Well I was going to keep it going, but I just had to order another $60 worth of truck parts and still can't find the right gasket set for the housing between my trans, tail shaft extension cover, and transfer case. Frustrated is putting it mildly.
Damn Dodges. You should have gone with either a Ford, Nissan, or Toyota.
And i think the guy I bought it from cheated by pulling the torsion bar support beam, so I MIGHT have to split the shaft housing from the new transfer case. Another gasket...
How did the torsion bars stay attached without something on the end to which to be attached?
Are you familiar with the torsion bar system? Basically, for anyone who isn't, the torsion bars have hex head ends that fit in to the lower control arm on one side, and a torsion key on the other end towards the middle of the vehicle. The key end has a bolted on cross bar the spans the width of the frame. In this bar there are removable half moon bolt blocks and reinforced slots to support them in order to add or remove torque from the torsion bars in order to level your front suspension. Basically tighten the bolt down to rotate the key and increase the height, or loosen it to lower. I bought lift/level keys last year and a 1" rear lift with longer shocks and moog heavy duty coils. Raised the rear a full 1.5" and took the sag out of the front end, plus raised it level with the rear. I still have another 2" of lift I can get by cranking the keys to max. Not something I recommend, unless you want to eat up tie rod ends. Those were also replaced when I replaced my entire front suspension from the frame out.
My knowledge of torsion bar systems is veeery broad and sketchy, so I just picture a bar going from an A-arm to a crossmember. When you say he cheated by pulling the support beam, do you mean he altered its dimensions to tug the torsion bars to achieve his desired effect instead of just cranking them to get the effect?
No. The truck i got this transmission from was rolled. I believe the guy who was parting it out pulled the torsion bars, keys, and cross member out to sell them before he pulled the transmission. While it doesn't allow for a fully connected trans/t-case removal, it certainly makes it a whole lot easier. I'll get pictures of my burban's set up tomorrow. I just finished replacing the cooler line on the Silverado and already vacated the shop.
Pictures are good. Speaking of Silverados, I had one that blew out its intake manifold gasket at about 55K. That thing was a disaster of a vehicle. I actually walked over to the Nissan lot the very last time I was having work done on it (I don't have the tools and a shop to do more than change out minor things like plugs, oil, hoses, tires, and stuff). When the truck was finished, I traded it in for the vehicle I'd identified for purchase. That thing might as well have been a Dodge.
Two 1k sqft shops at my old place full of tools, 3 rolling tool chests, big old stand up compressor, mill, lathe, drill press, reloading equipment, saws, hand tools, electrical stuff, plumbing stuff, work benches, and a couple of motorcycles. Plus my garage in the new place has a rotating stock of the chit I use working on this place.
Quite the jackpot.
It's easy have a mechanic do it. They have all the equipment
Or be a man.
I had to pull the transmission crossmember and Y pipe to get to the transmission. And 20lbs of mud...
Yeah, I remember back in the day when your buddies would brag that they 'did a lift on their truck' when all they did was jack the torsion bars to max out. You'd get a minor lift but your teeth would rattle going over a speed bump.
... and half the battle is having the right tools and work area to do it.
... and knowledge of course.
You so funny.
And taller than you, your wife, and your camo kid.
