HI...
I decided that it might be better to invest in an engine hoist and take it out from the top also, rather than getting into more projects (the sub frame front axle). I read some posts about messing up the front suspension alignment and I think that scared me off....(she goes down the road really nice the way she is) My project is restoring the engine bay area, getting off the ugly undercoating that was sprayed on at some point, and re-painting the engine compartment and cleaning up/refinishing all of the components on and around the engine and basically sorting it all out ...so getting the machinery out will make this job much easier.
MY question is....will it be easy to re-fresh some of those suspension components you mention above- - leaving the sub frame in the car? Seems like you will have a lot of working space with the engine out of the way. Or does the subframe really need to come out to do things like the kingpins and/or the rubber parts you mention?
Yesterday I finished getting everything dis-connected...the challenging part was disconnecting the drive shaft. I took the trans support plate off, (I put a jack under the transmission to hold it up), then was able to reach two of the three shaft bolts, then I had to jack the rear end of the car so that I could spin the shaft to access the third bolt. to my surprise they were not very thigh...and came right off. That didn't seem too safe - lightly tightened drive shaft bolts!?
After I got it disconnected, I put the support plate back on with just a few of the bolts, to hold the transmission up.
My next move it to figure out how to connect to the engine to hoist it out. Is it best to use straps, or get one of those engine leveler beams with the chains, and then how to best attach that. Do you talk the valve cover off and go onto some head bolts? IN any case if anyone has any thoughts on this it would be appreciated... THANKS