I have some *very old* shocks up front on my '85 245. I've finished all the suspension work except for the front strut components. Over three different work sessions, I've tried to loosen the retaining nut on one shock with no luck. Well, actually, there's a little bad luck. As I've been yarding on the bolt, one side has curled up. The gorilla in me wants to start using a sawzall/hacksaw to cut away the shock in parts, but I know that won't work (right?). I've been drenching the retaining nuts on both sides of the car with penetrating solvent and that hasn't helped yet. Most of the bushings in the car were a bear to remove because of the rust, so I'm concerned the retaining nut is in the same class of stubborn. I've read in an older thread that I can hit the area with a torch to loosen the nut. Before I go out and melt my strut, I figured I'd see if somebody has any advice? Is a propane torch hot enough or should I seek out a cutting torch :) I have a tendency to break things, so I'm starting to think that I should probably seek out a shop to remove the nut. But I'm also stubborn, and really just want to do it myself, especially since this is the last of the suspension mods and it's been a knock-down, drag out, bloody knuckle slugfest and I don't want to quit in the 35th round.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice, Mike