Last Sat I took the 92 for a ride down to the Burger King in Manassas where everybody gets together for impromptu car shows here.

Car ran great everybody there looked hard when I idles it in and parked. I popped the hood and people started going gaga over the sheetmetal intake, fabbed rocker covers and stuff. I got a lot of positive comments from folks and a lot of good questions about the car and engine.

After about 2 hours we loaded up and headed home. Once I got off the on ramp I layed into it pretty good from about a 4000 RPM roll in 1st gear, pulled second, ran it up to about 6500 RPM, kicked it over in 5th and started riding.... then I noticed the rear end was roaring like a SOB under light acceleration. I pulled off the side of the road looked under the car and since nothing was falling out of it I limped it home (7miles) as easy as I could.

All week I pondered what I was going to do. Since we are moving in to our new house in a couple of weeks I didn't want to take the car apart, as I knew depending on how bad the rear end was hurt I wouldn't have it back together in time. I really wanted to know what was broke since the rear end was just gone thru by my brother during the new engine install with a new 4.10 Yukon R&P put in with all new Timken Brgs and he even rebuilt Positraction unit....

Then a very curious thing happened. A semi local board member got word of my broken rear end. Without any hesitation, without me asking, without him even really knowing me he offered to loan me a spare center section (with a 3.90 gear) he had laying in his basement so I could continue to put miles on the new engine and send my center section off to my dad/brother to be fixed.

I started on it about 6PM last night. Keep in mind this on jack stands in my driveway with only hand tools and an electric impact that’s too big to remove anything except the rear wheels/tires.... By 8PM I had it completely apart. I then talked to my brother for an hour about how it looks like the gear was set up wrong. By 1AM it was back together except for the exhaust. I got up at noon this afternoon, checked the C Beam bolts and batwing bushing bolts with a TQ wrench and put the exhaust back on it. At 1 PM I fired it off and ran the gear in on jack stands for about 15mins.

Good news is I can still drive the car. Bad news is once my gear is fixed I'll have to do this again.

I also noticed while I had the entire rear of the car tore apart that both rear shocks are leaking like crazy and every rubber busing in the rear suspension is destroyed.

I've learned a few things.

First. There are people willing to help anyway they can. The loan of this gear is something I could not fathom when he first offered it. I am humble beyond words to the man.

Second. I've got a lot more work to do this car before it's ready to do any serious racing with. There is so much work still to do (bushings, coilovers) I wonder how long it'll take.

Third. I hate not having the faculties of my dads shop at hand anymore. Crawling around on the ground with the car barley high enough to slide under it, no air tools... This is a bunch of crap. I don't know exactly how I'm going to equip my new 24X24 garage but you can bet some these deficiencies are going to get addressed.

So next week it looks like I'll box the diff up and ship it to GA. Call Randy's and order a new R&P and install kit.
Will

That was very nice of him to loan you the rear center. How very generous. You need to buy him a real nice bottle of something.

Or a years supply of diet Coke, whichever the case may be.

Sorry to hear about the extra work... I know what you mean. I was up to it with my clutch/engine out gasket service!!!

Maybe someone will loan you a new avatar. That one is over the top.

wow.. i wish someone would hook me up like that. i really need to win the lotto.. hell $20 would be great at this point

That was a very cool gesture, indeed!

Quote:

What? No love for Chris Christmas Rodriguez?

Christmas is just around the corner you know....

U R pretty close to Richmond. Going to the Nascar race this weekend? If so, gather up the friend that loaned you the rear and come meet me. My wife and boys and I will be camping and partying there with a couple other friends Thursday through Sunday. I'll supply the beer and burgers. If you are coming let me know, I'll pm you my cell number.

Dan
Thanks for the invite, but I won't be able to make it.
Will

Nice having friends to help you out.