74MAX360

Hey guys.... how stupid would it be to put the parking brake on -chock the wheels good -and use a jack to apply pressure to a breaker bar to remove the pinion nut?

Will that damage anything? I would imagine the engine puts out more torque than that through the drive shaft -but not sure -I'm trying to avoid having to buy an impact and finding another way to keep the pinion from turning -and definitely don't want to wail on the breaker with a hammer.
.

Skwerly

I used my huge buddy's foot and basically the same methods otherwise. It's fine, those are tough sumguns.

74MAX360

Welllll -I'm kind of a loner, so I'll have to chock 'em

Skwerly

lol! no i mean we chocked em and we used his foot and a big *** bar with a socket on it to break the nut free.

74MAX360

I was thinking your buddy must have been a good sport about it when you asked him

74MAX360

Hey -I got another question -this time about green bearings.

I am confident I can get the old bearings off without messing up the axle, but I don't have access to a press to press on the new bearings.

A guy on the internet used a pipe and fitting -smacked the heck out of it with a hammer instead of using a press.

My question is..... how much pressure do they require -and can I use PVC instead of metal? 2 1/2" PVC has just the right I.D. to fit over the axle and contact the bearing, etc., correctly.
If I stand the axle on some wood -and smack that PVC like it done me dirty -do you think that might work?

If I use metal and a hammer, I am almost guaranteed to scrape up the axle somehow.

74MAX360

After replacing the pinion seal, there are some funky sounds from the rear end. I'm pretty sure it's the wheel bearings, though. It wasn't immediate. I adjusted them to spec (had too much play) before I started driving it -prolly squeezed out whatever dry grease there was left between things and made them angry.
Gonna have to try the PVC idea. I was outside smacking some down on the cement and it didn't break, so I'll be mashing the bearings down butter-churn style with the axle standing on wood.
Good ol' redneck engineering.
I'm not actually sure if I have a sure-grip rear end -better check -maybe need some friction modifier -the gear oil bottle said it wasn't necessary, but this van isn't letting me get away with anything.
I'm setting money aside for a new punkin' just in case. (Stimulus check=$1200 -amazing how a $1200 Mopar part pops into an enthusiast's head -I still have four rolls of toilet paper and I can make it last)
(Also got a remanufactured carb)

74MAX360

Been road tripping with it. Not much get up and go
off the line -still needs some adjustments -but flies like the wind on the highway -lots of acceleration for passing. Was smooth as butta until I threw a couple stick- on wheel weights -now just a bit noticeable -I can tell where they went, so will have to get some -and spares. I originally wanted no windows, but I love having so many now. Pups love it, too -as well as the fact that I turned the passenger seat around and laid it back.

RacerHog

Awesome... Glad to see your out getting a little open air !!!! Happy to hear the Pups love it also !!!

Skwerly

hey, soooooooooo cool!