I worked on Brutus yesterday. Started by myself, because when I got down to the end of the house where it's parked dad goes, "My back hurts, if you want this done you gotta do it yourself." Hmm, ok.

So I'm under there pulling out the driveshaft and this conversation followed...

dad - did you unhook the battery?
me - uh, no.
dad - what's the first thing every good mechanic does first?
me - uh, unhook the battery, but I never claimed to be a good mechanic, you're the mechanic, so you unhook it. :toothless

Anyhow, here's some pics.

Good thing I pulled the driveshaft out. Brutus was on his way to chewing up the third u-joint. Dad says it's "slinging" the grease out, surely it wouldn't be that dry after only 3-4 months considering I don't drive that much. :shrug I have a non-serviceable Spicer joint to replace it with.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436087/fullsize/picture-339.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436086/fullsize/picture-337.jpg

Cookie to whoever knows what was next.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436076/fullsize/picture-297.jpg

I pulled the driveshaft, starter and exhaust pipes all by myself. I wish I had gotten a pic of me on my back with two hands and a foot trying to manuever that complete exhaust pipe out by the trans and over the crossmember, but there was nobody down there with me.

This is me sitting under the truck evaluating the t-case and what has to be done so I can drop it out.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436077/fullsize/picture-303.jpg

By the time I had 3 of the 6 bolts out and the linkage undone, my dad showed up because he couldn't stand it anymore and had to get under there and tell me I was doing it wrong and do it himself. At this point I was back to "hand me that 9/16ths impact socket" status.

The NP205 is so tiny compared to that big ass NP203. Wish I could get a pic of them side by side.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436078/fullsize/picture-305.jpg

While I was sitting there bored, thought I'd take a pic of this oooold Snap-On wrench. It's probably older than I am.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436080/fullsize/picture-314.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436081/fullsize/picture-323.jpg

I don't think they ever intended these shoes to be greasy and worn for working on a truck.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436082/fullsize/picture-318.jpg

I was playing with the camera. It has this setting where you can pick out a color and it'll leave the rest black and white.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436083/fullsize/picture-328.jpg


HERE is the root of my driveability issue. I was having problems with it falling out of gear like it was losing pressure and it wouldn't "grab" until about 1500 RPM like the converter was messed up and you could definitely hear it whining.

This is the trans pump. The one on the left is my broken one, the one on the right is what it's supposed to look like. The splined shaft goes inside the converter and stator grabs it. So when the stator in the converter is spinning it spins the pump. It just completely sheared off and was in the converter.
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436084/fullsize/picture-332.jpg

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436085/fullsize/picture-333.jpg


My dad gave me the "Melissa Lynn!! There will be no more burnouts or dyno pulls." However, after talking about it this morning he thinks the converter was a POS and the stator froze up and sheared the splined shaft off the pump. He goes, "I could understand it in the race car launching at 2500 on a trans brake, but there's not enough going through that trans to shear that shaft off like that." So who knows.

I got a new TCI 2500 stall converter and I hope *crosses fingers* that we can get it back together in a week. I gotta go to a wedding October 1st and I bought this new dress and some new heels and I wanna wear my prissy little girl dress and show up in my raggedy ol Bronco. :toothless

Great start Mels!!!!:thumbup

you would be surprised what these old trucks would tear up. mine ****led my ole slip yoke like it wasnt nuthin, plus you got a 429, so its a little bigger than the 400.

does a auto put more stress on a driveline than a straight drive? i never really understood which did which.

You've got more power loss in the driveline with an auto due to friction. So no, there's more stress and chances to break stuff with a manual.

The C6 auto - like I have - is one of - if not THE - most power robbing transmission out there. I'd give my left boob to have a 4 speed, but I'd be tearing shit up for sure then. If I keep Brutus for any length of time, I'll seriously do a 4 speed swap in it.

so now that you are apparently swapping tcases, is the exhaust gettin rerouted to be 4wd again?

looks good, i like the flat black, make friends with a pinstriper and itd be even cooler!!

and next time you get some good burnouts goin make sure to get pics!!

That 205 has been in there awhile. Did the t-case swap, hell, last year sometime I think when the 203 crapped the bed.

As far as the exhaust goes, I seriously doubt it. I honestly don't see how people run headers and have room in there for the front driveshaft and the exhaust. Besides that I have NO idea where the front driveshaft is. :brownbag

While I was sitting under there wasting time, I was contemplating just finding out what it'd take to put a 2WD tailhousing on that C6. But on the other hand, should I suddenly come into $7-800 dollars to get the headers and get the exhaust redone and find a front driveshaft I might consider the idea of putting it back.

Yes, I know it needs some pinstriping. The guy that painted it for me has actually suggested since I'm naturally talented in the art and drawing department that I stripe it myself and put my name on the door. That'd be cool. :toothless


Oh and I got a good pic of the burnout, did you never see it?

ok, i see know. i knew that either a automatic, or a straight drive, had different u-joints, at least thats what the part counter book said.

what's the first thing every good mechanic does first?

not disconnect the battery. yeah it does say that in every manual out there but its an extra step that is useless unless working on something related to electrical. I hardly ever disconnect it.

Way to go Mel, you are kickin butt now girl. Nice to see you wanting to get all dressed up and feminine too, that is what makes being a gal so darn much fun.

not disconnect the battery. yeah it does say that in every manual out there but its an extra step that is useless unless working on something related to electrical. I hardly ever disconnect it.

Besides, if you disconnect the battery, how are you supposed to listen to the radio while you work on the vehicle?

The only time I ever disconnect the battery is if I am working on the primary power system (alternator/starter relay) removing or installing the computer, or someone is welding on it.

Great pics Mel, I really like the black and white with the blue left in. :thumbup

Yup, usually have the radio crankin so that requires a connected battery.

Good work Mels.

Adrianspeeder

Well, Brutus doesn't have a radio so that's irrelevant. :toothless

I was thinking mechanical stuff like pulling the t-case and trans and didn't consider anything electrical being involved, but I did have to remove the starter. :shrug

Thanks for the replies. :thumbup

I know you wanna sell me the range box from that 203:toothless

Haha, have you still not found one? Is the range box the part in the middle? There's like a housing on the front and a housing on the back and a part in the middle I think. I'll see if I can't go find out where my dad dragged that 203 off to. I've always wanted to see the inside of it anyhow.

Haha, have you still not found one? Is the range box the part in the middle? There's like a housing on the front and a housing on the back and a part in the middle I think. I'll see if I can't go find out where my dad dragged that 203 off to. I've always wanted to see the inside of it anyhow.


Well, it could be a win/win situation of the both of us:thumbup

I just need this part:
http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/436620/thumbnail/np203%20id.jpg (http://www.supermotors.net/vehicles/registry/media/436620)

Aah, ok. That really shouldn't be that difficult to ship. I just didn't wanna fool with shipping the whole dang thing cause it's big and heavy. I'll head out there in a little bit and investigate the situation. :thumbup

I just didn't wanna fool with shipping the whole dang thing cause it's big and heavy.
Either did I.
The 205 was bad enough:doh0715:



I'll head out there in a little bit and investigate the situation. :thumbup

Awesome:beer

I'm done hijacking.

Bronco mels,

the county called and said they want their speed limit sign back,,,

Looks great, keep up the good work and post plenty of pics,,,

Chem

the county called and said they want their speed limit sign back,,,

http://www.girlongirlracing.com/forum/images/smiles/laugh2.gif http://www.girlongirlracing.com/forum/images/smiles/laugh2.gif I was wondering if anybody would notice that. That sign had a lot of sentimental value and my dad took it and cut it up. Really gripes my ass he took MY sign and cut it up without even asking me. He thinks he can take anything he wants.

Anyhow, yeah, that was the first road sign I had ever confiscated and I brought it back across two state lines. :brownbag I was up in NC visiting my cousin and being the trouble makers we were out cruising around, we saw that sign laying on the side of the road with the post still attached. Jumped out, tossed it in his truck and took it home. Then brought it back to GA with me.

Dad cut up another one of my confiscated road signs and used it as a patch panel in the trunk floor of the race car. It was a road construction sign if I remember right. I had a thing for road signs at one point. :toothless

It's amazing what them old trucks will run off of. Hell Had an old 72 350 that still ran after I broke the head in half. Not to mention other things I did to that poor truck.

Oh BTW congrats on making it into bronco driver. Coincidentailly it's the same one I got one of my tech articles in.

Good going Mels. You can't beat those Crocs.