8" Rear End for my wagon

[Luva65wagon]

Wow, it's been two months since I stopped on this project, but got the old rear-end out and the new one up and in this last weekend. Hooking up the brakes now while I await the new brake hose coming from Modesto.

I took measurements of the driveline and took mine and a pull-a-part driveline that was actually the correct length, but needed one end swapped on it, to Drivelines NW in Everett. The guy there was fascinated (and truly amazed) by my previous work on shortening mine from when I did the 4-speed swap. Hey, all I can say is that it didn't shake and saved me at least $251.14 back then.

I figured while I was out dropping things off to have them done (rather than me taking things into my own hands... I'm slacking, I know) I took a core steering box down to Red Head Steering and they (in one day) rebuilt my box. If everything Jay Baker says about them is true, I'm in for a dramatic change when that goes in.

Sadly... as I was under the car this weekend I noted a puddle of water under the engine, so I cleared off the stuff I got stored on the hood and had a peek -- guess I'll be replacing a freeze-plug or five before I start driving it this season. May as well just send the headers off to be coated since I got to pull those off to get to the freeze-plugs. No need to stop while I'm on a roll.

[doghows]

Don't you hate that. You start out with a simple plan and the farther you go the more you find to do. I feel your pain, but I can't take mine any farther apart so hope fully no more surprises for me. Show us some pics when its done, I'd like to see that cause I just scored that 8" for my project.
Maybe I will make it over to a gathering soon now that the Ranchero is running good. (doesn't look to good though).

[Luva65wagon]

I took the day off today to help my neighbor load up his truck and headed over to Drivelines NW this morning first-thing to pick up my new driveline. It wasn't done yet. "Oh, he's working on it now. Should be done around 10AM." OK, drive back home and drive my neighbor to get the truck and car trailer and loaded until about 1PM and headed back to Drivelines NW and picked it up. It only cost $160, which was leas than he'd quoted me. Not gonna complain. Now I just need to crawl under there and hope it's done right. Didn't get a chance tonight since I only just finished seeing my neighbor off on his new journey. I know, it would only take 10 minutes -- but I'm shot.

I also picked up my Red Head steering box on Thursday evening -- feels really nice. That should be an interesting thing -- if it's anything like what Joel said. Amazed they could turn that around so fast. They must have had 100 boxes in various states of repair in that shop.

I ordered a brake hose for the back, but they only listed lengths and fitting sizes, not the hole size for the vent bolt (why??). So the $35 hose came and it had the small hole and I needed a large hole. And with the special order -- no returns. So, I cut the large bolt last night, bored it and tapped it to the 1/2-20 of the small bolt, and contoured one end to match the tube and with some Loctite - screwed it in until it was flush. Now I can use the new hose with the small bolt. What a pain, but it'll work fine.

So that's where it stands. Should be able to work on it some more on Sunday, I hope. And I'll get some more pictures taken and posted.

[Luva65wagon]

OK, realized I'd forgotten to shut off the lights and lock up the garage from earlier today -- so curiosity got the best of me. The driveline fits. And by the way, it's the same length as yours Kenny - 53", but I've got the small yoke on one end and the large one on the other.

[Luva65wagon]

Well, here's a few pics of the rest of it installed. The brakes are on as is the driveline. Still need to bleed the brakes yet, but will get around to that soon. As you can see in some of these photo's I should do some other things,,, while I'm at it.

[Luva65wagon]

Humm... this picture didn't appear..

[doghows]

That is way too pretty to hide under the car. You'll have to create something to lift your car up at the shows so every one can see that. Nice work...

[BadBird]

Really looking very good. I agree, you will have to show this work off. Mirrors!!!

[Luva65wagon]

No mirrors just yet folks... not until I get all my "while I'm at it" projects done I mentioned in my latest blog. Placing an order with Eastwood for a couple things to finish those up... but honestly I've laid under there like a mad-man, staring, pondering, cursing, praying, mumbling... and I honestly don't see this as an mirror under the car sort of car.

But thanks for the boost! I hope someone enjoys what will end up being the end of me.

[Luva65wagon]

Well, I finally drove it today, and no clunks or howls from the new rear-end. The steering feels really nice too. I did install a one-wire alternator "while I was at it" and that isn't charging, so it's research time to see if my one-wire was hooked up wrong.

[pbrown]

Originally Posted by Luva65wagon

Well, I finally drove it today, and no clunks or howls from the new rear-end. The steering feels really nice too. I did install a one-wire alternator "while I was at it" and that isn't charging, so it's research time to see if my one-wire was hooked up wrong.

How do you hook up a one wire alt wrong? It has only one wire.

[Luva65wagon]

That of course, was meant sort of as a joke, since of course you can't really hook up one wire wrong.

I did install a 140 amp circuit breaker in the hot lead (as is suggested on just about every 3G upgrade site -- yes, this is a 3G alternator modded to fit the early ford cars). Many sites just show going to a wrecking yard and pulling one off a car, swapping pulleys, etc, but this one was new and already done that way. I used a 6 ga. wire and may increase that to 4 ga when I get some terminal ends to fit that size wire. I have the wire.

Anyway, as I searched on the Net last night I had noted a "Ground here to test" marking on the regulator on mine, and found that will show the unregulated output on the alternator. So this morning I put it all back in and fired it up, grounded that screw, and it came to life and so far hasn't stopped charging. It went to like 18 volts while grounded and has been pushing 14.5 ever since.

So, there you have it.

I will say, this thing really sound like it is putting out the current. You can actually hear it. My battery is a little flat from sitting for 6 months, so it's charging away like mad.

[Luva65wagon]

When I was doing all that work under my wagon I decided I really ought to clean up my gas tank and straps, so I did. I used temporary straps while I blasted mine and painted them with this stuff I had called Rubber Synlac. The tank was done with Eastwood's TankTone. Now I just need to undercoat the rest of it under there to deal with the minor surface rust. Real soon now.

Clearly, I need to polish the chrome.