment in one if the rear drum brakes to see if I could get the drum off. Nope. First, I don't know which way will loosen it, but the adjustment screw won't budge either way. Called it a night.
 
Either heat up the torx, or use a chisel to make a mark and tap them... smacking them with a hammer with the bit inside with the extension on it sometimes works too.

cb
 
Either heat up the torx, or use a chisel to make a mark and tap them... smacking them with a hammer with the bit inside with the extension on it sometimes works too.

cb

Thanks. I was also thinking of using a dremel to square the edges and using a wrench. I will try all of these I bet.
 
My method is kinda strange. I'll spray a penetrating oil on each one twice a day for two weeks. then I use a impact wrench because the hammering effect usually works,if not then I apply heat. Also when I go to put anything back together I always run a tap through every threaded hole first, it will save you a lot of headaches in the future. Be sure to put oil on the tap first too.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. In my attempts last night I actually broke the little adapter to use a medium socket wrench with the little (1/4?) socket that holds my torx bit. I can't seem to find my small socket wrench.

I will now have multiple methods to try. Thanks.
 
Here's a link to a good drum break rebuild to get that self adjuster loose. I believe top to bottom rotation through the little port will loosen it.

http://1983cj7.blogspot.com/2012/07/drum-brake-install-on-amc-20-rear-axle.html

I just had to replace my self-adjuster because I didn't install it properly the first time. It came off of both shoes and was rolling around my drum for about 2 miles before I got home. Luckily there was no damage!
 
Wish I had a welder and knew how to use it.

Interestingly enough, my wife works at a local community college, so I can take free classes there. They offered a welding class this semester, but it's during my working hours so I couldn't take it. She asked the instructor if he could do a couple of one on one basic lessons with me, and he said "tell him to watch some youtube videos, practice a bit, then get with me if he can't get anything done"


I've had a cheap wire welder in my shop for a couple of years, but the only time I tried using it I ended up with a big mess (had the wire speed turned up way too high).

Anyhow, I've been practicing with it on some ATV parts and it's actually not that hard. Now I'm not welding anything that needs to be strong/safe or pretty, but I've managed to stick two pieces of metal together pretty solidly.

I've broken down two AMC 20's in the last couple of weeks, and one of them was rusted all to hell. I soaked the bolts in PB Blaster for a few days and the few that I stripped out came loose with vice grips. Of course, both were uninstalled so that makes them much easier to work on.

I did have to weld a nut on the stripped out fill plug on one of them. Came right out then with a box end on the nut.
 
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