Don Jordan

Well I got the drive shaft on before I read about the torque issue. I didn't use a torque wrench because I didn't know it had a specific torque. I put it on plenty tight because I thought it would draw the outer yoke in. I'm sure I got it past 180 lbs. I'm going to take it for a ride around the block and check to see if everything works. If there is a problem I will take it apart and start again. Actually I did end up with an extra spring and plate but I don't know where they go. I know many will scoff at this but I was thinking of putting caulking around the outer part where it meets the differential. Since the drive shaft spins it should just keep the gap sealed while allowing the caulking to close the hole. Just a thought - I haven't done anything yet.

So you think I should be able to assemble everything and it will be alright?

I don't know why when you guys do something it's always so easy and when I do it it's FUBAR. All I wanted to do is change the leaking oil seal. One thing lead to another. Now I'm trying to get it back together. IT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT. I don't know the names of the pieces but can you see the gap? That can't be right. I don't want to force it. Can it stay like that without hurting anything. This entire episode is getting so frustrating. Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. In the repair manual they show the mechanic putting it in while the diff. is out of the car. Can you see the gap? When I took it off the 2 sides were married.

I'm afraid so. When one headache isn't enough get two. I guess they're like kids: sometimes you can't live with them and you can't shoot them. The garage was my retirement bonus.

Is it true that a fixed radio only will pick up songs from the 40s? After you let it warm up.

Wow - some of these stories seem fantastic. I wonder what people would have thought back in 1948? That's just what the car's supposed to do. Every year I drive from the LA area to the Sacramento state fair. Then I go to the San Francisco bay area. the whole trip is about 1200 miles. I'm not going to do it this year because my good friend can't get time off work and my wife won't go long distances at 55 with no air conditioner. This year I plan on going to Hot August Nights in Reno if anyone wants to hook up. The other thing I've done(though it doesn't make the car run any better) I got a tach for it. The car doesn't go any faster but it makes me smile to see it through the steering wheel.

This is why I never got into math. It's supposed to be so logical yet I just can't wrap my brain around it. .1 should be a tenth. .01 hundredths .001 thousandths. I know you guys are right - I just can't understand. It's like there is no "up" in space. How could you sleep on your side? There are just some mysteries in life we are not meant to grasp. Thanks for trying though.

I know it's rude to gloat - probably one of the seven deadly sins. But since I was going to include one photograph I thought I'd send one of my new garage as well.

P. Adams I've been an English teacher and math is too left brain for me. I understand the concept but wouldn't .030 be 30 hundredths? So then .0030 would be 30 thousandths? This is too much to comprehend.

I apologize - I'm afraid my language skills are sorely lacking. They do not always reflect what my mind is thinking. I will refer to the parts book: I had a leak in the differential so I removed the drive shaft. Upon a closer examination of the U joint I noticed there were some needle bearings that had escaped. (as you can see from the photo) Naturally, as many of you will appreciate, one thing led to another. I tried to get the pin out with my little press and it wouldn't budge. Heated it and tried banging it out. No go. Took it to a machine shop and he pressed the pin out. I cleaned everything out put the new pin in. Greased the bearings and put everything back in. But I couldn't get the assembly to settle into the body. Back to the machine shop. I was told the reason it didn't fit is because the pin was 30 thousandths of an inch too long. He cut it off and now everything floats and bends like it should. (this is really silly and you math geeks will laugh at my stupidity but how do you write 30 thousandths? .0030 or .030?) Since this just happened yesterday I will call Bernbaum today. I'm sure it was just a fluke. We'll see how they respond. I'm still waiting for my oil seal to arrive so I can put it back together. I'm not sure how to get the seal in other than with a hammer. I got it out with a wheel puller.

Just curious: when they say a life time warranty - who's life are they talking about? If it's the life of the vise as soon as it breaks then they will say that's the end of its life. I don't worry about life time warranty - all that stuff will last longer than me anyway.

I've posted this before but here is the old one - I could send pix of the new one. Much cleaner.

I ordered a U joint kit from Bernbam. I tried to put it together but couldn't do it. I finally broke down and took it to my local machine shop. I went in with my tail (if I had a tail) between my legs, my head hanging low. I admitted failure and asked them if they could put on the bearings. I went back at the end of the day to pick up the drive shaft and the guy said it wasn't my fault. That's a first! He said the pin I got was 30 thousandths off. He had to shave some off the pin for it to fit. I was going to write and ask for help but I'm reluctant to ask for fear of chastisement. It cost me $28. But now I know it's all good. Anyway one must be careful when accepting parts. It was off enough it wouldn't fit but not enough for my eye to see. Another valuable lesson. Now I'm waiting for the oil seal. I sure hope that's the right size.

OMG! I don't think I've seen an air vent on the top of the differential. It's got 60 years of crud on it. I plan on taking a wire brush to it. Is this a joke?

Back in the day if you stole someone's horse you could be hung. Maybe that is something we could bring back. Some people don't understand how attached you can get to an inanimate object. There are times I spend more time with my car than my wife. (she understands) Just my 2 cents.

I don't know if anyone is still following this thread but I have an observation. I got the drive shaft off. Pulled the piece off the differential. (I don't have my parts book handy so I don't know the name). I took out the offending oil seal but when I looked closely at the shaft it had kind of a red hue to it. Almost like transmission fluid. Is this normal? I drained the differential and all the oil that came out seemed clear. I tried to take a picture but the color didn't show up. I know I'm probably paranoid but since I'm this far into it I need to be assured everything is alright. I just found it interesting.

I pried at it and got the plate off. I could just let it leak but it makes a mess. It would be just my luck that I would go on a trip, be in the middle of nowhere and have it seize up. I got into old cars so I could play with them. Just ignoring a problem doesn't make it better. I'm sure it's going to be a hassle but what else do I have to do? Who knows I may even learn something. I still appreciate all your help and comments - thanks.

I am truly in need of help. Both mental and physical. I did a search trying to find how to get the differential seal off and I read about using an impact gun. I've looked in the parts manual and see a nut. But I can't find it. What am I missing here?

Tod: you are correct - I could just repack the needle bearings and go on my way. But since I've got them all apart I might as well put in new and feel secure they will last. Looking in the parts book the offending seal is 3-22-45. But I can't figure out how to get it out. I will take a picture of it - that might help. Rick I will e-mail you and we can discuss the U joints. I see they have them at Bernbaum's but I'd like to keep it in the "family".

I gotta tell you my hat is off to the Plymouth motor car. Wow. I got the drive shaft off (a few taps with a hammer). I took off one of the rubber covers and in the gunk around the U joints was a bearing. The car has been running without any vibration, noise, signs of something wrong. I have no idea how long it's been like that or how long it would have lasted. But it did last and did not let me down. Of course now I have to find new U joints. What a wonderful car. I haven't checked out the front bearings yet. I don't have a slide hammer - I do have a wheel puller though I don't know where to connect it. The service manual shows a special tool. This is tomorrow's chore.

My differential is leaking so I was going to replace the seal. Questions: is there a trick to get the old seal off? I don't want to break anything but for some reason I can't seem to get the drive shaft off at the transmission. It seems so silly since I've changed the U joints on my other car in the past but I"m having no luck now. Last question: is there any difference between the leather U joint covers and the rubber ones? I believe I got leather ones from Bernbaum. My 48 has rubber - 47 leather. Just checking before I order new ones. Thanks,

quick OT question: When you put a newer engine in an older body do you still have to have all the smog stuff on it? Do you need to get a smog check?

Don't lose those clips. They are like hen's teeth to find. Of course I'm not sure why you'd want hen's teeth - but so far I either bought the wrong ones or the ones I see on e-bay are out outrageous in price.

What a great idea. Now I just need to find something small enough to make it down and big enough to accept the wires. I really believe there is some sort of clip in there and I just need a way to make it expand. I'll give it a try - thank you. d-

I guess if it's your car it's okay but it sure creates a headache for the next guy.