Plus I got a new tool, when I built the Studebaker I had a hard time finding a shop that would put it on their front end rack. Hopefully I can do without them this time.
This takes care of both sides ! now to see where the alignment numbers are at and then I have to decide on how to mount the trailing arm bushings.
The sway bar is all finished, bolted in place and good to go. I spent some time using the caster/camber gauge and setting the toe just to see where things are at . Which is all fluid until I get the trailing arms secured . After setting the toe in and measuring the distance from the rotors to the frame rails both sides are within a 1/32nd of a inch , meaning things are centered and square . The most important things is all four wheels going in the same direction. So I am pretty pleased with that. Now I need someone to come by and put the trans on the motor for me. As my body won't allow me to do it , lol
So I have had a break for a Cardiac event and getting a fifth stent placed, recovery has been very slow nothing like the others. This is three in the widowmaker. Me and the bride had been working on indexing the bell housing with her reading the numbers and me turning the crank. I ended up with some .007 offset dowels and needing to move the bell sideways so with that completed and the trans now slides in and out as smooth as silk. My first experience with one of these transmissions. They have a much tighter input shaft and couple that with a pilot bearing over a bushing which can be loosened up with a hone you have to be dead on. I ended up being within .002 and a race shop I frequent their spec is 001 but they are set up with a dedicated measuring device that goes in the end of the crank where I was coming off the flywheel face. With that said it is no surprise when you Google " Pilot bearing " you read about them burning up in short order. Then you read about the hack installing the trans. and all the questions are answered. I called the company the owner purchased all the parts from about a plug/cover for the hole where the fork would have been. The tech guys answer was they recommend leaving it open for ventilation ? how crazy is that. I can see a rock getting in there with that thousand dollar clutch and causing all kinds of havoc. Lakewood does offer a boot for that hole but I went with a home fabbed piece that still needs a final fitting around the lines and some red paint . Next will be getting the motor and trans. in place to fab some mounts and a crossmember. If I make it that far lol !
The Jalopy Journal
