Dr.Jass
Pastor of Muppets
Picked up a few more "must have" parts the other day, and was able to not spend any money doing it. :dance:
A friend of mine with a '71 Challenger was looking for some parts of which I had spares, including some door panels, rear interior panels (both sets were green), and a dual-exhaust rear valance. I also gave him my fiberglass reproduction '70 Go-Wing with under-lid mounting brackets since I had no plans to use them, and he took my Rallye dash heater-control bezel off my hands since I have AC and had to get the right one for that (holy expensive, Batdog!).
In trade, I got a complete '71 close-ratio 23-spline 4-speed transmission from a B-body, an aluminum LA bellhousing that matches the transmission, and a '72 Challenger rear axle complete except for brake hardware & drums with a 2.76:1 open 489 case and 7290 yoke.
The stuff I got was looking pretty sad from sitting outside for many years, and both the transmission and axle appeared to be stuck solid from rust. Well, I couldn't contain myself and got to the disassembly of both post-haste. The transmission's bearing retainer was rusted to the input shaft, but plenty of PB Blaster and some light tapping got it removed quickly, after which the rest of the transmission turned over like butter. I haven't had the side cover off yet, but I don't expect to find anything ugly--the rust stopped exactly at the seal in the bearing retainer, and all looks good behind that. The rear axle-shaft nuts came off more easily than expected with just a 9/16" wrench and no major force, but it took a little beating to remove them. It was obvious they'd never been out of the housing. One shaft looks like it's been lying in a swamp for 20 years, possibly because it has been, but the other is perfectly preserved. I have no idea why, since the axle was sitting level though it was sunk about 5" into the ground. The backing plates look very nice, and turned out to be for 11" drums which is a bonus. I popped the center section out and found the gearset is actually still in pretty good shape but the diff is pretty much done--no big deal since I have no use for an open diff anyhow.
The irony of it is that he got the transmission and bellhousing from me, just prior to my moving to Atlanta.
I sold him the engine, the transmission, and the bell, along with the 400-4V out of my '77 Cordoba (and later the Black Bitch) and some other stuff for a whopping $150 back in '96--Dad had told me, "get that stuff out of my garage before you move," and I think Wayne bought it two nights before I hit the road. He still has the 400 lying there, still on the same pallet and untouched since 1996... it's looking pretty sad too.
The 4-speed and bell will be going into the Challenger after I inspect them closely and determine whether the transmission needs rebuilding. The axle will go into the Imperial after I swap in a 2.94:1 with an Eaton True-Trac and install my new springs and rear shock plates. Those were two big items I really wanted to avoid paying dearly to obtain, so this worked out very well. Wayne even bought me lunch, and I think he still feels as if he owes me something. I'm pretty happy with what I got, though, so if he's good, I'm good.
A friend of mine with a '71 Challenger was looking for some parts of which I had spares, including some door panels, rear interior panels (both sets were green), and a dual-exhaust rear valance. I also gave him my fiberglass reproduction '70 Go-Wing with under-lid mounting brackets since I had no plans to use them, and he took my Rallye dash heater-control bezel off my hands since I have AC and had to get the right one for that (holy expensive, Batdog!).
In trade, I got a complete '71 close-ratio 23-spline 4-speed transmission from a B-body, an aluminum LA bellhousing that matches the transmission, and a '72 Challenger rear axle complete except for brake hardware & drums with a 2.76:1 open 489 case and 7290 yoke.
The stuff I got was looking pretty sad from sitting outside for many years, and both the transmission and axle appeared to be stuck solid from rust. Well, I couldn't contain myself and got to the disassembly of both post-haste. The transmission's bearing retainer was rusted to the input shaft, but plenty of PB Blaster and some light tapping got it removed quickly, after which the rest of the transmission turned over like butter. I haven't had the side cover off yet, but I don't expect to find anything ugly--the rust stopped exactly at the seal in the bearing retainer, and all looks good behind that. The rear axle-shaft nuts came off more easily than expected with just a 9/16" wrench and no major force, but it took a little beating to remove them. It was obvious they'd never been out of the housing. One shaft looks like it's been lying in a swamp for 20 years, possibly because it has been, but the other is perfectly preserved. I have no idea why, since the axle was sitting level though it was sunk about 5" into the ground. The backing plates look very nice, and turned out to be for 11" drums which is a bonus. I popped the center section out and found the gearset is actually still in pretty good shape but the diff is pretty much done--no big deal since I have no use for an open diff anyhow.
The irony of it is that he got the transmission and bellhousing from me, just prior to my moving to Atlanta.
I sold him the engine, the transmission, and the bell, along with the 400-4V out of my '77 Cordoba (and later the Black Bitch) and some other stuff for a whopping $150 back in '96--Dad had told me, "get that stuff out of my garage before you move," and I think Wayne bought it two nights before I hit the road. He still has the 400 lying there, still on the same pallet and untouched since 1996... it's looking pretty sad too.The 4-speed and bell will be going into the Challenger after I inspect them closely and determine whether the transmission needs rebuilding. The axle will go into the Imperial after I swap in a 2.94:1 with an Eaton True-Trac and install my new springs and rear shock plates. Those were two big items I really wanted to avoid paying dearly to obtain, so this worked out very well. Wayne even bought me lunch, and I think he still feels as if he owes me something. I'm pretty happy with what I got, though, so if he's good, I'm good.
Start soaking with the PB Blaster, and cycling the heat....should help in the bearing removal.
