Frame Off (but only a little)

I have some rear arms if u have to hack one off.

Thanks Glen, I may need to take you up on those.
BTW Matt: Even tho the parts diagram showed no lower isolators on the axle, they were there.
They were the low durometer rubber (like Hotchkis uses)

Slow to post this AM but the rear most bolts came out with slightly more air pressure on the gun.
It hit the floor @ 8:30 but I didnt get to work until 8 so I didnt milk the job

Now for the upper bolts
-------------------------------------------------
Done by 2PM with my REAL job in between

What do you guys do for the rear axle brake lines?
I probably should replace for peace of mind (& it wont be any easier after its together
Seems like an awful lot of bends to get it right and whats the protective sleeve thing over the lines?
Let me know if you found a reasonably easy way to R&R these. Thanks

sdstick wrote:

What do you guys do for the rear axle brake lines?
I probably should replace for peace of mind (& it wont be any easier after its together
Seems like an awful lot of bends to get it right and whats the protective sleeve thing over the lines?
Let me know if you found a reasonably easy way to R&R these. Thanks

just get new stainless lines from classic tube
http://www.classictube.com/store/index.cfm

Thanks Bobby
Is this it? Doesnt say stainless & doesnt tell me what 5pc's theyre givin me.
Pardon my ignorance
Rear Disc (5 Pc.) - 1994-96Rear Disc (5 Pc.) - 1994-96
Product #: SBH6036
Year: 1994-96
Make: Chevrolet
Model: Caprice / Impala SS
Price: $181.83

Steve
i think thats the rubber line kit.

this is the brake line kit.

Rear Disc
Rear Disc
Product #: IB1049-SS
Year: 1995-96

Make: Chevrolet

Model: Impala SS

Price: $225.00

Quantity:
*Base Price is for Stainless Steel

I came up with IB1049-SS $225.00
your better off calling them. I got mine from inline tube but they were bent wrong at the ABS it's like they sent me a set for 94

Thanks Ant & Bobby.
If this wasnt going to Matt I'd never spend the money.
Have to give him good brakes & tires

mean ss wrote:

I came up with IB1049-SS $225.00
your better off calling them. I got mine from inline tube but they were bent wrong at the ABS it's like they sent me a set for 94

They did the same thing with me. I sent them pictures of the difference in the setups. So they should get it right now.
Best bet is to call. Great customer service.
I shipped back at their cost and got the right ones.

That 5th rubber line was a joy to remove.
REALLY looking forward to putting the retaining clip back on

Are you installing new rubber lines ?
I reused the 2 rear and bought just the fifth line.
I don't recall having to using a retaining clip on it / it bolts on.
Drew has one for sale.

M.ROSS wrote:

Are you installing new rubber lines ?
I reused the 2 rear and bought just the fifth line.
I don't recall having to using a retaining clip on it / it bolts on.
Drew has one for sale.

I wanted to replace THAT rubber now anyway so I dont have to go back after that spot when assembled. After seeing the $ of the stainless lines, I think I'll wait on the 4 caliper rubbers.
The clip is just like the clip on the other 4,sueeze together & slide in to hold the rubber end female. Its buried up between the horizontal stiffener in front of the shock towers
and the body sheet metal. I removed it trying to get a little wiggle room for my wrenches. There wasnt much to be had. Now I'm gonna have to curse it back in.
I pc blasted it but had to vice grip the fitting on the rubber side while holding flare.
Cracked it just before I was ready to remove the whole rear running brakeline.
Now that its been loosened I'll anti-sieze & leave the brake line
(I had already spliced in a pc behind the fuel filter) & hope it never requires attention.
Drew HAD 1 for sale, thanks Mark

I know the clip you're talking about but I never managed to remove one. I'd suggest trying a set of bent tip needle nose pliers to get it out. I have a set of 90* ones that work great on lock cylinder clips which are basically the same type of clip. Here's a pic so you know what I'm talking about.

Getting them off is easy, its the area (in this case) that SUX
Not a good pic but just to the left of the crossbracing you see is the pinion snubber
The 5th rubber line starts on the rear side of this & its hardline with the flared fitting on the frontside.
Clip is on the frontside up in that little hidden area

the easy way to do the 5th line is to take the clip off and pull the line thru the crossmeber so you can get at line nut with a wrench easier

Yes,your right, I tried that but the flare wouldnt come all the way thru & I figured I'd snap the line if I gorilla'd it
Probably should of just done it cuz the flare is a little beatup now.
Stared real hard at that line trying to get it to replace itself but it didnt work
I'll put the stainless braid on there & make believe I never touched it

OK ordered the stainless replacement lines, then I can do it right.
I dont really want a line to let go when I'm done with this car,
I expect 15 more mainenance neglected years

New brakelines came in today. Got the 5th stainless braid line too (goodbye clip)
Had to go get a MRI for my torn up shoulder & they dont like metal in you eyes so I didnt install it today. Quality pieces tho. Wish I was putting it in a car with a longer life span.
I'm thinking of cutting in those fiberglass rear quarters (below body crease only)
Anyone ever bond fiberglass to metal (3M 8115 I heard)? Cant remember what Billy M said....cutoff wheel or high speed saw to minimize heat? Need to weld a little.
After these, its off to the races re-install rear. Using hotchkis extended lowers & metco adjustable uppers (saving the hotchkis uppers cause theyre so purdy) stock bar & bilstiens
Time to move onto the front, A-Arms , stock springs out of the 96 w/ 25K miles on them, & all new streering components.
Anyone think I should cut a coil off the old 95 fronts & save the 96's?
Tips & suggestions welcome

I'd hate to see what you do to a car that's worth keeping! Zoinks!

Ya, I'm assuming it'll be a parts car, just not sure when, I'm hoping it doesnt have to be parted until he learns to drive PROPERLY. Except for the brakelines all this stuff was in stock.
Added for info

So the front end got started before the rear was finished thanks to
Classic Tube providing my kit marked "stainless 95 Impala 4 wheel disc"with bends for DRUM brakes
They allowed ME to pay the shipping back because they had no prior "SQUACKS" addressing this problem.
They asked me to send the old lines, I guess to make sure I didnt make another mistake...
All the others are in while the rear hangs in limbo.

From the CadiRat thread

toomanytoyz wrote:

On a brighter note, me and Al worked on the suspension last night.......

We swapped out the stock rears for the Eibach's I got from Mikey. They went in pretty easy. One of the shock bolts fought us, but it didn't break. And the springs were rusted to the lower perches! LOL! I had to hang my full weight on each tire to get the old long springs out, too! LOL! ...............

The front fought us. Couldn't even get the cotter pins out of the balljoints. And the LCA bolts looked too rusty to attempt. So we gave up with just replacing the sway bar endlinks that broke when we tried to take them off. I went out today and bought lower ball joints, shocks, and an idler arm. Hopefully we can try it again soon. But at least we know what we're in for now.

Cetainly hits home here!
Drilled the cotter pins out after snapping them off
A-Arm bolts didnt fight me tho. There were advantages to driving it every day


Now the easy part with the Satisfaction payoff

You need to bark at someone if they don't refund your shipping on their mistake.
Being that no 95 impala SS's came with drum brakes and they should know this.
Any specific reason for going with Classic instead of Inline tube ?
Did their kit include the 2 small lines from the booster to the proportioning valve ?
If not i've got an extra pair if you want them.

M.ROSS wrote:

......
Any specific reason for going with Classic instead of Inline tube ?

Well, thats what you guys suggested .
Inline kinda got mentioned after the fact.
They did a good job (as far as I'm concerned)
well....except for the impala drum option.
Yes, came with all 9 pc's, thanks tho (I didnt install my 2 shorties either)
Theyre in NY so shipping was cheap, I asked for quick turnaround instead.
If I dont get them quick, I'll bark.

Yes, came with all 9 pc's, thanks tho (I didnt install my 2 shorties either)
Oh mine got installed.These are extras.
I forgot You haven't seen my car yet.I'm the idiot with the polished proportioning valve.

Update
Its goin back together.
Waiting for one of my NH suppliers to get me the finishing touches...








Now I'm ready to move on to the back 1/4's
Gonna be cutting & fabbing & welding & bonding & damn....I'm tired just thinking about it.
I'm at the split finger & dry knuckle part of the job, to many hand washes & laquer thinner baths
Child labor laws dont apply to what Matt will have to do around the house to get this car

Very cool. He is one lucky kid!

And you're a Hell of a Dad, too, btw.

Steve
Can you adopt me?

sdstick wrote:

Anyone have a clue why they took down my 3rd pic
Is it agaist policy to show brand names?
It did say Xtend on the lca

I had a well built chick at one point working on a car, and they cancelled the pic. Piss me off. I wish we could DL right from out computers like ISSF or such. THis imageshack thing is a PITA.

Pretty well buttoned up for now
Never did cut the rear 1/4's...waitin for Bill M's advise on how to remove them
But, knowing I was only going to have 1 good arm to ring in the new year, I worked on this for Matt.....



Yes, he's somewhat OPPOSITE of his dad, he likes the non-subtle look.
I try to guide his requests (that aint workin) but he wins one every once in a while
Stock grill, will have black matte billet w/ polished deer
This is after final fit but before the spraying or polishing

I have one just like that on my car.


Wait what?

No Moa wrote:

I have one just like that on my car.


Wait what?

Did I show you the rear spoiler yet?

No let me send you one? Lol

Post error

sdstick wrote:

So the front end got started before the rear was finished thanks to
Classic Tube providing my kit marked "stainless 95 Impala 4 wheel disc"with bends for DRUM brakes
They allowed ME to pay the shipping back because they had no prior "SQUACKS" addressing this problem.
They asked me to send the old lines, I guess to make sure I didnt make another mistake...
All the others are in while the rear hangs in limbo.

Steve, Did you try swapping lines in the rear from one side to the other? I just installed (Classic Tube) mine yesterday that's what happened to me. JR and I are installing the rest today. I think I'm going to have to drop the tranny support to get the long one in that goes from the rear to the ABS

Both rear lines they send me had a couple of bends to land on the backing plate
The impala lines hace a "C" bend to land it on the bracket where the rubber brake line connects. HOPEFULLY they corrected thier database to include the "C" bends on 4 wheel dics
Sounds like they did for yours.
I had taken the crossmenber out but put an aftermarket 1 in.
GM should be ashamed of THAT hunk of metal

sdstick wrote:

Both rear lines they send me had a couple of bends to land on the backing plate
The impala lines hace a "C" bend to land it on the bracket where the rubber brake line connects. HOPEFULLY they corrected thier database to include the "C" bends on 4 wheel dics
Sounds like they did for yours.
I had taken the crossmenber out but put an aftermarket 1 in.
GM should be ashamed of THAT hunk of metal

I took that "hunk of metal" out to get the long ass line in, worked out ok.
BE CAREFUL! Something I thought of yesterday I as I was efing with the ABS lines, if the SS lines come into contact with "carbon steel" lt WILL rust DUE TO DISIMALAR metal fatigue. I'm going to buy a length of 3/8 inch dia. rubber line and cut short sections to bring the SS lines away from the frame or whatever the case may be. Hope to get some pics up the weekend.
Tom

I had an advantage with the car in a warm place & unlimited time.
I worked those brake lines & watched the gas lines so their chafe free.
Just remember if you TRAP moisture with the rubber it'll work against you.
Maybe that wire loom might be a better choice. Depends on your situation.
Good thinking btw

The wire loom holds water like a bastard, but with stainless I guess you wouldn't care.

Got a delivery today


Afterburners for Matts car.
No doubt they'll yank this pic shortley

Lucky little man you got there.

Woot! He's a lucky kid!

You guys are settin him up.
Great advise on the headers Bill, reasonable price, etc.
Tug of war with myself over valve springs....must resist...
Avoiding the rear 1/4's like the plague, guess its time to start cutting
Waiting on Glen for the new spoiler then the look will be complete
(not that I can do much YET)

waiting on me? Spoilers off and ready when you are.

Wagons registered, just need to get the back open
Locksmith wanted $20 to open it & I told him to come over.
Calls later to tell me $175 to rplace the lock.
Shouldnt have balked, but I felt like I was getting setup.
I think if I get it open I can get the soneloid release working again(screw the key)

Work has re-started.



Original owner had set the studs PERFECT for existing holes in the impala....BUT
Just to far forward.



Pic is a little deceiving but there's a 1/2 inch between the spoiler & the trunk body line it should be on.

Wish me luck

I'll find a pic of mine, it was perfect.

Thats strange.
I have the original spoiler & trunk lid. Drilled from the factory.
I dont see it moving THAT far when tightened. IDK maybe?
Maybe take some measurements so I can compare?
Left to right was perfect, it's just front to back

Figured I'd finish up out front so I could bolt up the headers & be done with it.
Had somewhere between 80 & 90K on the opti so opened it up, cleaned it & put on a new cap & rotor.
Running the wires in the AM & will FINALLY mount the headers for good.
Did the AN fittings & lines to replace the tranny & oil cooler lines. They always marked my parking place in the driveway & I wanted to try them out. Pretty nice, hope they dont leak.

Just before re-install


And after


I'll run the wires then put the balancer & WP back on.

Makin' progress, man!

Will we see it at NED May 21st?

Looking good! Dig the spoiler, wish I had one