Just a short little narrative that may possibly help some other neophytes like me gain the perspective I just gained last night for just how skilled and helpful the folks here and elsewhere are..

After doing a bunch of stuff recently that seemed much more advanced than the oil/filter/routine maintenance stuff I've done over the years (manifold gaskets, engine mounts, and some assorted other mostly under-the-hood stuff), I was feeling like I was getting to be a pretty good amateur wrench, and that there was pretty much nothing I couldn't tackle with enough time, some good advice, and maybe another good tool or two.

SOoo, I bought the back shocks, front cartridges and strut mounts. I knew the struts were going to be tough, but figured the back shocks would be a piece of cakc; two bolts each, pop the new ones on, DONE!

I headed out to the garage on Monday night at 6:00PM, figuring I'd be done by 8PM even if things didn't go particularly well. Yeah.... right.... sure.....

I have a 1/2" drive breaker bar, but only 3/8" drive socket sets. When I need the bar, I use a 3/8 to 1/2" adapter. The lug nuts were on so tight I broke the adapter, then two extensions while risking my 3/8" torque wrench. Stupid, but I wanted to get it done. The wrench survived, but one lug nut refused to budge. Oh well. Got one wheel off, jacked up the car, sprayed down the shock nut/bolts w/ PBlaster, let it sit for a bit, tapped'em lightly, and prepared for success on at least one side. Yeah.... right.... sure. The only thing I had left was my standard 3/8" drive ratchet, and that wasn't about to move ANYTHING, even w/ some serious coaxing w/ a hammer. Dejected, sore, and down a couple tools, I put the wheels back on and gave up.

Last night, a friend who's the head mechanic at a local very respected and busy shop offered to help me. We went to his place at about 7:30, where he has a lift and a serious compressor. We worked until almost 10:30 just on the two rear shocks. Without his expertise, impact wrench, Oxy/Acetylene torch (we tried a MAPP cylinder first.. no go, so we drove a couple miles back to his house and grabbed his O/A rig), and experience, those shocks would not have come off. Period. These were obviously the original shocks from 1992, TOTALLY shot, and the bolts holding them on to the trailing arms were completely seized in the sleeves. Seeing him calmly go through the necessary steps to free up everything, clean up the bolts that could be saved, find replacement bolts from a HUGE scrap pile to use for the ones that were beyond saving, .. well, let's just say I feel like a complete newbie again.

Somehow, I managed to replace the air suspension on a Range Rover '93 w/ new coil springs and shocks by myself about 8 years ago, and with even less tools than I have now. I probably took better care of my Rangie than the P.O did of this 240 so the rust factor wasn't near as bad, and it was newer at the time. I had NO idea that replacing shocks could be so difficult.

Soooo... I guess I'm just saying... have backup. Stuff up front that looks complicated might not be... it's probably just a lot of steps, but each step is relatively easy. Dealing w/ a rusted suspension... well, you better have some heavy artillery and/or some very serious skills and experience.... or a TON of time.

Next... the front struts. Can't wait. Bet it'll be REAL fun.

At least I know I need to start saving up for a compressor, air tools, and a torch if I want to be able to do this stuff. Goody. They'll still pay for themselves after one or two major jobs compared to shop labor costs, so it's worth it to me. I just wish I could buy my friend's skill and experience instantly instead of having to put in a couple years of sweat equity... .

To those of you who've traveled this road before me and have helped me on this board, you have my extreme respect and gratitude. Funny how jobs that look difficult aren't really, and how back-breaking and heart-breaking four #$## bolts can be.

Thanks for everything, Merry Christmas, and I will never take anyone for granted here.

Barry