I thought this was an easy removal but appears more parts have to be taken off for the removal?? Like the triangle fender part. Maybe sway bar stuff. I thought this would be easy four bolts and remove, one being the colum at the gear box. and the rest under the fender but to get to some even more parts need removed. I think I'll wait till I get my steering componets ordered. The New Power steering pump and pressure hose is next to come. I think I'll be probably buying the new Water Pump and put the power steering back on and do this at Shop with Gene.. Some power tools to help make the job easier for removal. No power tools to put back on though. I know the sway bar stuff isnt into the box but it just looks like a hassle to do in garage.

 

For three hours I been working on taking off the front end and this dam part here..http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=355468
That bastard they leave a hole open for a socket for the lower but not the top. This requires two people one person on the wheel side and some one from the bottom on the Nut. Then the Top one you have a triangle bracket to move and go in this small area to put a open end on it, needing one person there and another under the car for the dam nut. I tried knocking off each of the parts that would remove the gear box and got no where. I only have one front end link off and the center an all is stuck. Why wouldnt they have a open hole big enough on the wheel area for both bolts and have some one under the car to remove the nut. This is the dumbest engineering I have ever seen. Like my Malibu, just to replace the oil seal one bolt wouldnt come out having a fork style to grind down a wrench an loosen it and pull it off,.. No you gotta take the Dam A/C off because they didnt design the a/c for this dam bolt. So I put away all my bolts and I know what everything is and put away my tools. Going to wait for the pump to get here and pressure hose, so it can be put together, then I'll get the help for that dam part to drop the steering crap.

 

I had Dinner and I went back out to the garage, jacked the car back up moved the right tire right as I could put a 19 open on the nut and got the first bolt out, then the next with the socket extension I went at an angle an got on that bolt and 19 open on the nut and bam everything fell out. I now have all my steering componets out and ordering everything new, Sure is going to be nice to have a tight steering. My ball joints have already been replaced. Im probably going to get Global West tie rod sleeves and everything else is mostly Moog or Ac delco.. I noticed I have one energy suspension front sway bar link and I have one Top Down Solutions Sway bar link.. I had both Top down solutions but one fell out.. Which was pretty good because I was leaving my place and on our private street is a turn. After I made the turn my neighbor acted like she was going to hit me. On a less than two lane private road I flipped around so fast and she heard me she went passed our garages and went down to the next garages and I knew that turning so fast. I had her pinned. She will never do that again. So what a sunday pulling all this out. My first time doing this. Kinda hard in the garage jacked up an stands sitting on all four corners for protection but I went in the front middle to just jack the front up.

It's going to cost a little over 500.00 for rebuilding the steering an conponents. Ouch..

 

A few questions I asked myself and found JerryWho from 2010 post usefull

Info from another member
I just went out and checked the steering column alignment and found that with the steering wheel straight the input shaft of the steering box seems to be off by less than 5 degrees.

JerryWho Info
Steering box not centered when the steering wheel is.
The steering box has a high point ground in the gears and you must be on it to be play free when on center. when you installed the aftermarket steering shaft did you center the steering wheel to the box.


I.. So I need to be sure the pit man arm is installed in the correct degree.

I read some old rebuild threads that said mark where it is. But I dont see how because a worn box could have the wrong degree. I think I'll keep that to the professional to fit the Pitman arm to the correct degree and install it into back into the colum rag joint area When first the steering gear box gets installed back first.

 

Well good thing the pitman arm is steel and solid. I tried taking it off with a few hammer hits and I thought it come off. Come to find out I over looked a replacement at Summit. Summit doesnt have a pitman arm. And there hard to find. I found one place that sells them incase I did any damage but I doubt it.

http://www.cmwraceparts.com/proddisp.php?ln=6469 Is this the same pitman arm as on our cars? I guess I could call in ask incase I did any damage to my orignal. But I dont think a hammer could have bent anything other than just leaving some wear marks. Geeze I thought this part needed replaced an was avaiable. But it's not..

 

next time you might want to try using a pickle fork to remove the pitman arm and use a pitman arm puller to remove the pitman arm.

 

Yeah I seen those tools. I dont know why I was hitting it. This really opens up a new can of worms now. I was going to just go with the Iroc ac delco and I need to call an ask now is this going to fit my stock pit man arm. Because they are real hard to find. So I gotta know the spline and if it's not the same then where do I go? I messed up thinking summit had one. Just a few hammer marks on the arm so Im sure it's ok. Just got to be sure I order the correct gear box to match that arm. I never thought it be this many possible mistakes to order a gear box an what affordable brand. I need to start trying to get some questions an learn some gear box information on some other part of Tgo. Some where, where I can get some help so I dont make any mistakes and buy the wrong box.

 

I think from my research Im going to send the box out where a lot of people send there box to Lee.. That way the pit man arm is put back on in the correct spot. And so I dont have to buy a pit man arm that could be wrong and plus Id have to pay to have it pressed on etc. So I think it's worth the extra 100.00 that could be spent on a pit man arm and get the correct ratio Im looking for. what an ordeal..

 

Whoa back the train up with Lee 400.00 for a rebuild Iroc quick ratio box.. No way!! Oh Ignore most of these links. I dont even think there the correct parts for a 88 Iroc-Z Well for the pitman arm.. They are very hard to find the orignals. Im trying to buy a members pitman arm if the #'s come back the same..

 

Alright looks like I have the 2 1/2 lock to lock..Just what the parts department said my sport suspension should have.. Got that will do the pit man arm the correct way and showed him how with the shaft having a center hole lign that up with the gear box between this small align gap in the box make your mark and it's set no mistakes.. 40.00 bucks and he will also do the new power steering pulley also an mount to bracket all together..

Just purchased the Tubular tie rod adjustable sleeve Global West sleeves.. 14.00 for Ups ground shipping wow that's a lot for something that's so light.
Got the Ac Delco power steering pump already. The gear box will probably be my last purchase. Ordred the pressure hose and filter kit for the power steering an gear box. I think the cost of everything was more than I thought. What's best is to order as many parts as you can at once for the lower shipping rate. Just seems to look that way unsure.
My Iroc ratio box is 1 an 1/4 one way an 1 an 1 1/4 the other way. So One and a 1/4 turn is where you make your mark on this ratio box.

 

I figured the cost on the total front end rebuild. Ac delco everything. From power steering to gear box, from idler arm to tie rod to tie rod. The total cost shipped is 593.79 plus tax. Also includes the pressure hose and power steering filter. With shop cost of pulley of power steering and pitman arm the total is 663.79 with out tax. That's what it cost to rebuild your front end with Oem Ac delco parts. So I really been working on this since I removed everything and been doing my homework.. So yeah I think this is the cheapest cost for oem ac delco parts. So I still have a ways to go ordering an getting all the parts.

 

Have you checked the pricing on oewarehouse.com ?

 

No I have not I just checked the prices from the sticky and Rock Auto seemed to have the best prices. I'll take a look there thanks..

I tried that website but for the steering an suspension got an error

You were trying to go to http://www.oewarehouse.com/ShopByVeh...20Arms&mode=PA

 

I don't recall the thread, a member used Mcquay // Norris or something like that brand name.

Anyway, hope it goes good for you! Good luck in your rebuild

( edit )
I get it now!!
Pitman doesn't come in the kits!!

 

Correct the Pitman arm is a known non wear part. I seen a pitman arm on Summit and I thought that was the replacement so Im lucky I didnt damage mine. They are really hard to find because that was not the arm on Summit.

Yeah those parts there I believe are cheaper for sure. But Im going with everything Ac delco. The steering should come out nice. It just cost a lot to do replacing all of it brand new. And that's just using a oem gear box, it would cost a lot more if Lee was to rebuild it. I dont Auto X or anything like that so I dont need that expensive box that may not even be better than an oem. This will be better in the long run with saving wear on the tires. But I do need to get struts later an the strut mounts later.

 

I got the Global West tie rod sleeves in the other day. They sure are nice. I would recommend these to everyone that want's there alignment shop to have the best sleeves for your alignment. total cost for the sleeves is 62.99..

 

I already have a Global West http://www.globalwest.net/82-02-cama...omponents.html I believe like this one.. I bought it off of Mike when he had some good parts for sale years ago..

Then later Im going to try and get these control arms.

Polyurethane bushings used on both ends of the control arm. This type of a control arm is best used for drag racing. The bushings however, limit the rear end from articulating. Many drag cars can get away with this because of the way the car is set up. If this type of arm is used on the street or road race applications the rear suspension will be placed in bind when the car goes over bumps and around corners. This is because the control arm bushings will not allow the rear end to have proper movement.

Consequences: High speed oversteer, possible over stressing the suspension mount, reduces tire loading during cornering and ride change.

Important: If you use polyurethane control arms with a Traclink, the rear end will not hook up. We do not recommend using a Panhard rod with double poly rear control arms because additional bind can occur when the Panhard rod moves through its arc.

I had a oem pan hard bar that Don boxed in an I gave it to Julie. I also have boxed Lca's But I think Im going to upgrade them since Im upgrading most of the suspension.. I wont be buying the torque arm though. Seems like this part and there torque arm dont work together.

I also cleaned the front of the head area an timing cover area and where the box was sitting.. The head bolts started looking like some light rust so I took some trans jelly an cleaned all the bolts with the trans jelly and I screwed all the bolts in so everything is nice an smooth when it goes back together. Most the tie rods will come with new hardware. So I need to buy a grease gun and some lithuim grease for the parts.

 

What about that Hotchkis kit for $500?

 

That kit is actually 568.00 Nice kit though, But with ac delco I get the steering gear box with the 500+.. And I have to piece the parts. Buy a few items here a few items later. Because I have four tires to buy.

 

Are you talking about after tax? I'm quoting pre S/h charges from Summit racing.

 

No that was from Hotchkis actual site..I just don't have that much to pay out at once. If I was into Auto X or something Id like that kit. But in my pricing is just oem parts. That's good enough for me for now..I have other things to fix with the Iroc so I just gotta stick with what I can collect and choose from thats just standard oem..

 

Summit racing is way cheaper. the suspension kit on the hotchkis website is $2000 whereas on summit its $1600.

 

wow for that much if I had that kinda cash Id just buy another Z-28 an fix it up some. That's for the rich there.

 

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I just recieved the shipments on the pressure hose and the power steering filter. It seems to just collect small parts just like a fuel tpi filter. Very small, not sure if it's needed but I guess I'll use it anyways.

 

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Cool..

 

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I got a discount code from Rock Auto says I can share with friends for the discount.. If you want to order something from rock auto. Send me a pm and I'll send you the offer code.

 

Yeah, I just don't have exspenses right now, so I figure, spend the money while I have it :P

 

Yeah those kits are nice.. But someone investing that much means they have invested way more than that and just want to finish there ride..

You can find some Z-28's for about that part cost. Of course like you said spend the money while you have it. So of course if you bought another Z-28 you be spending more than that kit. A lot of people enjoy fixing up these cars..

 

here people want 3500+ for Z28s that are not absolute ****

 

FML my dam Hd Tv went out last night. Great I gotta hold up on this dam rebuild. This sucks. This puts me another month behind for the Racing event if it does take place. I guess later when Im finished we could always go Irwindale later this summer.

 

Well looks like the T.V is not going to get in my way because I have a 32" I have not even used.. So time to get back at ordering these parts. Waiting for a price for dual carsound 3" convertors from Plaza Mufflers.. 2.25 qouted me 245.00 so lets see how much more the 3" are. And I'll let every one know there pricing for the duals..

 

I got a job at an autoshop, maybe they will let me work on my car after hours...

 

[QUOTE=CaliBranden;5272677]Well looks like the T.V is not going to get in my way because I have a 32" I have not even used.. So time to get back at ordering these parts.

 

Well I have not ordered any more parts recently. waiting to order a bigger shipment with the discount an the shipping being cheaper with more parts purchased. I picked up 3 quarts of valvoline power steering fluid, and I got a new serpentine belt. And I got some new Anti Freeze. Now Im not sure if Im supposed to use the green still because I do have a Vortec block. The ratings seem to be the same in other colors. So I guess I'll stick with the green for the Gen block. Other than just done some more cleaning of the area of parts removal. Later I need to clean my pan check the specs and fix my top oil seal for the oil cooler. I cant seem to find that darn seal any where. Dont know if I should just buy another oil cooler. I'll guess I'll ask that in a different form. If you know of a the kind for our Camaro's let me know so i go in the right direction. That leak just get's everything covered in oil and I dont like it at all..

 

...

 

Well it's been a year an I atleast got the car back together where I can turn it over an run. And let me tell you that gear box takes two people an two brains. Struggled with it till we checked out the colum an there is only one way in an one way out. Mine is a 2.5 turn an I think maybe if you put a 3.5 in your colum would not fit that. Im thinking there colum is different I think.

So I got the new power steering pump installed an got everything back together so the car can be started, Been a year, wow how time flys. charging the battery an I hope it turns over with no problems. Remainder of parts for the steering I still have to order. And I gotta send my Edelbrock water pump sent out to some place in Orange that they do the rebuild with the company an it's a 75.00 money order an they pay return shipping. Hope it last longer than 4,000 miles this time. Maybe baby it under 5,400 rpm. If it cant handle the power then I might have to go electric

 

I dunno, it took me a little over an hour to do a box swap.

 

Ya that's how long it should take. There is all kinds of reasons why it's taken me a year. Just a bunch of more important issues. But my time has come to start tinkering again Id say Counting Cars put me in the mood to break some sweat.

Im going for the look of RamAirs21 Rs of his ride of car of the month like 3rd page. I really like the look of that car. The Lights look good on the track but I wouldnt want to do the conversion an what partakes so Id keep my originals. I have not asked him yet anything about his or hers? Ride but down the road I'll ask whats the wheels an drop. Not sure if the hood is fiberglass or metal dont matter because I like it. Off with the Iroc Louvers an something new. It's just a really nice ride and I think my Iroc has the potential.