Well, the world's slowest auto mechanic FINALLY got the transmission in. Last week, it was *almost* in (see message below) -- but today, I backed it out to see what was really going on. It so happens that in a box of transmission parts that Richard Main sent to me (thank you, Richard, wherever you are), there was the leading drive shaft. After removing the transmission, I tried to insert this into the clutch plate. It wouldn't go! Did I have the wrong clutch plate?! Having already dropped the lower bell housing, I backed off the pressure plate bolts and dropped the clutch plate. Low and behold! It would not fit on the lead transmission shaft. The reason: PAINT. The replacement clutch plate metal was painted a nice glossy black, and SO WERE THE SPLINES. It would have been a simple matter for the remanufacturer to cover the splines before painting -- and it would have been a simple matter for me to check. But I didn't, hence the problem. A little emory paper to the paint, and a little three and one oil -- I had the plate sliding on the transmission shaft like butter. Then, using the patented Dave Strangand long-bolt guidance system (Thanks, Dave), it was one-two-three, what are we fighting for... The tranny was in, and I was home in time to cut the lawn to keep the missus happy. Thanks to all! Dan '55 Savoy > -----Original Message----- > From: Forward Look Mopar Discussion List > [mailto:L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Dan Morton > Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2001 11:44 AM > To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [FWDLK] Pardon me ma'am, your pressure plate is showing > > > Folks, > > The world's slowest auto mechanic now has the standard 3-spd. transmission > ALMOST in. I say almost, because after I hoisted it with a floor jack and > slid the shaft through the throwout bearing and pressure plate, > it's hung up > about 1 1/2" from the bell housing. My guess is that the splines aren't > aligning with the clutch plate; turning the emergency brake drum while the > transmission is in gear doesn't seem to help. > > I used a tool to align the clutch plate before I locked down the pressure > plate, and before I started putting the tranny in, I could sight > everything > to see that it was still in alignment. I guess the transmission is off > center a bit, but it's hard to see where I'm off while I'm on my back > fooling around. > > I thought about pressing on the clutch a bit to nudge the clutch > plate, but > I'm likely to throw everything off. Just now, it occurred to me > I could get > two long bolts to "pilot" the tranny into place while I play around. I do > have the lower bell housing piece off, so I can see the pressure plate and > clutch, and could even fool around from there. > > Never had this problem before! (Admittedly, the last time I did > this was 32 > years ago, in a '63 Polara.) Does anyone have advice for me? If anyone > likes the "pilot bolt" approach, please let me know the upper bolt > size/tpi -- the car is 30 miles from here, with no hardware store nearby. > > adTHANKSvance, > Dan > '55 Savoy >
|