$100 1990 2.9 Auto 4WD STX w/4.10s

[Earl43P]

Dropped the 87 2.9 into the 90 today.

I haven't mated an automatic trans since the mid-70s.













Still haven't.

 

[Earl43P]

Yesterday was epic.
Woke early, took the wife to church, had lunch.
She napped later (she's been sick with bronchitis) so I went out to putter on little odds and ends in the garage. I managed to put the front tires up on cinder blocks, but I kept get interrupted by phone calls, so I threw on the coveralls intending to ignore the phone and it quit ringing.

My buddy stops over for advice on his pool pump service box (enclosure, switch and outlet on a GFCI). Sent him on his way with my analog meter and advice. While he was here, I asked him to raise/lower the engine so I could stop making so many trips out/in/under to make adjustments. I should have known his help was worthless when he lowered it comletely with a bang, even though I gave him a short period of instruction how to crack open the valve and "be ready to tighten it back up right away when it starts moving". Useless help, but I pressed on UNTIL....get this....I said "raise it up about an inch". His reply floored me (mind you, he had stood there and watched me raise/lower it several times, going back and forth from underneath). "Do I push the handle up to raise it up, because it didn't seem to move?". Clueless. I sent him packing but he did manage to replace the switch in his pool power box without electrocution. I pretty much ignored him when he returned the meter.

Engine was back on the hook, holding lightly with the motor mount nuts "started" to maintain position. Angle was perfect for mating the trans, with 3/4" gap. Before I had dropped the engine in, I lined up the TC studs and flexplate holes at 12,9,6,3 o'clock.

Hadn't done an auto trans mating since the mid 1970s (64 Fairlane), but I had seated the TC on the trans, one light clunk aft, then a larger movement aft which resulted in the TC clanging against the bell housing when spun (can't make it go any further aft onto the spline than that!). It'll come forward when I connect the flexplate.

So, I crawl underneath, use a cheater pipe against my hip to push the trans forward while the floor jack is compensating for the twist from the weight of the transfer case. Dowel pins lined up like gravy. I couldn't believe the ease it went together. Got the two lowest bolts started and drew it together with engine wiggling and my fingers twisting on 1/4" drive 13mm socket/extension.

Took a break and then tackled the 4 Y-pipe to exhaust manifols bolts. I expected these to be trouble, but I cobbled together a series of 1/2" and 3/8" drive extensions and was able to reach all 4 bolt heads from way back where the radius arms mount. 3 bolts started easily, but the DS inner was hard to get lined up and started. Finally hooked my left arm up where one should never be able to get it to and found the hole. That bolt threaded over 1/2" in with bare fingers, making me kick myself for the antics I was using with the extensions.

Went back to the trans mating bolts and remembered to install the trans dipstick mount bracket. I started and drew up all the trans mating bolts with a fine 1/4" drive ratchet, mostly using fingers on the knurled ratchet knob. Then I connected the flex plate to torque converter studs as easy as pie.

An ugly issue popped up while I was rotating the crank bolt to install the nuts on the torque converter studs. There is a point where the engine "stops" rotating unless I catch it with a good sweeping rotation. Feels like one of the valves/rockers is too tight (spark plugs are out so it's easy to rotate otherwise). Hate that I'll be pulling a valve cover after all that time the engine was on the stand, but I missed that "catch". I can power past it easily enough, but if it catches on a short sweep, I have to back off and get another bite to sweep past it.

Anyway, for a Sunday when I wasn't planning on much truck work, I got two major hurdles knocked out. In the back of my mind I'm still wanting an MO5D in this rig, but if the A4LD works, I'll run it till it dies.

I realize this isn't the most interesting build thread, basically just an engine change. I'm not taking the time to add photos because I really don't bother taking pictures much. I don't have internet at home so uploading to photobucket is nearly impossible anymore (there are lots of photos of parts there, same username). I do want to point out that I'm doing this work alone. My eager assistant moved to Kentucky last year and is presently in Iraq (contractor). Hi Bill! Keep your head down!

 

[elpoffroad]

sweet buy good luck with everything , i like extended cabs

 

[xkotyx]

looks like you got a pretty sweet deal man! keep up the good work

 

[Earl43P]

So, I junked that 90 truck. Got $425 which was $35 more than I had in it.
Kept tallying up the nickels and dimes and said scrap it.
Hadn't had much interest in working on it. Blew a tire on the way to the recyclers, had to drop it at Walmart and fetch spare tires.

Picked up the GW while I was up in VA at my son's and that photo is right before the Steeler's game kick-off at my brother's house, 3 miles from my old neighborhood, where I picked up this gem (today).

82 Honda Goldwing, naked, 33k miles, barn find and the finder got cancer and bailed on it. $475 Craigslist find, hasn't run since 07, old gas, carbs not flowing, strong spark, new battery.

Winter project.
I have to take it to work with me tomorrow, had no way to off-load it after the drive, alone, as usual.

Younger son was supposed to leave Afganistan yesterday, haven't heard a peep out of him or his wife yet. Anxious! My other son helped me load this thing and reminded me that it's the same age as he is, an 82 model!

 

[Chazman]

My roommate has the IDENTICAL "naked" Gold Wing. That's a comfy ride....

 

[Earl43P]

I was pricing carb rebuild kits, almost $200 (remember, I paid $475 for the bike...).

Once I remove them, we'll see how bad they are. They are not flowing any fuel at all.

Dang bike is still in the bed of the truck (still no help).