I finished watching this DVD and I'm SO not going to try this
Who wants it next?

 

I rebuilt a '68 O-Type several years ago and I didn't find it to be too bad. I didn't install new gears, just put new bearings in it so I had to use a dial indicator and inch-pound torque wrench to ensure the ring and pinion went back together correctly. My plan was to use that as a learning vehicle and then put a 3.42 gear set into the '71 10 bolt, but I moved before doing that and haven't got back to it yet.

 

Do you want the DVD then?

 

Macadoo you can send me the DVD. PM me it will go with my bodywork DVDs.

 

Mac. I just gone done setting my friends ring and pinion up. Its realy not that bad. Also he has a 3.42 gear with your name all over it . Its a stock gm gear set. Good wear. I can help you install it its not really that hard. Time consuming to some extent but not bad. We spent an accumulated 5 hrs between tearing it down and having all set to go . He decided to use a yukon posi unit and that made us have to wait a few days.

 

PM sent.

Dang dude, don't you have enough "friend's cars" to work on? Lol. What's he want for the gears? Maybe later this summer? Mary and I are heading out on the road next week so I'll be needing my 2.56s for a little longer. I totally want the muscle those 3.42s will give me but there's nothing like cruising at 75 MPH and 2500 RPMs, lol.
But I'm VERY interested. Plus it would be cool to finally hang out. I could come up there or you could bring the gal down for some "nature" (and brats and beer). If it's clear, we could break out the telescope...

[IMG][/IMG]

 

Mac he said he wants 100 for the gear set. When you are ready we can plan it out. The 3.42's are not too bad on the highway but they dont compare to the 2.56's . He also has the carrier but its a busted gov lok unit so it will have to be converted to open unless you plan on buying a posi unit. I can take the train out there. once you are ready we can plan it better .

 

See, you've already lost me My rear is open (peg leg) now.

 

Long story short your carrier won't work with the 3.42 gear so we will need a carrier or a spacer to work with a 3 series gear .,but my friend has the whole guts from his. If you want posi you will have to buy a posi unit unless you want to keep the peg leg.

 

Okay, I've been watching some videos and I think I get it. A posi unit isn't in the budget. Would it be dumb to swap in 3.42s with a peg leg?

 

No its no big deal the only thing is when you do a burn out only one tire will spin. In my opinion its also much safer for cruising in less than stellar weather specially rain. A posi unit will slip but only under load like turns where it allows it to slip ( limited slip ) but if you break the tires loose in the rain both will spin . With an open rear one tire has the possibility of staying planted and only one spinning. That's my take on it atleast. When I crashed my car it was in the rain and I was doing about 55 and as soon as I felt the rear hover it was over . Granted I was on drag radials and got caught in a fast moving down pour but even on regular tires in light rain my car wil just pull towards the right rear because of the posi unit . Its a long explenation but essentially for daily drivers I reccomend an open unless you plan on racing . On my dads car we did 3.08's open.

 

Yeah man, I've been reading up. Of course the posi has the cool-factor but right now I can't afford the domino effect. New gears $100, posi unit $300 (ish), bearings, seals, it starts to add up. And then since Mary likes the long interstate cruises, I'm looking at needing a 4 speed trans. Going from 2208 to 2950 rpms at 70mph is going to effect mileage.
What all will we need to swap just the ring and pinion?

 

Well the carrier bearings in the carrier we can use where good and we have the cups that go with them. as long as your axle seals are good then they dont need replacing , you will need and install kit about 50 bucks i belive it has the pinion bearings. so all saod and done probably 200 in parts taking unto consideration the nickle and dime stuff and cost of the used gear set .

 

$200 I could do as long as it's a little later in the summer. Not trying to look a gift horse in the mouth. But the interior went a little (wayyy) over budget.
Would sustained 3000 RPMs (like hours at a time) be bad on the motor or just on gas?

 

3000 rpms are bad but varying the rpms is more important. My saturn on the highway will turn 3000 plus rpm above 80 which I drove it highway everyday 106 mile round trip for 2 years. Granted that's a 4 cyl. Inline 4 but its no diffrent now than back in the 60's these cars often had 3.42's and where family commuters and road trip caps.

 

Well you'll just have to help me install a 700r4 next summer ;-)

 

I enjoy stuff like that. Its the long drawn out projects that burn ya out. You are doing it the right way. A little here a little there . Enjoy the car and work on it.

 

I am currently running a 3.42 open. The No slip in the wet was dangerous and I broke it. They weren't hard to install. I had a TH250C after I blew my first 2004R. I hated it compared to OD. The 2004R is nearly a direct swap, the 700R4 isn't. I currently turn 1850 rpm at 60 and low 2000's at 70 mph with the converter locked.

 

Thanks for the input, 307.

 

Be thankful you are dealing with a 8.5" rear. I also exploded a set of spider gears and ruined a set of gears. I should have waited and bought a 84 Hurst/Olds. I put in Yukon spider gears and they will be slick tested at the track.

 

You were right about the 200-4r. I had read so many debates comparing it to the 700R4 that I'd forgotten which one was a direct bolt in.
I don't know much about rear ends. Did you blast yours with too much horse power?