K member and suspension

[Cbridgewater]

Need your opinion. Should I rebuild and paint the front suspension and K member before or after body paint? No matter what, they car will be without and engine when it's painted.

[JS29]

That would depend, dose the body shop want it as a roller, or place some kind of rigging to move it around. are you going to do a to pretty to drive, or a driver. you could do it after paint, place the engine on the K-frame and install from under side.   

[Cbridgewater]

Haven't talked to the body shop yet, but was thinking it would be nice to take car of the front clip while the rest of the car is in the shop. It will definitely be a driver.

[JS29]

Unless they have something to install to keep it maneuverable, I wouldn't wont it in my shop without being able to move it   

[Katfish]

Do it after, most likely they will get overspray all over it.
As stated, would be nice to put engine on fresh k-member and install like the factory did.

[anlauto]

  sound advice

[Chryco Psycho]

I would build a pair of rollers to bolt to the frame & have it painted without the K frame or froni suspension in place 

[Cbridgewater]

That's the direction I was leaning. I know there are some companies that make the rollers, but they're quite pricey.

[1 Wild R/T]

Wheels from Harbor Freight & a little bit of scrap steel makes bolt on dollies pretty cheap...

I think these cost me $36..... 

[Ed]

At about 11 mins in you can see what graveyard car builds to hold suspension and engine.   I built mine cheap with 4 by 4 tubing.  You can then build from K frame up  then install after paint.  When you get the tubing you can  make  4 casters for car to move around on.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFGpJHvFxWk

[Cbridgewater]

Where do you guys build your rollers to mount to? In order to make the K frame install easy I would think on the front you need to use the bumper bracket mounting holes? What's about the rear?

[Burdar]

Bumper mount for the front and front leaf spring mount for the rear.

[Cbridgewater]

Bare with me... so when re-installing the rear axle/suspension, what are you using as your jack point?
I do not have access to a car lift so it would all be done with jack work.

[anlauto]

I built a cart that bolts on at the rear spring perch and the transmission cross member. Super solid for traveling. It stays on this cart from the time I strip it apart, media blast and all the body and paint work. I just took this AAR off of the car today to install the rear suspension. No fancy hoists here either. I use the cart as a jacking point then some axle stands while installing the rear end.

[Burdar]

Bare with me... so when re-installing the rear axle/suspension, what are you using as your jack point?
I do not have access to a car lift so it would all be done with jack work.

When installing the rear end, the back of the car is supported on jack stands under the frame...in front of the leaf spring mount.  Bolt on your springs/rear end and use the rear end housing to jack up the car and remove the stands.

I installed a cross bar between the left and right stands.  This adds stability to the stands and gives me a jacking point.  You could jack up each side separately to position the jack stands though.  The cross bar just makes it quicker.