70 duster: updating, and a no-dough pro-touring makeover
got a late start today, after taking my daughter to school and getting my moms crx going again.
started by figuring my trans mount adapter out. not the orettiest welding, but then again, my autodarkening helmet died, so i was doing it by squeezing my eyes shut. picked up a new one on the way home tonight, but my eyes hurt....
took the extra "plate" they gavem cut it in half, welded it on, drilled some new holes, trimmed the overall length, and rammed her home.
the hole in the floor did not start to heal overnight, either. great googly moogley, its a big hole.....
i also spent a little bit getikng holes tapped in the welded nuts, making sire the new crossmember would fit (it needed all the holes clearanced about 1/8 to 1/4 inch to line up properly. not the fault of the crossmember, but probably due to the fact that this car has been wrecked quite a few times, and spent at least 6 hours on a frame machine in my ownership...) also had to clearance the holes in the tremec slightly to make assembly easier. just a little opening of the holes, and were good.
i then went on to cut the t-bar crossmember out. had to. no other way around it.....
bolted up the bellhousing (no clutch/flywheel. wanted to check pilot bearing engagement.)
bolted up the trans
pulled the VSS out where i didnt cut enough from the t-bar crossmember
jacked the trans into place
cut the crap outta my left hand on jagged floor
sat in car, running through all five speeds making vroom vroom noises and giggling.
doesntr look like a lot in the pictures, but it was a lot pf work.
figured out the driveshaft length: 49 inches. my stock a-body is 49 1/4. im thinking that only 3/4 of an inch out of the trans may be a little tight. 49 is with one full inch out. im dropping both driveshafts off at the drivashaft shop in the morning.
plans for tomorrow:
trim teh last part of the t-bar crossmember
stitsch weld t-bar crossmember to whats left of the floor pans
install clutch/flysheel/starter/all bellhousing bolts
install trans for final time
figuire out what to do about giant freaking hole
start reassembly of the rest if theres still time.
not too shabby for 8-4 mon and tues, 5-10 friday, 8-5 sat, and 9-5 sun.
this includes parts runs, bsing, cursing, head scratching, and the god awful oil pan job....
Michael
got a late start today, after taking my daughter to school and getting my moms crx going again.
started by figuring my trans mount adapter out. not the orettiest welding, but then again, my autodarkening helmet died, so i was doing it by squeezing my eyes shut. picked up a new one on the way home tonight, but my eyes hurt....
took the extra "plate" they gavem cut it in half, welded it on, drilled some new holes, trimmed the overall length, and rammed her home.
the hole in the floor did not start to heal overnight, either. great googly moogley, its a big hole.....
i also spent a little bit getikng holes tapped in the welded nuts, making sire the new crossmember would fit (it needed all the holes clearanced about 1/8 to 1/4 inch to line up properly. not the fault of the crossmember, but probably due to the fact that this car has been wrecked quite a few times, and spent at least 6 hours on a frame machine in my ownership...) also had to clearance the holes in the tremec slightly to make assembly easier. just a little opening of the holes, and were good.
i then went on to cut the t-bar crossmember out. had to. no other way around it.....
bolted up the bellhousing (no clutch/flywheel. wanted to check pilot bearing engagement.)
bolted up the trans
pulled the VSS out where i didnt cut enough from the t-bar crossmember
jacked the trans into place
cut the crap outta my left hand on jagged floor
sat in car, running through all five speeds making vroom vroom noises and giggling.
doesntr look like a lot in the pictures, but it was a lot pf work.
figured out the driveshaft length: 49 inches. my stock a-body is 49 1/4. im thinking that only 3/4 of an inch out of the trans may be a little tight. 49 is with one full inch out. im dropping both driveshafts off at the drivashaft shop in the morning.
plans for tomorrow:
trim teh last part of the t-bar crossmember
stitsch weld t-bar crossmember to whats left of the floor pans
install clutch/flysheel/starter/all bellhousing bolts
install trans for final time
figuire out what to do about giant freaking hole
start reassembly of the rest if theres still time.
not too shabby for 8-4 mon and tues, 5-10 friday, 8-5 sat, and 9-5 sun.
this includes parts runs, bsing, cursing, head scratching, and the god awful oil pan job....
Michael
