A few post to follow! I haven’t updated since January… catch me on IG for more regular updates… Clutch kit made up locally for Cad to LaS trans.
F-1 Steering box in process. All clean. I bought a Chadillac Designs steering box flange kit. I then made a lathe arbor to turn down the existing flange to accept the new one. I plan to revise this arbor to instead bolt to the gear cover holes, that way the box can be turned regardless of whether or not the bushing is installed. This way will also make it easier to offset the diameters in the 4 jaw chuck to account for the castings core shift. The diameter shown is not the final dimension, just my proof of concept.
Sort of off topic, but I figured y'all would get a kick out of the Kitchenaid mixer I had pinstriped for my wife. Striping done by Hot Rod Walt. Friend & Front Man of The Psycho DeVilles. New welder & plasma cut machines. Now for some real progress!
Grabbed the crustiest LaSalle case in the pile and tore it down. After cleaning, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it’s in great shape. Ken at K&M Aerospace walnut blasted the input shaft and recut the pilot bearing diameter. He also splined the output shaft to fit the Ford torque tube U-joint & widened the existing snap ring grooves for modern eyeleted circlips, as the original ones are a huge PITA. Despite being a machinist myself, I’m content with sending this work off. I’ve got no ego in this. My department at work doesn’t even have a dividing head so If someone else has the tooling and process down, go right ahead. Lastly, I had the bottom cover chrome plated. I’ve realized that having parts chromed is addicting. Comparable to getting tattooed. Once you have one, the next time you have a couple hundred bucks burning a hole in your pocket, you’ll want another.
DAMN!!!!! I just went 3 pages from a Banger to a POWER PAK and then one of my favorites the CADDY Build!!!! Im in for the subscript..... keep posting anything...
Thanks for the updates. I had to go back and refresh my memory of where your build is at. I am still a bit envious of you and your dad going through the old speed shop. I love poking around in old places to see what can be found but that place is amazing.
First some hokey machinist screw jack action to press out the reverse cluster gear shaft. Followed by drilling, chamfering, & tapping the hole pattern for the Ford rear bearing mount. There is .050 wall thickness at the 3/8-16 thread major diameter & bearing bore, so the old bearing is mocked in place while tapping to keep the bearing bore from deforming/cracking where thin.
Small updates, I scored this Edelbrock 4x2 CD-694 manifold & matching valve covers from Squeak Bell’s collection. I'm very happy with this look. I wasn’t thrilled with the look of allen headed grub screws- splitting hairs I know… So I turned back some 7/16-14 bolts to 3/8 OAL, then slotted them in the mill. These will go in with Loc***e 545 then peened in several places to plug up the old tail shaft holes in the rear of the LaS case.
I don't do Instagram either, so get on here and keep the journey alive. what frame height are you targeting?
I just caught up as well! I am really digging the build and hope you continue to update here. I'm on IG but am over the advertising & BS scripted "made for the Gram" posts. I hope you're still plugging away! 3blap.
Being a machinist myself, I'm enjoying your fabrication work! Just did a similar slotted head project for a Singer sewing machine base that is my kitchen island; needed to replace the rivets for the wheels, and hex bolts weren't going to cut it, so I turned the 1/4"-20 hex heads round and milled a slot. Just one of those fun projects!
Just discovered your thread. I think it was via a cl***ified. I'm impressed and a little intimidated as I look to doing things kinda out of the ordinary, but with a vintage vibe. I'm not a machinist but I seem to conceive stuff that requires that skill. I'll be awatchin with interest
Nice work, been following for some time now. Are you planning to install O rings on the shafts to prevent trans oil from oozing out. Every one of those Cad boxes I have ever used always left drool marks wherever it was parked.
Talking about the shift arm locations? If so, yes. I need to see what everyone’s doing about that in the LaS transmission group on FB. Lots of smart cats on there if you didn’t already know! If no one’s addressed it, I need to maybe spend some time researching a solution. I’d like to find seals, but if not an o ring will suffice. Surely better than the cork or felt ******** that was in there originally.
Actually was addressing the seeping cluster shafts. Some have recommended cutting a groove in the shaft for an o ring, chamfering the housing and then inserting the shaft to get a good seal. Might hold true for the shifter shafts as well although there is less material there to work with.
The Jalopy Journal
