Well, I actually did something today for the Pintojeep. Lately there hasn't been much oversize work so I get to sit around home and think up things to do. Today I thought, hey, check out your new overdrive, dummy!
� � � � �So, I decided to take apart the overdrive equipped tranny someone had told me about when I was near Phoenix a while back. I bought it for a great price and had hoped it would be good enough to put in one of my jeeps, but since I dragged it home I never had time to do a proper inspection. At least it was installed in a large shaft(1.25inch) Transfer case, so I didn't have to worry about getting the right tooth count for my jeep, if the TC was any good.
� I have never had the pleasure of doing much tranny work on my jeeps, I lucked out on my first few in that they seemed to work fine and didn't need anything done other than topping up the lube. However, Pintojeep has a waterlogged and rusty tranny that shifts hard, howls like a wolf pack at midnight, and to top it off, it has to come out and be relocated along with the engine about 3 inches forward of where it is now. I want to be able to go on one of the Colorado Trail rides someday so Pintojeep is just going to have to get fixed!
� � � � So, first step....read everything I could online about removing an overdrive. Guess who has the best removal instructions? WE DO!!! I read it a few times, even stopped mid job to check it again. I shoulda printed it out...rrrgh.
� � �I might post up some pics later of the process, but it was pretty much exactly like everyone has said. Interesting that one online guide says never to pry it out but Herm the OD guy says to carefully pry it out with two screwdrivers..I decided to follow his advice and it pulled out slick as can be. Now the first problem, which I think is just me looking at something incorrectly. The forward end of the center shaft that the center planetary gear is on, is scored badly and looked worn. However, I think it is just the way it is made, and it doesn't actually fit into anything. It isn't a bearing surface at all, despite how it appears when you first look at it. (Am I right?) I looked at Herm's pic of a new unit and it looks the same as mine.
� � � The next thing that has to come out is that frickafrack snap ringeveryone complains about getting back in. . Easy peazy! Didn't have a problem at all. �Then, put the 1/2 socket extension in there to remove the nut torqued to 120 ft lbs.. Wait, it doesn't fit. Ok, a 3/8 extension does... So MR ADD trys to take it out with the ratchet wrench and everything spins. Out comes the air wrench.. Success, it loosens right up. But nothing comes out.. Oh wait... I FORGOT TO TAKE THE SPECIAL LOCK WASHER OUT!!!Well now that I have ruined the special lockwasher with my impact wrench, it pops right out, and what do ya know, the 1/2 inch extension now fits right into the special nut. It zips right off, and the rest of the planetary set comes out. One Warn overdrive, removed and boxed for later inspection. At first glance it seems okay.
� � Well, I figured I better go back inside and reread the guides and see how to split the two gearboxes before I mess anything else up. .. Eventually after a while of t-90 related websurfing interrupted by a bit of eBaying �(ADD anyone??) I went back outside and wired the gears in the tranny forward, so nothing came apart at the wrong time. Popped out the 5 bolts, and whammo, I have a tranny and TC. And a lot of goopy gunk in the bottom. Yumm.
� � I swear the last time they paved the road out front someone snuck into my shop and coated this gearbox with some extra road tar they had on hand.. Cleaning the cases is going to be a FUN job. The other problem I have is the tranny has the long 6 cyl input shaft, so I will need to take another tranny I have apart so I can build one from two. (Or if I am lucky use the alternative tranny, which came from LA or MI somewhere two years or more ago.Been tripping over it in the shop ever since. )And there is no parking brake assembly either. I don't know yet if I will swap in one, or put on rear wheel parking brakes when I do the 11 inch brake conversion. I'm leaning towards the driveshaft brake.
� � � �When I get time I will post some pics so you experienced tranny rebuilders can tell me if you see anything that looks bad, at first glance before dismantling further. I was pleasantly surprised by what looks like a minimal amount of wear to me. This setup I took apart today came from a 55 Chevy Nomad, of all things, and had the worlds ugliest adapter to mate the T 90 with a Chevy bellhousing. This you gotta see to believe.
To be continued, hopefully before 2014.
Between installing a tranny on my F 150 on the ground and moving about a ton of heavy jeep parts this week, my back is ready to cry uncle....This getting old is for the birds. �;D
