Transmission Part III

 

 

The time has come to finish putting the transmission together. I have all the new parts I need, the clutch release fork has a new bushing installed along with a new bolt and nut. 

 

Oh, wait a minute, that is a crack in the front cover.

 

You can see the crack on the outside as well when you know where to look. 

 

It took a bit but I finally got a new cover and seal.

 

New seal installed.

 

 

Re-gap the front cover to the new first motion shaft bearing, good to go. 

 

Cover installed and release fork and new rubber boot in place. All is well with the transmission now. The fly wheel has been resurfaced and the new clutch is ready as well. Now I just need to finish the engine so I can put this all together.

 

Engine Update

The engine is back from the machine shop. The head has new exhaust valve seats, eight new valve guides and a shinny valve job to seal everything up.

Cylinders are bored .020 over for new pistons, there was some scoring from the old piston skirts so it all had to go!

The shop put this together for me... but used the old springs, so now I get to change them out. That's okay, I got to verify the valve job and the smoothness of the new guides.

Last one going on, all good now.

Time to plug those stupid air ports, and make sure they stay plugged with some high strength Loctite.

Prepping for paint.

And the other side too. All cleaned.

Primed.

And now it's orange. Yes that is Chevy orange high temp engine paint, but it's a quarter the price of Blaze and probably better engine paint, so there you have it. Next time we will see what color I choose for the valve cover and oil pan, tune in next week.

Front Suspension

Time to take apart the front end, first to go is the steering rack.

Then after taking off the brakes and springs, the front cross member is dropped.

Off come the dampers.

And then the A arms and other bits.

I got the media blaster fired up and started cleaning parts, first up, disk brake dust covers.

Next are the upper spring perches and bump stops, then they got the POR-15 treatment, fugetaboutit.

Drivers Seat

Welcome to another episode of This Old Seat Cushion. This particular cushion felt like it had given up long ago.

The new cushion doesn't look that different, but is displays some real bottom support.

That might have been the easiest task in the restoration, so far, but probably in totality. 

Rear Axle Part III

Rear axle back from media blasting, and steel epoxy reapplied.

Old axle droop stop anchor removed and new one welded in place. I think we are ready for paint.

Well, not paint, POR-15, two coats, good to go. Reassembly of brakes forthcoming.

Rear Axle Part II

The corrosion from the bump stops has been cleaned up and filled with JB Weld metal filled two part epoxy that hardens to over 5000 psi.

The next issue is the droop strap hanger, the end is broken off and there are only three threads left. We can fix that.

One and a quarter inch steel stock, an hour on the lathe, and viola, a new hanger.

Some new 3/8 by 24 threads and it's done. Well, it needs to be welded on, that will happen when the axle comes back from the shop where it is getting media blasted.

Transmission Part II

A new first motion shaft bearing installed.

First motion shaft in place with new gasket. Not so fast, we need some new shims for the front cover. We will revisit this part in a few days.

   

Third motion shaft, with new needle bearing and synchro rings installed, and laygear in place.

Selector rods installed with new safety wire on the first/second gear selector.

Laygear shaft in place with thrust washers and new needle bearings. Reverse gear in place.

Speedometer drive in place with new gasket and a bit of form a gasket as well.

Output shaft torqued and lock tabbed.

That once dirty mess is now a refreshed transmission. When I get the shims the front cover will go on and it will be done.