Factory '64 Impala, how hard is a front end rebuild?

[TheBeast_88K5]

Balljoints, bushings, steering, brakes, etc.

Any more difficult than a 2wd truck, or 4wd truck?
Its for a freind-of-a-freind... So, I can just as easily say "no" at this point.

Ive rebuilt a few front ends in my time, just curious if there are any "stay away!" Things.
Or, if I should go for it and get the money.

Thanks guys.

 

[ktmoutfront]

As basic as it gets. As long as your not dealing with a bunch of rust, no big deal.

 

[Stomis]

Only weird thing is the single lower control arms with the support rod. Nothing. Complicated. Can just kinda make you go Wtf?

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Okay, cool... Thanks guys!
Theres no rust on this one.

Im gonna do it, then.
Decent money, and theres many more projects on the car.

 

[diesel4me]

If the ball joints are original,they will be riveted to the control arms,I think the lowers only had two rivets,the uppers 4 if I remember right..not that big a job to get them out,I used a 4" grinder on a '67 Impala I had ,which should have the same setup,I think 1960-72 were all the same basic control arms,etc..a lot easier than doing a 4x4's ball joints for sure!..

One job on that front end that could be difficult would be control arm bushings,but if you take the arms off amd burn the rubber out of the bushings,the shells come out fairly easy with a chisel,you will need two peices of pipe the right size and a long threaded bolt or rod to pull the new ones into the control arm..

You might be able to buy new control arms complete with new ball joints & bushings installed already from a place like Kanter too,might prove cheaper and easier in the long run..they sell complete front end rebuild kits for the steering linkage too..

 

[89yimmiJ]

Only weird thing is the single lower control arms with the support rod.

I think you may be thinking of 62-67 Chevy II's. Having owned them, I can attest to them being pretty high up on goofiest suspension design ever list.


As far as the Impala is concerned, I don't even think you have to remove the arms from the car to press the bushings in and out. Pretty sure that both the uppers and lowers are shaft mounted until 66. You can just unbolt one end of the shaft at a time and drive the bushing and shell out with your air hammer and the new one in while it's in the car. Saves you a bunch of time and makes the job profitable.