Jump to content

Lord Gruntfuttock's 1971 XY Fairmont


Recommended Posts

Diff
While motor's in shop I looked at diff. It's nothing special, the good old Borg Warner 75 single peeler (as they bloody well should be) -  these are relatively light and strong enough if not abused, but has been leaking for a while. I've never played with diffs so fumbled my way through disassembly, pretty sure it's only leaking at pinion seal and oil's been carried over rest of diff, but I'll change the housing gasket as well.

Jacked her up and pulled cover, should have done this after getting pinion nut off as it dripped stinky oil over me while I struggled under the thing, was wearing work polo too so gonna stink of diff oil for a while. At least I know there was some still innit... :)
mmvjpxid.1dz.jpg

Man these things are tight (torque setting is a massive 265 ft/lbs) and working on axle stands there's no room to swing a breaker bar...
u02e0f1j.3w2.jpg

After bashing, levering, swearing and heaving (and using a rattle impact gun that just made me deaf) eventually got it free by using giant wrench on the yoke (wedged against block of wood) and jacking the flex handle up. Went with a crack that had me shitting myself, but was able to get nut off ok...
scwfvibp.ur2.jpg

Of course I was in such a hurry to get things apart I hadn't read any procedure, so neglected to count threads exposed or see what torque was required to spin the yoke. So I spun nut back on and managed to rangi-spec a system that would let me use my inch-lb torque wrench on the 1/2" drive pinion socket, took around 64 in-lbs to rotate freely...
iwqubynw.xcz.jpg

Was pleased my baby puller got flange/yoke out ok. I did mark this so it can go back in right position at least...
5o45jxc5.aim.jpg

And success. levered out old seal, and the rubber was brittle as hell after 46 yrs, not much sealing happening there...
pt4pvzkp.fln.jpg

A little concerned at the wear marks on the yoke shaft, but I'll clean that up a bit and see how it goes. I've ordered a new seal and cover gasket, and hopefully just doing the seal I'll be able to torque it back up to where it was before, so pre-load is thereabouts.
Noticed the brake lines are looking a bit dubious too so will prob change these out as well...

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 149
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • Lord Gruntfuttock

    150

Top Posters In This Topic

Random bits

I bought a bigger sway bar on tardme to see if it improves handling any, seems ok but was yellow, so stripped and painted in my favourite durepox black, along with a few other bits...
czset0s2.p35.jpg

Putting in new universals too, got them out by the 'bash with big socket over cap while resting on bits of wood' method - looks like not before time...
sqan0ae0.oai.jpg

pfn5ts4p.r1q.jpg

While I was doing this I thought I'd paint the distributor, as OCD me don't like the red under the bonnet. Shouldn't be any electrical tracking dramas with epoxy, and hopefully it sticks well to the plastic. Just cleaned it with solvent, masked the connector turrets and shot it with a gloopy mess of paint (was down to last bit of tin and it had thickened to an almost jelly consistency)...
nms4iamo.c3g.jpg

53ynho4d.jjw.jpg

Surprised it managed to spray at all, but came out tolerable - I'll just tell people it was an attempt at a wrinkle finish...

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Much swearing later got driver's side completely out. Learnt for next side to get brake caliper bolts out while there are still bits holding it in place.  :-)  Had to drill/chisel rivets off to get lower ball joint out, and hoping there's a press at work I can borrow to remove/fit control arm bush...
0uwmeuku.lui.jpg

And bits semi-cleaned up. More cleaning and lick of paint on the cards till parts arrive...
ef54ho3z.45n.jpg

Whole lotta nuthin under the front end now...
alo4q2x0.dgz.jpg

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Got bits back from blasters. $30 to get these done, shit that's worth it to save a lot of time and effort (cheers Sievwright). Saw an XA shell on a rotisserie while there too...
h30trgf4.o5k.jpg

Bit of damage from someone's previous attempts to get rivets out by the look of it...
hpg1jayn.0xl.jpg

So quick blat with the welder/grinder/drill at lunchtime, and ready for paint. Will try to get some on tonight...
jg0m3dd0.vmk.jpg

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Took advantage of good weather to get couple of coats on after work. Think I'm learning.
A thin first coat to get good coverage, then a thicker mix (less reducer) laid on a couple of hrs later for a smooth coat. Noticed surface was a bit rough from blasting medium so a very light sand before second spray and it looks pretty good...
lmpg0fpn.y4q.jpg

Going to whiskey festival tomorrow so weekend probably rooted regards assembly... :)

 

And just received bill for engine work.

Inspected, disassembled, block chemically cleaned & bored, conrods honed, journals ground/polished, and assembled with new pistons, rings, main and big end bearings. $1600 all up. Not too bad I reckon...

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shithole eh.
Embarrassed to show this, sort of a legacy of working on umpteen projects when time poor, and... just not putting shit away... (not proud) :(
ee10cjuo.5tu.jpg

Spent most of Fri evening and all Sat tidying up, took a load of junk to the tip, a fish bin of extra tools to charity shop, made drill holders, bought an extra 3 drawer chest, stored stuff logically - and actually have a bench again...
zpi1sfc1.zia.jpg

and used said bench to have a go at setting up the upper control arms. It was a bitch, had to try to screw pivot caps in without binding up the coarse threaded bush, while keeping it centred. Eventually managed it by screwing each side in a third of a turn at a time, and levering the bush through its range of movement to make sure it was moving ok. 
fbp15v5a.0pk.jpg

Got there in the end though, had to press these splined bolts in once happy with it, so no going back... 
rwwfnse4.tg4.jpg

Also got to use my new (to me) vintage vice, an old Record 75 engineers model I'm very pleased with, I'll restore it when I get a chance... :)

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Been out of town at a wedding (best man duties) so no progress over the weekend.

2t1cxl11.kpl.jpg

Tried a bit yesterday when I got back, my dust shield gaskets had arrived so put the steering knuckle together, then being hungover (and stupid) I installed a wheel bearing race the wrong way round in the rotor. Of course the taper meant there was no lip to tap it out, so - insert swear words here... :-( 

New rotors on the way. Wouldn't mind so much but I had spent ages cleaning them up and painting them. On the bright side the ones I've ordered have races installed, so I can't fuck it up again...

 

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So this happened today... :(

cfrjpp0h.3u4.jpg

That's gonna slow progress a bit. A bit pissed off cos wife and kids away and thought I'd have a real good run in the shed. A few weeks in a cast unfortunately (again)... 

fc5mmuhx.wy0.jpg

[edit for reason] Punched something I shouldn't have (not angry - clumsy)... 

ooh just noticed I can see the metal splinter in my index fingie I picked up the other day. Should have got them to dig it out... :)

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...