GT Parts List--Later, maybe
You will need 4 jack stands--two for the car and two for the rear end/IRS subchassis.
Sequence--First, the Cobra
Before you get your hands dirty.....
1. Remove Rear Lower Seat Cushion
2. Unplug ABS Sensor wires and push large grommet and connector through hole in floor.
See photo at http://www.lx.net/jlynch/swapABScableseat.jpg
3. Remove Glove Box from console -- two phillips screws under bumpers at front edge, just under the lid.
4. Install shim between parking brake pawl and cable gear/pulley. If you don't do this, you can't get the parking brake cable loose from the calipers. See photo http://www.lx.net/jlynch/swapparkingshim.jpg
Use a screwdriver to push the pawl forward to clear the teeth on the cable gear. Then insert the shim to keep the pawl from engaging the cable gear again. The spring tension will still be on the cable, but you will be able to move them.
5. Open trunk, remove forward liner, side liners. Remove top end nut from shocks and leave shocks loose for now.
Prepare for dirty hands......
Raise car, set on stands, place stands just forward of front IRS subframe to chassis bolt so that access to bolt is not hampered.
Put trans in neutral and release parking brake.
Remove rear Wheels/tires 13/16".
Remove cat-back system 9/16 or 14mm whichever is right for yours
Remove Drive shaft 12mm 12 point and a large lever or bar or strapwrench to keep driveshaft from turning.
Disconnect parking brakes from caliper, clamp at spring first, 8mm, then cable with pliers, then screwdriver to remove clip, then and pull cable forward and through the guide holes and clear of the IRS.
Remove one ABS bracket bolt 8mm at chassis and pull ABS cables clear of chassis.
Disconnect brake lines at fitting at bracket at chassis just above the halfshafts. 13mm flare or open end and vise-grips for the bracket, otherwise you will bend the bracket.
Remove brake brackets from chassis using 10mm socket.
I had aftermarket springs which are short enough so that they can be removed easily by lowering a control arm, so I removed my springs next. But you don't have to remove them that way. I think you can lower the subchassis and then remove the springs....
Place jack under front pinion brace cross piece, assuming the vibe damper isn't there. Otherwise, place jack under pumpkin.
Remove front IRS subchassis bolts 18mm and slowly lower the subchassis. Place jackstands under IRS to stop movement if necessary. Remove coil springs as the chassis is lowered.
Remove Rear IRS subchassis bolts 18mm and pull down on the subchassis to work it clear of the brackets. Work the shocks out of the bushings in the trunk and leave the shocks attached to the IRS
Lower the IRS subchassis and move it out of the way from under the car. Two person job really.
Remove the rear subchassis brackets, 15mm 4 bolts each side.
Its out of there!!
Installing new GT Rear End....
Remove parking brake cables if you are going to swap, use deep 13mm
socket to squeeze expanding clips at tunnel bracket.
See photo at
http://www.lx.net/jlynch/swapparksocket.jpg
The photo shows a strap used to keep the cable tensioner from winding
up. You can make something like this before removing the cable but
I am not sure it is necessary. This was in place before I figured
out how to install the shim to keep the thing from sticking.
Install new parking brake cables if you have the GT cables. In my opinion, you can make the Cobra cables work fine.
Install GT pinion snubber. Three 10mm bolts
See photo at http://www.lx.net/jlynch/swapsnubber.jpg
Install GT exhaust hanger brackets.
See photo at http://www.lx.net/jlynch/swaphangers.jpg
Install upper control arms and tie up out of the way with some cord.
Installl lower control arms.
Roll GT housing under car and raise up high enough for lower control arms to reach. Place jack stands to keep the axle from tottering side to side.
Install springs on control arm and then work the lower control arms into the housing brackets and install the bolts. the pigtails should be at the rear of the spring and pointing to the driver side of the car. The small end of the spring goes down. Use the upper perch pads from the GT if you have them, otherwise use the Cobra pads.
Raise the housing enough to get the upper control arms in position and install the upper control arm bolts.
Don't tighten all the control arm bolts until the axle is in proper normal position and the weight of the car is on the springs. Then tighten all the control arm bolts. This will keep from preloading the bushings and twisting them in the normal position. If you tighten them with the shocks extended and the axle hanging, then raise the axle, the bushings have to twist to attain their normal static position.
Install the main rear shocks.
If using quad shocks, install brackets and quad shocks. (I didn't do this since I have the aftermarket control arms and very stiff bushings everywhere except at the upper housing mounts.
Clean the brake lines and fittings and install the brake line brackets 10 mm then the brake line tubing connection 13mm flare.
Hook up parking brakes cables and attach clamps/guides to lower control arms.
Install driveshaft
Route ABS wires back into the trunk and reconnect. Check routing of ABS sensor wiring in bracket at lower control arm and through chassis holes. Make sure it isn't too tight anywhere when the control arm moves up and down.
Fill housing with lubricant.
Bleed brakes and check for leaks.
Install tires/ wheels
Check for parking brake and ABS line clearance with car weight on axle before lowering car.
Lower car.
Clean hands
Install trunk liners
Install seat cushion
Go drive. Pay bills.
Joe Lynch
Midland, TX
915-349-4155 cell if you have any questions
