My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Ok, here we go again.
Last I left it the engine was in, but no flywheel or transmission yet. Installed my new flywheel and Mcleod Super Streetpro clutch...
And after many trials and tribulations getting everything lined up underneath the car, I got the transmission installed. It still needs a few things hooked up, the speedo gear installed and filled with oil, but we're getting there.
And then there was this...
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
My new Milodon road race pan hitting the lower part of the driver's side spool mount. I had noticed this area before, but the clearance (or lack thereof) was dependent on the angle of the engine. Since I didn't have the transmission on, I figured it was sagging and raised it up a bit, no biggie. And assumed that once the transmission was in place it would still clear fine. Well, we all know assumptions do... #-o
So, instead of pulling the transmission and lifting the engine back out, I supported the engine with a hoist and dropped the K frame out the bottom to notch the mount for clearance.
Once the notch was cut I reinforced the mount (probably unnecessary)
And reinstalled the K and dropped the engine back into the mounts. Plenty of clearance now!
Why this was an issue I'm not really sure. The Milodon road race pan fits pretty tight with the 73-76 A body spool mounts, but I haven't seen one that interfered yet. Granted, it really just touched the mount, there was no pressure or load on the pan, just contact there. I did replace the stock worn out rubber mounts with poly inserts for the spools, so I suppose that may have been part of it.
Still have to finish buttoning up the suspension, I needed to swap out the 1" JS torsion bars for the 1.12" Firm feel bars I bought so this seemed like a good time with the other bars already dropped to remove the K. That and the new Bilsteins. Then back on to getting the engine hooked up and ready to fire.
Ok, here we go again.
Last I left it the engine was in, but no flywheel or transmission yet. Installed my new flywheel and Mcleod Super Streetpro clutch...
And after many trials and tribulations getting everything lined up underneath the car, I got the transmission installed. It still needs a few things hooked up, the speedo gear installed and filled with oil, but we're getting there.
And then there was this...
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:
My new Milodon road race pan hitting the lower part of the driver's side spool mount. I had noticed this area before, but the clearance (or lack thereof) was dependent on the angle of the engine. Since I didn't have the transmission on, I figured it was sagging and raised it up a bit, no biggie. And assumed that once the transmission was in place it would still clear fine. Well, we all know assumptions do... #-o
So, instead of pulling the transmission and lifting the engine back out, I supported the engine with a hoist and dropped the K frame out the bottom to notch the mount for clearance.
Once the notch was cut I reinforced the mount (probably unnecessary)
And reinstalled the K and dropped the engine back into the mounts. Plenty of clearance now!
Why this was an issue I'm not really sure. The Milodon road race pan fits pretty tight with the 73-76 A body spool mounts, but I haven't seen one that interfered yet. Granted, it really just touched the mount, there was no pressure or load on the pan, just contact there. I did replace the stock worn out rubber mounts with poly inserts for the spools, so I suppose that may have been part of it.
Still have to finish buttoning up the suspension, I needed to swap out the 1" JS torsion bars for the 1.12" Firm feel bars I bought so this seemed like a good time with the other bars already dropped to remove the K. That and the new Bilsteins. Then back on to getting the engine hooked up and ready to fire.