UPDATE: Shocking!

Yesterday I decided to try and get something accomplished on the car.  I started out wanting to plug the back-up light connector to the transmission.  For some reason, it likes to pop out.  Well, I couldn't get anywhere near it, so I gave up on that idea, though I need to get it fixed before I can get an inspection sticker next month.

Next, I thought maybe I'd paint a few more interior parts, but then I thought the steaming heat outside wouldn't be ideal for painting.  That left me with one last possible task: finally replace the rear shocks... alone... all by myself. 

Huge Difference!

I started off seeing if the tops of the shocks could be reached through the trunk.  The passenger side one was loose, and I didn't even feel a driver side one (remember that...).  Then, I got under the car and tried the nuts holding the bottom of the shocks on.  Half a can of Liquid Wrench and many trips to the cellar for different tools later, I got both bottom nuts loose.  Out came the passenger side shock, and what a nasty looking thing it was.  While trying to fit the new Edelbrock shock in place, it became obvious I would need a floor jack.  A walk down to Todd's house and back, and I was in business.  It took a while to get the new shock lined up properly due to the shipping strap ripping a bit (that strap keeps the shock compressed, easing installation).  But I finally got it installed and felt pretty proud.



Then, after fighting with the driver side shock a bit, things went wrong.  A quick chat with Todd on the phone, and the following peek at the service manual, made me realize I would not be able to finish the job.



Hmmm... old leftover hardware at left?

Turns out the driver side shock does not mount the same way as the passenger side one.  Instead of mounting into a hole in the trunk floor, and fastening from an access hole, the top of the shock goes into a metal bracket, which in turn gets mounted to a plate throught the trunk.  One look at the rusty bolts, and the lack of nerve, made me give up.  We will have to try using Todd's air ratchet and lift the car up more and use jack stands.  I gave the bolts a good soaking of Liquid Wrench... not sure if it will help.

Soooooo, after a couple of years wishing I had new shocks in the rear as well as the front, I am half way there.  For now the car will be called Tripod, since it only has 3 new shocks, and one nasty old one...