James_Douglas

Take a look at what I did here....James http://www.dacoglu.com/cooling.htm

Norm, In theory you are correct. In practice you are wrong. In addition to this forum I belong to a Jaguar forum. In that forum it is forbidden to mention any vendor in the context of anything negative. NO free speech. People resort to telling people to call them or send private emails. Of course then there is not history to search for in the threads about a bad vendor or product experience. What this does is stifle comments and prevent bad products and bad people from taking advantage of the inexperienced or innocent in our car community. Sure the writer can fight a lawsuit, IF THEY HAVE THE MONEY. That is the entire point of a slap suit. It is not about justice it is about power. If the person suing has the power of money they will bury the person who does not have the money. On this veterans day we salute all those who fought against the powerfully harming the weak. Such lawsuits are done by people whom in another time and place, if given the power, would cloth themselves in brown shirts. James

The thought that the feds won't mess with our cars as being to low on the priority pole does not hold up under scrutiny. Current history tends to support my conclusions. Any new head of the federal EPA and public health agencies will not be focused on wall street, main street, or Iraq. They will however be looking at pollution sources with a very different world view than the folks they are replacing. The current EPA managers moved last spring, only by court order in response to a law suit, to set a new limit on airborne lead. Now 100LL (Low lead) in aviation gasoline is in the cross hairs to be replaced. The problem is that there is no replacement. One of the main parties who brought the lawsuit that forced the EPA mangers to act...when confronted with the issue of replacement fuel stated that: ''With the phase-out of leaded aviation fuel on the regulatory horizon, older aircraft models that are unable to process unleaded fuel should be grounded...'' These same folks are the ones pushing for tighter standards on all mobile pollution sources. It matters not how small of a percentage of the ''problem'' classic cars may be, I very much think in the next eight years our cars will be in the cross hairs along with all mobile sources like lawn mowers, blowers, and the like. Again, if the feds tie money to compliance and big federal infrastructure projects are in the pipeline...we may have a tough time at the state level. James

I have been up to my butt in OD stuff for the last year. Send me a PM with a phjone number and I will call you to talke about issues to look at. Best, James

If you are using an optima with a standard generator and mechanical regulator, go look up the threads from 5 years back on optima batteries. Extensive thread and issues to be concerned about. James

Let me state that I did not vote for Obama or McCain. We could do better than both of them, but our system is just not allowing or producing the best and the brightest to ascend to the top job. ******************* I think it is going to be interesting to see what effects the election will have on our classic car hobby. If an energized center-left federal government tries to act on the points Obama made in his election night speech, it could spell real trouble for our hobby. Obama said, "...because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – two wars, a planet in peril..." In an interview over a year ago Charley Gibson from ABC asked Obama about his non-political interests, Gibson asked Obama if politics and money were no issue what kind of car would he drive. Obama stated that he is "not a car guy" and then talked with nostalgia and pride they he drove and old rusting Datsun that you could see the street through the holes in the floorboard. It is apparent that he has no affinity for trains, planes, or automobiles. When he and his fellow Democrat's in congress try to address that global policy statement about " ...a planet in peril...", I assure you that the practical implication to everyone in our hobby will not be something to look forward to. Unless everyone keeps a sharp eye on all local, state, and federal government and is prepared to write and show up if needed...the next eight years may well be the end of the old car hobby as we have all known it. Best, James

The ones in PA match the set we have been collecting. If I can find someone who lives in Pittsburgh I will bid on them and if that person can get it to the hound, my friend can make sure that get treated nice... James

Anyone live in Pittsburgh, PA ? I am thinking of bidding on some antique luggage in a live, via ebay, auction but they will not arrange for shipping. If I bid and win I need someone to pick the stuff up until I can arrange to get it shipped out to San Francisco. I have a friend, a Desoto man, that works for Greyhound and we may be able to just put it onto a bus to California. Thanks, James

Don, Had a chance to see if the Dizzy fit ? Also, what dates are you going to be in my neck of the woods ? James

What year car ? Many MOPARS of the 40's and early 50's did NOT have any rubber in the control arms, but were of the threaded and greased type... James

The groove....

You know, I have one other thought... At least on the 2nd gear, which also affects the syncro clutch, how about having the thrust face of the gear that rides on the snap ring hard chromed up by 6 thousands....may be cheeper than custom snap rings. ...James

Don, These rings are for the main trans. The spare trans is making a howling in 2nd and no doubt it is because of too much endplay. The manual goes into a lot of detail about this snap rings and end play. In particular they talk about the damage that can be done to the OD if there is any movement in the rear or intermediate bearings. Given that the hard parts for the OD, like the main OD gear set, is just not available at any price, I will stick it out a little longer and try to find or make the correct snap rings. I know that sometimes you just have to use what you have, but I am not at the point yet of tossing in the towel yet. If I am still stuck in a week, I will have to toss in the towel or spend a hunk and make some parts up. I did go the extra mile on the engine and other than the rear main seal leaking a little too much the engine really runs great and pulls that moose up those hills around here. I really want to have a trans to match the QA of the engine. Best, James

Turns out that our 3-speeds are using snap rings that are not of any modern "standard size". I cannot grind down to the proper thickness transmission snap rings as nobody has any in the ID-OD combination needed. I found one spring maker that may make me a run as small as 100. But those 100 snap rings are going to cost me around $400. The MOPAR service manuals are quite specific about having second gear between 3 and 8 thousands and the syncro at zero endplay. If these are not within specification than the transmission will run noisy and will cause abnormal wear. I may spring to have a run maid and then try to recoup my costs over time. But I hat to have to sell snap rings at $5 each. If I do it, I may only sell sets of 10 for $50 and spread the pain around. Now these comments apply to the three smaller snap rings. The small snap ring for the syncro cannot be checked until the second gear is set and in place with its final snap ring as the syncro abuts up against the second gear. These smaller snap rings are also not including the snap rings which hold the front, middle, and rear bearings in place. I still have to deal with those and the MOPAR service manual actually shows several thicknesses to get everything correct. The three "small snap rings" are in their standard from: ID=1.222 OD=1.475 Thickness is 0.088. With this ring in place and a NEW second gear I am showing 7 to 9 thousands on the dial indicator using a magnetic stand mounted directly to the shaft for accuracy. The old was showing around 12 with the dial indicator. As an aside the dial indicator is showing about 4 thousands more than using a feeler gauge. So I need a snap ring that is about 0.094. Best, James

Don, I am hoping that the companies that make them have surface grinders and do it every day. For something so small a magnectic grinder is what is needed and the last piston shop that had one, for rings, in Northern California went out of business decades ago... James

FYI - It is becoming apparent that one of the harder issues to rebuilding a MOPAR three speed the way the factory manuals recommend is securing the proper thickness snap rings. My rebuilt trans has 2nd gear snap ring clearance of 9 thousands when checked in a jig with a dial indicator on the bench. The book states 3 to 8 with a strong preference to 3. The clutch gear (inside of the synchronizer) is supposed to have zero. It had about 4 on my rebuilt transmission. These two are the critical ones or second gear and the synchronizer can walk on the main shaft. The big issue is that the correct snap rings in the sizes to make up for the wear on the main shaft do not exist. Production rings run from .078 inch to .093 inch to .109 inch. It appears that the second with wear on the main shaft face runs from about .083 to .085. What I need is a set of rings from .080 to .094 inch on .001 increments for the second gear. The synchronizer clutch ring groove is larger and until the second gear is fitted and installed you cannot measure that for the ring needed. However, I am going to estimate it tomorrow and come up with a range. I am then going to call several snap ring makers and get a quote on making me up three sets of rings in the 0.001 increments. If anyone wants in on a set or two, then let me know by posting a note on this thread. Best, James

A number of us are going to Jimmy's picnic this Sunday. We will be heading over early about 6:00 AM to set up. We will be cooking breakfast. Any MOPAR folks heading over look for us near the entrance driveway and pull up a spot. Best, James http://www.jimmyspicnic.com/

Mark, Give me a call in the next few days. I have mine on the bench and have managed to get just about all the gears new. Best, James

Alex, The M6 unbolts from the bell housing. Look at it from the back. The x-member is in the way in your photo. If you can find a "Dodge Unit" which is a 3-speed trans with a longer input shaft it will slip right in. I use a 3-speed with OD in place om my Tip-Toe shift M6 in my 1947 Desoto. I used the same bell housing and fluid coupling. The linkage takes a little work to get right, but that is about it. Best, James

You MUST remove the internal MC residual valve. If you want to do it text book, then you would also want a metering valve and a proportioning valve. Many folks here omit those last two items. I did my "by the book" and use a residual valve and a proportioning valve. My system is very well balanced and I get very little forward lean on heavy braking. I recommend that anyone making design changes to a brake system get Fred Puhn's Brake Handbook. http://www.amazon.com/Brake-Handbook-Fred-Puhn/dp/0895862328 James

I use http://www.eatonsprings.com. They have the original blueprints, have been around forever, and supply many of the resellers. James

Pat, Al I can say is I have a 4" binder of documentation on these transmissions. It would take an hour and $40 to make a copy of the stuff I have put into the binder. Down the line if anyone wants a copy let me know and when time allows, I will run off a couple. James

Jim, C. W. Beamgard Co., Inc just emailed back that they have two of the parts. I called and both are on their way. They are a Chrysler dealership and have been around for 80 years! The best part is the part manager did not have a price on them so he sold them to me for $5 each. That is a reasonable price, but we all know that some of the regulars would have charged me more IF they had the part. Your the man Jim, thanks, James

Sike's said they did not have it when I contacted them last week. I will try CW Beamgard Co as I have never heard of them before. Thanks, James

Bob is correct that the part number is 1115576. I have not tried Len Dawson, anyone have his contact information ? I have tried all the usual trans shops and MOPAR part dealers and so far nothing. Best, James