Ian's Flatfender

[Flatfender]

Finally got round to dropping my transmission tonight. Advantage of no roof and a folding windscreen - I used a chain block from the roof trusses in the garage and dropped it on the floor. plenty of clearance to pull it out the side. It's still a ton weight to struggle with on your own but "where there's a will there's a way". Hope to get a chance to pull it apart tomorrow to try and identify the cause of the chatter.
Cheers
Ian w.

[Steve F]

Tapered shims are available from Wooders in all different degrees, I have a set in my XJ at the moment as I didn't quite get the pinion angle right when I welded the mounts on for the D44. Anyway, give Wooders a call Oh and glad you found the problem.

Cheers
Steve

[Flatfender]

Got a set of 4 degree tapered shims from Wooders last week and doctered them to make them fit. They were a lot wider than my springs so I notched them out with an angle grinder to clear my spring clip bolts and they are now a neat fit. Also a good fit on the spring centre bolt so they can't go anywhere. That has fixed my noise and vibration problem but I should probably still get my rear springs re-set to lift the back 1" or so - back to where it used to be.
Cheers Ian W.

[Flatfender]

After my front wheel drive trip back from the Wattagans on the 12th I am back up and running with a new yoke and U-bolts for my rear drive shaft (Courtesy of Wooders home delivery service). I should have replaced the U-bolts before as they did feel a bit suspect when I fitted them originally. Of course they had to wait until half way up a rocky hill before they let go. The new ones tightened up nicely but I haven't had a chance to give it a good test yet. Time will tell!
Cheers
Ian W.

[Flatfender]

Just when you think things are running nicely.......
I started to hear a rattle "somewhere underneath" when cruising along and it was still there when I pulled up and left it idling. If I took up the slack on the clutch pedal the rattle stopped so I guessed it had to be connected with the clutch release bearing.
So yet again I have dropped my transmission to the garage floor to check it out. Sure enough the release bearing assembly is the problem. The bearing itself is not bad but it has been spinning on the stub of the carrier plate and worn it badly. The resultant sloppy fit is why it was rattling under no load.
Now I have the problem of trying to locate a new replacement release bearing assembly. The original assembly came with the NP435 gearbox out of a Ford F100 when I fitted it in place of the T14 box which was in when I bought the Flatfender. I think I will have to make a trip to CBC at Kingsgrove with the old parts to see if they can identify them. Looks like I won't be Jeeping anywhere until I can get new parts and put it all back together again!

Cheers
Ian W.

[Flatfender]

Well I managed to find a replacement release bearing assembly, Brakepro in Pioneer Avenue, Thornleigh, managed to get me one overnight and for $88.00 which I didn't think was too bad.
While I had the transmission out I thought I would check what weight it is. The bathroom scales went 30 to 40kg round the second time, past the 120kg maximum so I reckon it must be at least 150kg. No wonder I have a bad back!
Now I just have to put it all back together again.

[Flatfender]

Transmission is back in again. It is the heavy lump but it is actually all the ancillary bits and pieces which take the time - Exhausts, handbrake linkage, breathers, speedo drive, full length skid plate, etc.etc. and then the floor panels to refit. Anyway it is now running good again, took a quick trip up to Wooders today for a ride out.
Cheers
Ian W.

[Hunno]

Great to hear Ian, just in time for classic not plastic?

[Flatfender]

I came across a couple of old photos today of my first Jeep on the Cumbrian fells in the north of England.
This would be in about 1960. I bought it in London in 1959 as my sole means of transport.

[SteveC]

Classic stuff Ian!