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After choosing my wheels, I decided to put together the front suspension- since I am still trying to decide what engine to use, and to make sure my wheels will fit. First I painted all of the parts while they were still on the sprue. After I cut them off the sprue, I test fitted them before gluing. If you need to touch up the places where they were attached to the sprue, now is the time. after test fitting and touching up the paint, I glued them together in the order indicated on the instruction sheet. Pay attention to which direction the spindles are facing so you don't put them in upside-down or on the wrong sides. (NOTE: If you are certain the wheels you are using will fit, or if you are using the kit wheels, it may be a good idea to glue them to the spindles before you put the spindles on the chassis. When I was test fitting the wheels on the spindles after I'd glued them on, I knocked one out and broke the little pin that fits in the hole on the A-arm.) I used a clothes-pin to hold the lower A-arm assembly to the frame after gluing.
Test fit the frame rails to the floor pan and estimate where the rear axle will go. Take out the driveshaft and test fit it into the rear axle. Now you can decide which engine will fit best (if you are using a different one) and where you should make the motor mounts (if the stock mounts won't work). Remember to check and see if the exhaust manifolds or headers will fit between the A-arms. A little masking tape will help hold things in place while you're test fitting everything. -Eric |
