Slow, Driving Rustoration 1972 Dart
So I bought the third transmission. Turned out to be the worst of the three lol, but it did have a good looking toque convertor and some parts that were missing from the one I rebuilt. A few members were able to persuade me that the end play I had was in spec so I went with it. It was a clean looking transmission so I was only slightly apprehensive.
So yesterday I finally pulled the transmission on my broken up piece of concrete by my garage. I bought a $99 transmission Jack from HF it worked very well even on my crappy concrete.
While I was soaking some of the linkage in degreaser I cleaned up my 340/360 exhaust manifolds. I used header gaskets since they are going on 318 heads. They seem to do the job. I'll know better once the exhaust system gets installed this week.
I was barely able to get the original trans out from under the car so I jacked it up higher. Honestly the hardest part about installing the transmission was getting it onto the Jack while it was under the car. Or maybe the torque converter bolts. I had noted the position of the TC drain plug so I would line up the built pattern the first time. But two of the bolts were going in hard so I took all of them out again and realized I had them correct the first time. I oiled the bolts and tried again. I figured out that you use gravity to get them individually centered.
It was getting dark as I got everything buttoned up. I was pleased as heck when I felt it at least engage when I shifted to drive and reverse. I took it out for a test with open manifolds. For now my anxiety has subsided and I'm pleased with the process. My original trans had a broken pan rail tap so the third trans will work as the case for my eventually rebuild and the 727 might come in handy some day for a trade or actual use.
For now I'm just excited to have her back on the street again after another 2 months parked. I can't wait to see how the new exhaust system sounds!
So I bought the third transmission. Turned out to be the worst of the three lol, but it did have a good looking toque convertor and some parts that were missing from the one I rebuilt. A few members were able to persuade me that the end play I had was in spec so I went with it. It was a clean looking transmission so I was only slightly apprehensive.
So yesterday I finally pulled the transmission on my broken up piece of concrete by my garage. I bought a $99 transmission Jack from HF it worked very well even on my crappy concrete.
While I was soaking some of the linkage in degreaser I cleaned up my 340/360 exhaust manifolds. I used header gaskets since they are going on 318 heads. They seem to do the job. I'll know better once the exhaust system gets installed this week.
I was barely able to get the original trans out from under the car so I jacked it up higher. Honestly the hardest part about installing the transmission was getting it onto the Jack while it was under the car. Or maybe the torque converter bolts. I had noted the position of the TC drain plug so I would line up the built pattern the first time. But two of the bolts were going in hard so I took all of them out again and realized I had them correct the first time. I oiled the bolts and tried again. I figured out that you use gravity to get them individually centered.
It was getting dark as I got everything buttoned up. I was pleased as heck when I felt it at least engage when I shifted to drive and reverse. I took it out for a test with open manifolds. For now my anxiety has subsided and I'm pleased with the process. My original trans had a broken pan rail tap so the third trans will work as the case for my eventually rebuild and the 727 might come in handy some day for a trade or actual use.
For now I'm just excited to have her back on the street again after another 2 months parked. I can't wait to see how the new exhaust system sounds!
