madwolf

I'm trying to take out my driver side knuckle out to replace it with an LS1 one, but after I took out all 3 castle nuts, I can't raise the upper a-arm to take it out. I'm going by this guide:
http://www.fbody.com/tech/details.cgi?id=30

Tried everything... the arm will NOT move.

I did an engine swap through the bottom on this car last fall. Could I have messed somehting up in the process?
Thanks.

simple

the ball joint is stuck you mean?
can you still rotate it front to back?
what tools are you using, you will prolly need a "pickle fork" and a 5lb (or larger then normal hammer) to pop the ball joint loose

madwolf

No, I just cannot take out the knuckle. Nothing moves.
Do I need to take out the ball joint? That guide doesn't mention anything about it.

simple

only the top? the lower is all unbolted and loose?
you can undo the 4 (maybe 2) nuts and bolts and completely remove the plates that hold the ball joint onto the a-arm

madwolf

OK, I removed the top balljoint nut, the bottom ball joint nut and the tie rod nut. The guide says "lift upper a-arm and pull out the knuckle". Problem is mine is dead stuck. Am I doing something wrong or do I have to remove the balljoint(s)?

Spinner

Take a hammer, and whack the rod part of the balljoint that sticks through the knuckle. It'll seperate the a-arm from the knuckle, they just like to fuse together after a lot of miles.

kevmor99

Are you talking about where you would use a pickle fork because it's on a taper going into the spindle?

madwolf

http://www.fbody.com/tech/photos/shocktrp309.jpg
copy and paste

In that picture, on top, the arm which connects to the knuckle/spindle through the upper ball-joint. It's stuck and I couldn't lift it up on mine.
I'll try hammering it some more tomorrow.
Thanks guys.

kevmor99

Yeah it's stuck because it's on a taper (the bolt going into the spindle/knuckle). If you give it a good wack with a hammer on the spindle/knuckle on the curved side facing you above the castle nut in that pic it should release after a few wacks. If it's really bad you can probably rent a pickle fork from autozone etc. and insert it between the spindle/knuckle and balljoint boot, but you risk damaging the boot if your not careful.