billmeister wrote:
So, any gearheads around here?
I'm doing a ground-up buildup of a mid-90's Ford full size truck. I know the details on these truck almost down to every wire, nut and bolt. It gives me something to keep my hands and mind busy, as well as much needed alone time.
I don't know if I'm a gear head ( at least an enthusiast) but I within the last five months installed a new ring and and pinion and limited slip differential. I drove for several years with this and I swore I'd never own a open differential type vehicle again. This F 150 was 'open' in the rear and having a 8foot bed spelled poor traction in sand or snow.
I thought the job was physically difficult due to not having removed the entire axle and working on a bench; instead lifting the truck up to where you could sit Indian style underneath the bed and do the work. Driving the inner pinion race in was difficult here. And setting the preload on the crush washer was nearly impossible due to lack of clearance. I impacted it down and used a 4ft breaker bar for leverage to fine tune it and stood on the end of the this bar to finalize the torque. This was
just enough to set the bearing preload
...just enough force/ weight to do this.
I've done complete air conditioning work from compressor changes to evaporator changes to removing orifice tube restrictions, dryer installs, etc.
I know or have a understanding of how it all works from the top down.
I've done complete 2 engine overhauls( less machine shop work. i.e. boring cylinders). One with high performance parts. This engine had a broken piston ring so it was necessary at least from a overhaul standpoint.
I dont know if I overall enjoyed this, but the knowledge gained is a nice benefit and it makes a car a simple thing to me....(less a transmission.)
One thing I never touched is a transmission.
Most everything else Ive been in to.