Am i being stupid? arb wont fit

[z3i]

Been struggling like a penis to fit a 4 speed ARB so it gives more room for the blocks so as the lateral clamp doesnt eat away at it like it did on my 5 speed

the car has been in a crash and bent the lower arm, possibly bent the 5 speed roll bar?
im fitting it the same way as my 5 speed one came out, am i being stupid and trying to put it in upside down?
is pretty far out, and i cant get any of the bolts started. my 5 speed one was never this hard to do and im putting the 4 speed one in the exact same way as i did with my speed one

the chassis legs where an inch out when i fitted the subframe first time and welded it up, but shouldnt make much difference to fitting the arb?

im clearly doing something really stupid?









also the whole front end is off so im hoping i can wiggle the 4 branch in there, anyone done this?
many thanks

[PeteG40]

Does the frame thread on without the arb? If not it points to same manipulation as last time is needed.

[z3i]

Yeah the frame threads on fine. After my beating, hammering, pulling and welding session the frame lines up just fine its only arb thats about half inch too far back

whilst im here, is there a trick on how to do the steering arms up with out the ball joint spinning inside itself?

[NeilG40]

Re the anti-roll bar being too far back I seem to have a vague memory of the same happening on my mk2 escort and using a ratchet strap hooked to it with the other end hooked to my workbench to pull the anti-roll bar forward enough for the bolts to line up.

[PeteG40]

Get some one to push each wheel fwd. Till it lines up... Undo arb to TCA bolts till they at last thread too

[z3i]

Get some one to push each wheel fwd. Till it lines up... Undo arb to TCA bolts till they at last thread too

ok pete, cheers buddy. Is it a bit odd that my 5 speed one didnt do this though?  Also do you think i will be able to sqeeze a 4 branch in there? I dont really want to take it off again. And is there a knack to doing up the steering arm ends?

[PeteG40]

If they spin put jack and long bit of wood or something under  balljoint and jack up

[z3i]

Thanks pete! you legend! im so used to the ones with the torx in the middle so just had a brain fail. before ive reused the old nuts but got new nyloc ones
cheers

[Yoof]

I usually drop the ARB for exhaust fitting, makes it easier 

[z3i]

I usually drop the ARB for exhaust fitting, makes it easier 

Thought i might have too back out she comes lol. Think ill have to drop the frame too?