Transmission Woes

kurb_appeal · Post by **kurb_appeal** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:46 pm

So I finally get my car all together and road worthy. Its been three years working on this car, building this or that or whatever to make this that or whatever work lol. I have fought with everything it seems. But regardless I pushed through and got it going.

So today I get to drive it finally. Keep in mind I have not seen this car move under its own power ever! It was such a thrill to see years of culmination come together and this thing move without a tow rope or a friendly push.

I make one trip around the block and stop to double check everything before I take off on some test runs. A get about two blocks away and go to pull out from a stop sign. In first gear from 2500 rpm, I throttle it good, build boost to 15lbs at about 3300 breaks the tires free and kicks the rear end sideways. mid way through a power slide from a roll and get a massive bang from under the car! Get it pulled to the side no fluids leaking out

So I walk back to my truck and me and my buddy proceed to tow the car back home. I jack the rear end up and turn both wheels forward with the car in gear. No resistance at all!!! Great, now I need a new trans. Guess it fits a nothing I touch can go without breaking lol

But on a plus I guess thats a good thing. It means the engine I built is exactly what I wanted.

Just had to tell someone that understands the woes of a custom project.

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:18 pm

That's too bad man. Which transmission was it?

kurb_appeal · Post by **kurb_appeal** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:46 pm

Its the stock unit. I just pulled it out and its fine. So I drained the fluid out of the rearend and i notice the half shafts are both out! WTF I never pulled them and them and the previous owner parked it when he hygrolocked the stock engine siezed it up and broke a bunch of rockers. So this is a mystery to me now

kurb_appeal · Post by **kurb_appeal** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:22 pm

spapped the axles in two. from where the clips hold it into the rear end clean breaks. the rest is still inside the housing. its all got to come apart to get them out

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:30 am

4 bolt (earlier) or 6 bolt (later) axles?

kurb_appeal · Post by **kurb_appeal** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:55 pm

They are the early 4 bolt axles. I have read that the six bolt units will hold more but break in the same spot. Is it worth it to upgrade? I can actually order new 4bolt dudes from my local parts house. But they have no listing for the 6. So yeah I am not real sure what to do here[/b]

Post by **DJpowerHaus** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 6:16 pm

To swap out from 4 to 6 bolt axles you need to do hubs and diff (spider gears). Not a small job.

I just happen to have a pair of 4 bolt axles I pulled off my 87 for sale. $20 each + shipping from MD

kurb_appeal · Post by **kurb_appeal** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:24 pm

Well when I got it the car had 190000 miles which is a ton and judging from the way the engine was completely trashed and seized with broken rockers and munched turbo, I would have to say it saw some abuse lol. Thats kinda why I did this swap so I could go through it all. Bit I kinda got happy with the rest and forgot about the rear. At least I was still close enough to the shop not down the road somewhere.