Call me crazy - Ranchero's (again)

Will I ever get this pile into a usable transmission again... :confused:

:D

Yeah, no problem.

So far I have only needed to take 2 of the 4 of these rare beasts apart (I have 5 of them, but one is in my wagon) to make up this transmission. I had another shaft from a third transmission I will be using for the idler. I had some good gears from one, some from another. Good synchro's from another, bad on the other. So, as of 11pm last night, I had sorted out all the good parts into this cluster. Should have it together and ready to install tonight.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by falcon cobra

Roger who is going to do the drive line? and do you know how much $ it will cost??....jh:shift:

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I have not decided. As I think I mentioned to you... I did my own in my wagon when I upgraded to the Dagenham 4-speed. It was still the puny 6-cylinder driveline - just needed to be a bit longer. I machined a sleeve with about a .001 press-fit and drove that over the tube and made sure I was 100% accurate on the alignment of the tube where I cut it, so the yokes were still aligned end-to-end. Never had an issue of imbalance - that I could perceive, anyway.

I think just about everyone here has used Drivelines NW to do theirs. I used them when I did my 8" swap in my wagon. I paid in the high $2's for that, as I recall. I didn't have a lot of time, then, to mess with it, so I paid the piper. I don't have a lot of time now, either. This one, too, is going to be small on one end and larger (V-8 style) on the other, just like my wagon is, so I will see if I make an attempt to make my own.

If I try my hand at this one, I have a few drivelines laying around to play with. But if tube diameters are not matching anywhere (yokes and tubes, etc.) you kind'a need to go with the professionals who can swage or expand tubing to fit the parts.

Spent this evening reworking the rest of the innerds of this Dagenham 4 speed. Fortunately I've found good parts in the two I took apart. The cover needs a little attention since seals are no longer available, but I'll do the same thing I did on my wagon, which is holding up so far after almost 7 years. Will show that... next. Stay tuned.

Awesome... I have a question for you, I noticed on you engine pic that the fuel filter canister is facing upwards. I tried to put a pump like that in my Ratchero and the only way the gasket and mounting flange line up is if the canister is facing down???? Are there different fuel pumps for these motors? I need to triple check mine and make sure it is a 200. It has 5 freeze plugs??? Just wondering but the Flarechero is looking good....[thumb]

I've not seen any that face down on the 200. The lever of the pump has to ride on the cam lobe, so it will only mount one way.

I stumbled upon the which-way-does-it-go issue with the fuel pump during my engine build. At one point before the engine was completed, I decided to replace the stock fuel pump with a "high performance" pump. I found a Carter fuel pump on the Summit web site and ordered it. When I received it, it appeared physically identical to the stock one. However, when I tried to install it, it would only install UPSIDE DOWN relative to the the way the stock one had been installed.

To this day, I don't understand!! But, yeah, it will only install one way... which ever way it wants to!

The first picture shows the engine with the stock pump, the second is the finished engine with the Carter pump.

I just thought you chero guy would lik to see this nice ride....jh

Gene came by early this morning and helped me lift that 4-speed into place. I then rebuilt the shifter mechanism and got that bolted on.

While I was cleaning up the shifter Bill Williams came by and I took a break and went and looked at the 302 short-block and headers he picked up. Then he hauled me to Lowes to buy a sheet of ply for my sub box my brother-in-law is eventually going to build for me (thanks again, Bill).

Then I measured for the drive-line and went out back to look at the two I had, just to see if I could make my own for now. When I picked up one of them it looked oddly similar to what I was going to need to make. The new one needed to be 1.5" longer than the stock 6-cylinder drive-line... and this one was 1.5" longer. I began to wonder then what elves stopped by and build me a drive-line that was the correct length and with the correct ends on it. Well - thank you Mr. Elf.

Time to splash some gas and take her for a ride!!! Looking better everyday. I think the Elf's knew it was you B-day and brought you a gift. Nice to not have to spend any more cash.

I like the "Chero" If I don't go 4x4 I like the roll pan look...
And as far as the fuel pump, mine looks like the one in the first pic. No canister? I am guessing from its location that it rides against the crank shaft? I guess I am stuck driving the super duty till the pump gets here.:(

If you look close at the two pictures Gary posted, the block actually accepts a pump where the pump flange can go either up, or down. He shows two pumps, one going with the fittings down (bare block) and up (running block). So that coincides with my experience with pump variations.

Sorry Roger, didn't mean to divert this thread away from the real issue. Being get the car back on the road. So it looks like the engine trans drive shaft and rear axle are all in?? So when is it time to fire it up?? I want to see it run down the road with no fenders on it...:D Or at least some pics of it outside the garage...:ROTFLMAO:

I received the exhaust manifold bolts and gaskets yesterday. The exhaust pipe interferes with the belly-bar by about 1/2", so I need to address that. There is no ignition system hooked up yet, but I may be able to rig-up a temporary setup, if I get anxious to fire it up. I have to pump all the orifices with gear oil still, there are no seats installed yet, shift lever needs a little work. Radiator is also out, fan, need a belt to fit, heater hoses. All in all - getting real close. :doh:

Keep going you are far ahead of me and the delivery... But this damn thing called the Ratchero jumped up in the middle of it??? That and my paint guy is busy with the sprint boat race season. It will be done in Sep. Maybe off to paint then..

Don't suspect I'll be slowing down anytime soon. In fact here I go again. Home and out the door. ;)

Boy, I must be slacking when my post doesn't stay in the top 5.

[AGREE]

Doesn't mean I'm slacking - though I did spend the day out at Dave's house on Saturday - hauling Bill and Gene along. That was fun. But I came home and my brother-in-law appeared shortly afterward and we put most of the speaker box (which slides under the bed) together and Bill Williams came on Sunday and laid out and cut the openings for the speakers I will put in them. Two 6x9 and two 8" speakers I've had laying around here for years. Will put 6.5" in the kick-panels up front. I'll be fiberglassing the back side where it may see moisture. It'll be like a boat back there, so should hold up well. More on that during the week, I suspect.

Bill also did some sanding on one of the doors for me. Grassy-as Sir.

Have also been going through the 20-million miles of wiring harnesses I have to pick and choose the donors for my new wiring harnesses. Lots of unwrapping and cleaning wires. I'm also slowly mounting the components where they will be going so I can do real-time routing. It should actually go pretty fast once I have a plan in my head and write up a quick schematic.

One thing I am doing is a take-off from something I saw Kenny do, which is to mount relays in a regulator case. These will feed 12 volts directly from the battery to the headlights and the headlight switch and dimmer only need to supply signal voltage to the relay and the relay carries all the current for the headlights making them brighter.

Have to bring out the camera tonight and take some more pictures, but I took these with my phone.