It IS impossible to pull the bolt out of the spring eye if the perch is wekded in! You could get the nut off, but no room to pull the bolt out after that.
No, I did not modify the spring perch or pocket to do the ladder bars. I did make a spacer to level out that recess the bolt sits in so the ladder bar bracket would lay flat, but it's just a thick square washer that slips over the bolt between perch and ladder bar bracket.
It looks to me like the axle took a hard hit that bent the spring perch. Not sure how that would happen, but something may show when you get to stripping paint. You may find eveidence of a pass. side rear collision where the end of the spring was hit and it moved the spring with enough force to bend the perch. Might just be they never found it or fixed it long ago when that happened. I doubt that would have been caused by engine torque.

 

I guess if they had wide tires and wheels on the back when the side of the car got hit or scraped that could have torn it loose.

 

Yes, it sure could have. I'd also jack the car up and spin the rear wheels to check for a bent axle. If they did hit a wheel hard enough to do that it would have bent an axle. Might have been replaced, but I'd sure check them to be safe.

 

So I'd just check it to make sure it spins flush and isn't crooked?

 

Is that the same side that took that big shot in the door? 2+2= bent stuff everywhere.

 

Yes, just jack it up and get both wheels off the ground, then turn the wheels to see if they are true, and not wobbling from a bent axle.

 

Yup same side damon. I'll check the axle when I get it into the garage, That's gonna suck if the rear end is bad but I guess for $600 it still isn't a bad car I love how my car keeps getting cheaper with the more parts I sell off it which I don't need.

 

It can only go that direction for a certain length of time! Sooner or later you'll have to start buying parts, and the tide of funds will flow the other direction!

 

Personally, i say rat rod it.

 

Or not.