[tracyfam]

To try and keep things going this summer. Greater Milwaukee Area Gathering 12 June 04 @ Tracy's house, 4315 S Moorland Rd, New Berlin, WI with cruise late afternoon to Lee's Ice Cream Stand on Greenfield ave. I'll have drinks and we'll go to the local burger joint (Culvers/McD/BK all with a mile) for late lunch like last time. Start time will be when ever you get here. Come with or without your Opel. Directions:

Coming from Chicago: North on I 94 to South I43/West I894, continue on I43 to Beloit, Exit Right on Moorland Rd, 1 Mile North to Large white farm house on the left.

Coming from Rockford: I43 North Exit Moorland Rd going Left, 1 Mile North to Large white farm house on the left.

From Madison: I94 East to Moorland Rd Going Right, about 7 Miles South Large white farm house on the Right. 1 Mile South of National Ave.

 

[wcarter4]

it was sure nice to match faces to names. very nice to meet everyone. but what day are you looking at for the next meet?

after i left you guys, i started working on my gt, there is a push button inginiton already, and the motor turns over but no spark from the coil. guess ill have to check the wireing.

 

[tracyfam]

Oops. Saturday 12 June

 

[tracyfam]

Just a reminder that the Milwaukee meet is next weekend, June 12th @ Mike's house in New Berlin. Directions in previous posts in this thread.

 

[tracyfam]

Just a quick note on the gathering this weekend. Since I know how much help you guys and gals have been to me and will be on putting the wagon back on the road. I'll be providing lunch. Let me know if you are coming.

Mike "Dick" Tracy
72 GT (project)
74 Sportwagon (daily driver)(was)

 

[wcarter4]

how did the gathering go? hope everyone had a good time. i ended up working so i diddnt get to my a arms and ball joints. almost to the point of giving up. let me know when the next gathering is.

 

[tracyfam]

Things went well. Two Mantas and Two Wagons and a GT shell. Started things off with Pete saying we had quite a few things that should come off in order to get to the ball joints. So we started taking things off till Bill comes and asked what we were doing. He then brings out what looks like a common bolt and in less then two minutes, pop, the old ones are off and he asks where's lunch. We talked Opels till 2 and then decided to put the new ones on. Didn't take much with a ball joint press that was on loan from Auto-Zone. Wagon is now back on the road and driven daily. Some one did drive up and told us about a Mantas for sale near by, so typical of our gatherings, we took a road trip to checked it out. Ended up at Culvers for ice cream.

Next month: Gerry Newburgs??

 

[GTJIM (R.I.P.)]

Left All Agog!

You have left us all hanging, with our mouths open jusy wondering what the "common bolt" thing is and how it works.

If it is not a wee secret, would it be posssible to reveal this method and magic tool to the great un-washed out in Opeland - Please! Pretty Please?

A pity we are all so far away - it sounded like a fun time. Mantas for sale? Anyone buy them? We love photos too but only if it's not any bother.

Thanks in advance - Opel hungry.........

 

[wcarter4]

any chance of getting help popping my ball joints out? i am just lost here. the front suspention is what i need done to drive it.

 

[Travis]

Was it like the ball joint seperator 3/4 of the way down this page?

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/intprojects.htm

-Travis

 

[Jeff Pozorski]

Travis,
That pretty much was it except Bill didn't weld them together. If my memory is correct he just used a long bolt with a nut on the end that fit tight between the ball joints and then turned the nut as if to loosen (while holding the bolt head with a wrench) it which forced the ball joint out of it's socket. It worked really well and was simple for us Opel people to understand!

By the way Mike I am sorry I couldn't stay longer on Saturday. Good to see the wagon is road worthy again! Hopefully my Manta will be running by the end of this weekend and will be at the next gathering at Gerry's house? If not maybe a longer road trip to Willy's house to get his GT suspension up and running. Thanks again for the lunch and the good Opeling that was had by all!
Jeff

 

[tracyfam]

Ball joint separator, that was it alright. Anyone for a road trip up to Willie's? I think both the ball joint separator and the ball joint press really made the job simple. Do you have the new ball joints? I started shopping around for the uppers myself and found the least expensive at Napa. Lowers were cheapest at Autozone at least for the 1900.

 

[wcarter4]

when i got the car, and a few boxes of parts, there was new upper and lower ball joints. i got the upper installed. the driver side lower was already removed, how i dont know cause of the leaf spring clearance. i also got two new stearing knuckles that i would like to put on.

 

[GTJIM (R.I.P.)]

Thanks Travis

Was it like the ball joint seperator 3/4 of the way down this page?

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/David_Pozzi/intprojects.htm

-Travis

That explains the tool very well and lots of other interesting stuff too.
Thanks Travis

 

[wcarter4]

if anyone is available the weekend of july24th i will be there trying again on those ball joints, could use any help that i could get.

 

[tracyfam]

I should be able to the 24th. Can you get ahold of the tools?

 

[wcarter4]

let me know what i need. i got tools, aircompressor,sockets. unsure about what else.