Need a hand; Montreal area

[Eddie Lives On]

Dear people of r3v,

I posted in the regional forum for Canada but there probably isn't much traffic around there so I'm going to try my luck here as well.

I'm near Granby, about 30 minutes outside of Montreal and I need a hand with my car. Having issues dropping the subframe and I have literally no clue where I'm going. If anyone would be willing to stop by during the weekend, that would be great. As always, beer (and probably food if we happen to hang around long enough) will be on me :drink:.

Thank you

[YosemiteSam]

I've done it before, but I'm way too far away to come help you. I managed to do it with no prior knowledge and the help of two friends who knew little about cars. If you can't find anyone with knowledge don't be afraid of tackling it yourself with a couple pairs of spare hands, it's not all that hard.

Edit: Front or rear sub-frame?

[Eddie Lives On]

I've done it before, but I'm way too far away to come help you. I managed to do it with no prior knowledge and the help of two friends who knew little about cars. If you can't find anyone with knowledge don't be afraid of tackling it yourself with a couple pairs of spare hands, it's not all that hard.

I've already started, but like the e-brake cables won't budge at all, after having been basically drowned in PB for a week, one of the bolts for the support bracket on the driver's side has a broken and the bracket on the right has one of its bolt stripped. Plus, I have a few trim pieces and such that I can't find how to remove. Need some help with a few other things as well that are slowing me down tremendously.

Thanks for chiming in though.

[ttrousdell]

Wasn't too bad when i did it. Used a jack to try and catch the subframe as I dropped it out of the car. Remove the rear shocks and springs, 2 bolts right above the diff and the nut labeled 7 and bracket 4. I think mine had been up there for a good 20 years so it took some cursing and two 36" pry bars but eventually gravity got the best of it.

I just disassembled my rear brakes, pulled the disk and freed the ebrake cables that way when I did mine. Maybe someone knows a better way?

[YosemiteSam]

I've already started, but like the e-brake cables won't budge at all, after having been basically drowned in PB for a week, one of the bolts for the support bracket on the driver's side has a broken and the bracket on the right has one of its bolt stripped. Plus, I have a few trim pieces and such that I can't find how to remove. Need some help with a few other things as well that are slowing me down tremendously.

Thanks for chiming in though.

I see you meant the rear. I did my front with a couple friends. When I did my rear I had help from Cabriolet and I didn't run into the problems you're having. Good luck getting all those solved.

[Andy348]

Damn I would love to help but this is a terrible time of the year. I've got exams through to the 20th and then the 21st I leave for a cruise. If this job goes until January (which for your sake I hope it doesn't!) I'll gladly come by and help.

I just did the job this past summer so it's fresh in my mind. Post up some pics of your problems and we'll see if we can solve them.

[Eddie Lives On]

Damn I would love to help but this is a terrible time of the year. I've got exams through to the 20th and then the 21st I leave for a cruise. If this job goes until January (which for your sake I hope it doesn't!) I'll gladly come by and help.

I just did the job this past summer so it's fresh in my mind. Post up some pics of your problems and we'll see if we can solve them.

It's surely not going to be done in January. Body panels are off and I have about half a square foot left of floor (not exactly but you get the point), so this is an ongoing project. Let try to keep in touch.

ttrousdell: Yeah, I know what the steps are, but rust and poor maintenance by PO are making this quite difficult. Everything is seized.

Thanks.

[Andy348]

Rust really does make it impossible. Turns a two-day job to two week +. Lots of penetrating lubricant + torch are helpful.

For the handbrake, I assume you're trying to undo the threaded portion above the subframe and behind the fuel tank? I did the same, lubricant for days, torches, etc. I gave up and cut them. I know it's stupid but I was moving the entire car trying to undo those damn threads and they weren't budging. I figured I could just buy a new cable but that isn't the case because the lines are stuck. Looks like I'll be living without a handbrake lol.

As for the bracket on the drivers side, rusted solid? Might need some drilling and tapping.

I can definitely stop by in January, and I'll bring a friend who helped me drop mine this past summer. I'll see if I can get in touch with another R3ver too who helped me diagnose some problems a year back.