[BrianChevy]

Friends,

I am doing my off season upgrades and just finished calling Arlyn at Strano Parts and ordering my new Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts and my ES swaybar bushings. I thought I would ask a couple questions since I am going to start on this next monday .. (off work).

1) I expect to be able to do the Energy Suspension Kit for front and rear, i have a 34MM front Sway and 21MM rear Sway.
How difficult is this job? I want to take off the sway bars, sandblast them (18 years of rust and dirt), and paint them -- otherwise, is there anything I should worry about on this one?

2) I am likely going to tow the car over to Grand Tursimo East (here in Atlanta) and get the shocks/struts installed. That's NOT a job that I think I could HANDLE it besides, i will need a new alignment. Does anybody know what they charge, OR what the ballpark charge for a strut/shock install and alignment?

I am looking forward to the new handling characteristics of my '87 IROC and looking forward to my Evolution school here in Spring with Sam Strano so I can LEARN how to direct this new found control..

Brian LaRose
ATL SCCA
#18, ESP

[patred]

1)  I expect to be able to do the Energy Suspension Kit for front and rear, i have a 34MM front Sway and 21MM rear Sway.

Are you just doing the sway bar bushings or the entire ES "kit" (control arms, etc)? I think you need a press to do the control arm bushings ... the sway bar bushings are no problem. The front end links are likely rusted, but you can even get by that with a ratchet, wrench, elbow grease and a few swear words. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Just keep turning until the bolt snaps.

Yeah the rear shocks are easy. The only thing to worry about would be rust. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif) I did the rear shocks on Karen's black 4th gen (basically the same as a 3rd gen) in my driveway in less than an hour. Can be done with jackstands and simple hand tools.

I don't think you need a spring compressor for the front shocks ... haven't changed them on my car, but it looks pretty straightforward. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Two lower bolts then the upper nut on the shock. If anything, you could just do the rears yourself and have the shop do the fronts. I just hate to see anybody pay to have rear shocks put on an '82-'02 F Body. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's almost as easy as changing oil but less messy. Like I said, the only problem would be if the lower bolts are rusted to hell and you can't budge them.