Aerostar 4X4

[Rulebreaker]

I ran into a little snag. I got the drive shafts built. Got the exhaust pieced together enough to start it. But I could not put it in gear while the engine was running. So I thought it was a clutch or throw out bearing issue at first but that wasn't it. When i tried driving it, it would shake the whole drive train and make terrible noises. So I thought it was a trans issue. Talked to the guy that had the trans and he said he was sure it was good. So then i put the T case in neutral and the problem goes away. So I'm thinking the T case is junk which I took out of my 94 F150 with a bad auto trans. That would explain why the trans went bad in that truck. I've got another 1356 thats got a 1/2 million miles on it so between the two I should be able to put together a decent t case. RB

Pulled the T case and it was fine so I pulled the trans and took the top cover off to find a totally junk trans. Teeth missing everywhere. Kicking myself for not opening it up sooner.I guess this is what I get for being in a hurry. I just have too much crap to do. I'm working on this, building a pole barn, overhauling a Mustang and raising 7 kid's. I only have 4 evenings to work on this before we leave in just over a week. RB

 

[Rulebreaker]

New trans is in and working! Couple days and it will be drivable. RB

 

[doorgunner]

Man.....I'm doin cub scout work compared to you & loanranger......

 

[Rulebreaker]

Man.....I'm doin cub scout work compared to you & loanranger......

I like your build but I would love it if you threw some 40" tires and some 4 wheel drive at it. LOL RB

 

[Rulebreaker]

Drive shafts are finished. Went to a two piece for more ground clearance.

 

[Rulebreaker]

This shows how tight the exhaust is. RB

 

[doorgunner]

I like your build but I would love it if you threw some 40" tires and some 4 wheel drive at it. LOL RB

I could get Hazmat to "fotoshok" a set on it, but other than that.....I ain't man enough....

 

[Rulebreaker]

I could get Hazmat to "fotoshok" a set on it, but other than that.....I ain't man enough....

I almost for got you need a custom stinger in front of that narrow grill so you can park easier at the mall. LOL RB

 

[Rulebreaker]

Exhaust is done and I'm headed out for my shake down drive. RB

 

[Rulebreaker]

I've also bought a 289 SBF with 70,000 miles on it so this winter she might get a couple more cylinders. Just got to decide whether or not to go EFI and how to shoe horn it in there. RB

 

[Rulebreaker]

Well I'm back from Drummond Island. I had trouble the whole trip. I blew a trailer tire so hard on the freeway it damaged the cords in the tire in front of it so there I was with two bad tires and only one spare. The spare was low on air so i had a soft tire and a leaking tire with broken cords. Once on the Island the shutter I thought was in the trans showed it's ugly head. We were 3 hours out when I realized my two piece rear drive shaft was the problem. So i pulled the back half out and wheeled in front wheel drive. Then after another hour or so I spit a cap on the DS axle shaft so i was down to 1 wheel drive. Rock crawling in 1 wheel drive sucks! When we got back to base camp I eliminated the rubber bushing in the carrier bearing and clamped and welded the bearing to the retainer. A friend of mine had a spare axle shaft so i threw that in. Day two was great until we got to a big rock wall called the citadel. I made it up but the rear shaft was destroyed in the process. Needless to say I'm going back to a 1 piece rear drive shaft. The problem seems to be that the length of the shaft in front of the bearing is less than the length behind the bearing and the rear half of the drive shaft has too much leverage. I had 0 issues with the 4.0L/np435 conversion so if any brave soul want to give this a try give me a shout. RB

 

[CheapThrillB2]

You should get this thing fixed, and bring it down to rocks/valleys this saturday.......

 

[crawlin91]

this van is badass

 

[Rulebreaker]

You should get this thing fixed, and bring it down to rocks/valleys this saturday.......

Thats tempting. I'll see what the rest of the family thinks. RB

 

[CheapThrillB2]

Few of us are camping R&V Friday nite and wheeling saturday, then saturday evening driving to Twisted Trails and camping then wheeling Twisted on sunday....

Pending any breakage at R&V of course