First, Merry Christmas all.

Going to drop a front subframe out of a junkyard diplomat. My question is...do I need to take off the upper control arms? They look like they tuck up over the frame rails and might hang up. No engine in the car so can I just shimmy it side to side to get it to drop? Or will it clear anyway?

Trying to estimate my time and need for tools. Thanks for any advice.

Hmm, I owned an M for years, but never did that.

Did drop the K member on a 79 B body, similar isolated design. You had to unbolt the arms on that one, not sure if this helps you though.

As I remember you do got to take them off because like you said they hang up on the frame somehow. 65BelvJim would know for sure. He's been stripping a bunch of F-bodies to nothing for awhile.

Yep you definitely need to pull the control arms. They wont clear the frame at all. You also need to pull at least one of the shock and control arm brackets as well because those go over the rails as well. If you pull em both, then the thing slides straight down.

I've pulled a bunch myself as well .

seperate the upper control arm from the spindle, remove the top shock nut and 4 bolts that hold the uca assembly to the K, repeat on other side

Thanks for all the responses. I really appreciate your time.

Sounds like its still not too bad of a job. Hopefully less than an hour. Maybe I need to treat myself to that cordless impact wrench......


Thanks again,

Trent

If you can ..get the steering colume also..its most likley better than the one in your car .err What are you putting it in ??...Mine is in my 1956 Plymouth and was the best and easiest install..car rides great and straight ,and stops nicley with the disc brakes..take the master cyinder and porportion valve also.. the hardest thing for me were the motor mounts for the 440.good luck

Dynamite,

Nice Car.

Not doing anything so sexy, just replacing a subframe in a 77 volare that is so trashed it won't align anymore. Found a creampuff subframe so much cheaper and easier than doing offset UCA bushings or putting it on the rack. From my reading, the early frames are prone to crack and flex anyway.

Had a neighbor that used them in 50's Ford pickups and although there are a lot of new options with kits for an IFS, my opinion is the FMJ still can't be beat with bang for the buck.

I potentially have a 55 Plymouth project coming up and I will definitely remember you and your car. Hope you don't mind if I pick your brain for advice in a couple years.

Trent

Dblt68..as long as I'm still breathing ..PM me anytime you want ....will be glad to help..Larry