Javascript Disabled Detected

You currently have javascript disabled. Several functions may not work. Please re-enable javascript to access full functionality.

restoring front end

Started by _ohhgeee_ , Jan 08 2013 11:23 PM

k frame

Please log in to reply

24 replies to this topic

#1 _ohhgeee_

Guests

Posted 08 January 2013 - 11:23 PM

hi all
i was wondering if anybody had painted their front end as in k-frame, control arms, rack so on and so on...

ive got the kframe out to replace bushes (not that ive decided which type to go for yet) and thought id give it a fresh look..

some ideas would be great
has anyone powder coated or chromed or maybe dipped it in zinc??
is painting it the way to go??

mine looks pretty old so something gotta be done but nothing crazy, im just curious what others have done.
mainly what colour combos have been used

thanks for any tips, ideas and feedback

Back to top

#2 _sjp67m_

Guests

Posted 08 January 2013 - 11:27 PM

Use the search function there's a lot of info on bush types, powder coating and painting suspension components

Back to top

#3 _434LX_

Guests

Posted 09 January 2013 - 08:50 AM

I powder coated mine in Satin black, looks good to me.
Spend the time removing all the genuine GM weld splatter with a chisel, grinder, ect.

Take all the parts to a suspension company and get new bushes and ball joints fitted in one hit.
And get them to assemble the whole lot.

Back to top

#4 A9X

A fortunate run

Members
5,024 posts

Name:Welby
Location:Perth
Joined: 09-November 05

View Garage

Posted 09 January 2013 - 10:35 AM

^{I've done about a dozen front ends now, mostly painted or powdercoated in black. The last couple i've done (since the targa hatch) have been in grey, mainly for a cleaner look. Personal preference only.}

^{If youy have access to a press, its a fairly simple task, if not, as Andy says, take the compo9nents to a suspension shop and have them fit the bushes, then assemble yourself. Modern rubber for the road, superpro for the track ( although i am guilty of still running nolathane on the hatch - 6 years old now)}

Back to top

#5 _ohhgeee_

Guests

Posted 09 January 2013 - 01:02 PM

thanks for the quick response guys

actually i dont mind the grey look it does look nice and clean and breaks up the bits and peices. silver like an alloy look might go good aswell i reckon or zinc

terror those brakes are pretty mean (frothing right now)

how much does powder coating cost and is it better then paint??
any good shops in sydney?

why cant i buy a bush kit and install it at home? is it too much headache?
i thought id pull kframe apart, paint everything individually, then fit new bush kit and bobs your uncle

is that a bad idea??

also any more pics of painted kframes are eagerly welcomed

Back to top

#6 torana_nick

Forum Fixture

Members
759 posts

Name:Nick
Location:victoria
Car:LH Torana Project
Joined: 11-December 11

Posted 09 January 2013 - 01:33 PM

Hi mate ill be redoing mine as well so I am following this thread closely.
But from what I hear and seen from other forum members you need a press to put the new bushes in.
Unless you have one of those at home then that would make life heaps easier.
I also bought the rubber ones.

Back to top

#7 _434LX_

Guests

Posted 09 January 2013 - 01:41 PM

Powder coating is only good if done properly. ie Blasted and use of an e-primer before coating.I think my K-frame and control arms cost about $300 to blast, prime and coat.Painting is easier to do at home and probably cheaper too.I would steer clear of zinc and cadmium coatings as there can be detrimental metallurgical effects on the welds.A press is the go for getting bushes in and out. And a good suspension place can do it without scratching everything.

Edited by 434LX, 09 January 2013 - 01:44 PM.

Back to top

#8 _ohhgeee_

Guests

Posted 11 January 2013 - 05:54 PM

im guessing that big word means it stuffs up welds if u zinc it...
ok so i might just paint mine and get the bushes put in by a suspension place...
should i just go to kmac or pedders and buy the whole thing from them aswell or buy my bushes either stock or super pro and get them to fit it all..?
also is there a place in sydney that can blast and coat in sydney that anyone has used and recommends?? if i go that direction

Back to top

#9 _sjp67m_

Guests

Posted 12 January 2013 - 11:08 PM

Back to top

#10 _tryhard_

Guests

Posted 02 February 2013 - 11:38 PM

you can fit your bushes with a piece of booker rod some exhaust pipe and a couple of big washers if you don't have access to a press just be carefull when winding the bushes in put a socket or a piece of pipe cut in half to stop your arm ends collasping hope this helps if you want more info pm me

Back to top

#11 _ohhgeee_

Guests

Posted 08 February 2013 - 08:27 PM

not a bad idea that booker rod.. so do u just wind the nut down the thread yeh.. you guys are clever bunch on here.

BTW

im not trying to diss anybody or anything but i have called up the local pedders store and they told me they cant supply the whole front kit in poly or rubber it will have to be abit of this and abit of that, cant remember which ones what now but they Quoted me $970!!!!!!!!!!

pretty much what kingswood country hamburger with the lot less tie rods and afew other little things such as steering rack bushes but pedders brand for $970 plus labour!!

sorry but am i the only one that thinks thats a bit over priced since on ebay the hamburger kit is $390???
then he tried to tell me that fitting would be an extra $400 to $500bux depending how long it takes.. even though i told him i will drop off the K-frame already pulled apart.

so i asked if he can fit gmh rubber ones if i supply them and he told me $600 labour... seriously WTF

but thats not allllll, he then told me that he can just supply the kit but without warranty if he doesnt fit it.

i didnt realise i must have had my 'im an idiot with too much money' voice on i guess

So i booked the car in for the weekend

might teach him a lesson when his sitting there with nothing to do and no torana k-frame showing up

yes i know it was petty of me

but worse of him to try and rip off people so i will still sleep with a clear mind tonight.
stuff him

has anyone else had ridiculous quotes from anyone??
anybody else i should stay clear of????

Back to top

#12 torana_nick

Forum Fixture

Members
759 posts

Name:Nick
Location:victoria
Car:LH Torana Project
Joined: 11-December 11

Posted 08 February 2013 - 08:39 PM

I think I got a price to fit a hamburger kit for 1400 bucks. Lol
I haven't done mine yet as its still in the car.

Back to top

#13 hanra

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
10,920 posts

Name:Brad
Location:Farrrrrr North Qld
Car:1975 LH SL/R 5000, 1967 Morris Cooper S, E36 BMW, Toyota Corolla, Isuzu DMax
Joined: 24-March 11

Posted 08 February 2013 - 08:53 PM

I purchased the hamburger kit. Pedders would not press in the bushes/lower balljoints unless they supplied them. Fulcrum were happy to have my business. Think it cost like $80 or something.

My entire front end has rubber bushes fitted everywhere.

Back to top

#14 A9X

A fortunate run

Members
5,024 posts

Name:Welby
Location:Perth
Joined: 09-November 05

View Garage

Posted 08 February 2013 - 10:52 PM

Pedders canning ton quoted me just over 3 grand to do a complete rubber change on the hj prem

Silly buggers

Back to top

#15 _ohhgeee_

Guests

Posted 10 February 2013 - 10:27 AM

where fulcrum??
and is the hamburger kit all i need??

Back to top

#16 hanra

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
10,920 posts

Name:Brad
Location:Farrrrrr North Qld
Car:1975 LH SL/R 5000, 1967 Morris Cooper S, E36 BMW, Toyota Corolla, Isuzu DMax
Joined: 24-March 11

Posted 10 February 2013 - 01:03 PM

Fulcrum Cairns.

Back to top

#17 Hybrid

Forum Member

Members
195 posts

Name:Brett
Location:Sydney
Car:LC 2 Door
Joined: 30-January 11

Posted 17 February 2013 - 10:44 PM

Years ago I dismanteld my whole front end and had everything sand blasted. I then had everything powder coated. I left the parts in storage for years. When I pulled them out of storage after 5 or 6 years the powder coating had started to flake off on some edges. The flaking wasn't chronic, but enough to spread and result in surface rust. You have to remember, when you need to change springs or separate or replace ball joints you are more than likely going to have to impact suspension components to get them apart. This is going to damage both paint and powder coat finishes.

More recently I used POR15 on all of my front end components. They came up pretty good and I have found the surface is more durable than powder coating. No regrets so far.

Back to top

#18 StephenSLR

Oh My, Don't you post alot

Members
6,714 posts

Name:Stephen
Location:Sydney
Car:1976 LX SL/R
Joined: 12-November 05

Posted 18 February 2013 - 09:29 AM

More recently I used POR15 on all of my front end components. They came up pretty good and I have found the surface is more durable than powder coating. No regrets so far.

Many recommend POR15 there's also an Aus. equivalent KBS which many are finding to be quite good.

http://www.gmh-toran...nvertors/page-2

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 18 February 2013 - 09:31 AM.

Back to top

#19 _ohhgeee_

Guests

Posted 24 February 2013 - 10:45 AM

i was thinking the same thing about the powder coat.. ill look into the por15

Back to top

#20 derrin71

Forum Fan

Members
491 posts

Name:Derrin
Location:Emerald Qld
Car:LX Hatchback, Holden Colorado. Mini Clubman S
Joined: 29-November 09

Posted 24 February 2013 - 12:57 PM

I used KBS on my suspension, would recomend it to anyone.

Back to top

#21 _cruiza_

Guests

Posted 24 February 2013 - 02:35 PM

Just another thing to add to the list of things to check, but you are playing with a 35 year old car whose components may have an unknown history, when I did mine I :-

Stripped it myself

had it sand blasted

had a certified welder weld a brace to the bottom of the K Frame

had all steering arms upper and lower arms and stub axles crack tested

powder coated, would look at KBS system now

had workshop press in rubber bushes in top arms, Noathane bushes in the bottom

Custom solid bushes from teflon for K frame to car

then assembled myself leaving all nuts and bolts not quite tight till the car was back on its wheels at correct ride height, then tightened

100,000km later I had rebuilt the Koni shocks twice and replaced the upper A arm bushes twice, not bad for a 400HP street car that saw a lot of hard cornering on rough roads

Back to top

#22 _Red One_

Guests

Posted 26 February 2013 - 02:07 PM

After reading all about the 'Hamburger with the lot' and the preferred use of rubber bushes for the front end of street cars I have just gone a head and ordered from Kingswoodcountry.
This thread sadly shows how some companies will take advantage of us poor folk who just want a decent job done on our car. I'll be doing all my own work. This will be my second 'K' frame rebuild.
Cheers guys,
Brad