Dismantling conundrum

[V8mate]

I've got a car which I need to dispose of. But I need to retain some of the parts.

And I don't have a garage.

Easy, you think. Take the parts off, call the scrap man.

Except the parts that I want are rather integral to the good health of the car, and I'm wondering if removing them in the wrong order will end up with the car sat firmly on my head?!

So if the car's on the verge - one side on concrete and one side on grass - and you had to remove the following items, what order and precauations would you take?

- Differential
- Shocks/springs
- Steering rack

[AndrewW-G]

Roll car on its side, prop it into position, take parts off . . . . . when finished, roll it back and call the scrap man

[Big Rod]

Get a few mates, (or if space accomodates a tow rope wrapped around the body of the car and attached to another car to pull it over), roll it on its side onto the 'soft verge', secure with rope/straps/lengths of wood making sure none of it fouls the areas you're working on then push back onto all fours when done.

(I may or may not have done this myself on one or two occassions. I've also wheeled empty rolling chassis a good 50 feet myself like a wheelbarrow having stripped everything bar the rear axle using a couple of hefty wooden lengths wedged in the front chassis legs.)

All of the above is done at your own risk!

HTH

[Jimmyarm]

They made hi abs for a reason

Look in the local paper for scrap car collectors, tell them on the phone it won't move and they will sort the rest

[Eggman]

The springs and shock absorbers are the only bits that'll make a real difference to the car's mobility / integrity.

If the car has macpherson strut suspension, I suggest getting somebody who knows what they are doing to help you remove them safely.

[V8mate]

Jimmyarm said:

They made hi abs for a reason

Look in the local paper for scrap car collectors, tell them on the phone it won't move and they will sort the rest

There's no problem getting rid of the remnants; all the scrappies round here use hi-abs. I'm just trying to avoid the car crushing me as I take the suspension off.



Andrew/Rod - thanks That's proper man-thinking!

I'm not sure I have the space to do the pull. My road is only just over a car width wide. I guess removing the main vehicle fluids first is a good idea too

[WhoseGeneration]

V8mate said:

Andrew/Rod - thanks That's proper man-thinking!

Pioneered, I believe, by the works BMC team. Roll the Minis onto old tyres to access the underside.

[V8mate]

WhoseGeneration said:

V8mate said:

Andrew/Rod - thanks That's proper man-thinking!

Pioneered, I believe, by the works BMC team. Roll the Minis onto old tyres to access the underside.

I'm pretty sure I could tip a Mini on my own. The old E36 Beemer in question will certainly require assistance!

[Big Rod]

V8mate said:

Andrew/Rod - thanks That's proper man-thinking!

I'm not sure I have the space to do the pull. My road is only just over a car width wide. I guess removing the main vehicle fluids first is a good idea too

You're welcome.

WRT the suspension quandary... Cut some blocks of wood to occupy the space the struts would normally inhabit when it gets rolled back onto all fours.

(I may or may not have actually driven a car on private land like that!! )

[Big Rod]

V8mate said:

I'm pretty sure I could tip a Mini on my own. The old E36 Beemer in question will certainly require assistance!

I tipped a Pontiac Firebird, (was just an Esprit, not a TransAm!), less engine and gearbox with one of my, (slightly built!), mates. The whole car was resting on my knee at one point while he adjusted his grip.

[V8mate]

An engine is a bit of a deadlift deal-breaker though, right?

[eltax91]

Where are you based? Pop over to the off road forum, and beg for a visit from a friendly off roader with a winch. Winch it on it's side, prop up and then remove what you need.