> Is the 77 & 78 different? I've read here in the past that the pads are
> easily changed - a 15 minute job. Obviously not what Ken is running into.
> Bill Brown - 77 Buckeye Cruiser
> Coshocton, Ohio
It probably is lots easier than I've managed to make it -- but not a 15 minute
job by anyone I know.
This afternoon I finished the job. The rear half turned out to be a lot easier
than I expected. Beginning at the center wheels, where I left off yesterday,
the aluminum floor joists no longer rest on the chassis side rails but on
longitudinal aluminum stringers, which in turn rest on isolators on the chassis
crossmembers. There are no additional chassis-body U-clamps. The only thing
securing the body to the chassis behind the clamps ahead of the center wheels
are two bolts through rubber donut isolators immediately forward of the bumper
brackets at the rearmost crossmember. That makes a front donut, two U-clamps,
and a rear donut on each side holding the body on the chassis. Kinda scary if
you're planning a John Nicholls barrel roll! But then, if everything above the
beltline's going to leave anyway, I guess the chassis' reaction's not too
important, huh?
As it turned out, I had few old isolators to replace. There should be about 4
down each side, but one of the old ones was missing and I'd installed the new
ones (where there'd been none) around the generator when I installed the Generac
last year. That left one on the left side and 3 on the right side to replace.
I just loosened the rear donut on the passenger's side, jacked up the body,
knocked out the old rubber, and stuck in the new. The donuts, like the U-clamps
are secured with carriage bolts -- I couldn't release those. But the donut
assembly is mounted on a plate which in turn mounts to the chassis with four
3/8" bolts which will not turn in the mounting plate. Those came apart easily
with the impact wrench after thorough PB Blasting.
All-in-all, not a bad job; just dirtier than some. The rack/pit made it LOTS
easier than it would be with jacks alone. From ready to start, to tools put
away, it's probably a 4 to 6 hour job for most folks -- certainly not 15 minutes
for all of them.
HTH,
Ken H.
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