Got A Work Van On GovDeals Today!

[cadillackid]

theres a van just like that for sale here in Cbus. no rust but much of the paint is peeling.. I was thinking about it.. its a window van though, has a 318 and an Air-conditioner.. was a school "bus" for a local district. its cheap though.. only $1500, maybe i should get it.. not sure what id do with it though.. if it had no windows id probably snag it.
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

I like the panel look. But having windows in the back doors and on the side cargo door help immensely with seeing stuff.
THese are pretty cool, funky vans. The last remnants of a bygone era of "vanning".

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I haven't seen a vehicle this new call for 10w30, i was surprised.

Keep an eye on the temp gauge. If it tends to run hot, I'd go to a 40 weight. But then I'm from the rotary world and those guys all run hot.

[EastCoastCB]

Nah, this thing runs cool as a cucumber even pulling 3000 lbs up a big hill.
I did de-funk the radiator fins. They were clogged up with nebraska dust.

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

up a big hill.

You're funny!!

[cadillackid]

does florida have hills? when I think of hill i think of pulling the hill when you are heading north on 77 into virginia.. i think its like 3 or 4 miles of 7%.. that used to make redByrd run hot on a summer day... now it just turns on the fan and leaves it on for the whole pull.
-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

does florida have hills?
-Christopher

It does*.

*Tallahassee has a line in some song or other naming it the town of 7 hills. They aren't miles long but if you know where to look there are some that are fairly steep for brief periods. Big enough and steep enough to properly learn to drive a stick. Nowhere near enough to tax any vehicle bigger/newer than an air cooled VW Bug.

[EastCoastCB]

I've climbed Mt Dora

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

I've climbed Mt Dora

But not My Pleasant. Damn low landers.

[EastCoastCB]

SO-
The rear end started making a hum that got louder and louder over the last week.
Its the pinion bearing. Put it up on jack stands and confirmed it.
I've never rebuilt a rear end before. But parts alone are going to be around 300 and that's if I don't replace the limited slip with something better. The factory lsd in Dodge trucks is a known pos.
So an Auburn or Detroit TT + ring and pinion+ rebuild kit is gonna be around 600 or so.
May as well regear while this is going on, it need lower gears.

[cadillackid]

numerically lower or lower ratio?
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

numerically lower or lower ratio?
-Christopher

Lower ratio.
Its got 3.55 now and it would pull my lawn trailer and mower a whole lot better with a mild gearing change of 3.73 or 3.91

Fluid in the diff is full and looks new, so its not lack of lube.
The c clip in the factory lsd apparently is famous for breaking, and the pinion bearing is famous for dying at an early age.

I've never rebuilt one of these before but its looking like that's what it needs.
I could try a JY unit but it may be worse than mine that only has 46k on it.
Rebuild and regear seems appropriate, but this is new territory for me.
gotta do something quick, the noise is definitely getting way worse way fast. I'm done using the van till I can fix this.
Sucks- my work van is down and this is the week to mow.

[Kubla]

junk yard, buy another rear end, it will be cheaper

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kubla

junk yard, buy another rear end, it will be cheaper

Yeah, but the pinion bearings are famous for failing, I may as well regear and put new bearings in it.
I'm definitely going to call around and see what I can find at the local yards.
If I get a 3/4 or 1 ton rear end from a van of the same vintage it will bolt right up and all I'll have to find is a different yoke to fit the driveshaft I've got on the van now. Lots of Ram truck guys have upgraded from the 8.25 to the 9.25 aka 10 bolt to 12. The only reason I'm even pondering this is due to my using the van to tow a lot of the time.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kubla

junk yard, buy another rear end, it will be cheaper

cheapest rear end at any of the local yard is 500 and it goes way up from there.

[cadillackid]

how are you checking your pinion bearing? is it bad enough it has a lot of jiggle in it? or is it leaking fluid?

that rear should have a removeable 3rd member I think, where you can rebuilt it on a bench.. its actually not that tough to change a pinion bearing. I havent worked on a lot of chrysler stuff.. i do know on GM I had to use a good strong impact fun to get the pinion bearing preload correct.. getting your gear mesh right was using a paste where you could see how the teeth mesh.. getting the lash just right there are special tools (autozone loan-a-tool). but many people just guess at it..

you could also take just the 3rd member to a shop and have the pinion replaced on a bench for less $$ than taking the whole van. maybe even buy a ring and pinion set from summit and have a shop put it on the 3rd member.. your carrier should handle a lower ratio..

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

how are you checking your pinion bearing? is it bad enough it has a lot of jiggle in it? or is it leaking fluid?

that rear should have a removeable 3rd member I think, where you can rebuilt it on a bench.. its actually not that tough to change a pinion bearing. I havent worked on a lot of chrysler stuff.. i do know on GM I had to use a good strong impact fun to get the pinion bearing preload correct.. getting your gear mesh right was using a paste where you could see how the teeth mesh.. getting the lash just right there are special tools (autozone loan-a-tool). but many people just guess at it..

you could also take just the 3rd member to a shop and have the pinion replaced on a bench for less $$ than taking the whole van. maybe even buy a ring and pinion set from summit and have a shop put it on the 3rd member.. your carrier should handle a lower ratio..

-Christopher

Its not got the 3rd member you have to totally dissect the diff to get to the pinion bearings, which are audibly bad when you spin the driveshaft. There are countless vids of dodge owners demonstrating it on youtube its such a common failure. No wiggle in it at all, no leakage. They just fail. The fluid in the diff looks nearly new and is full.
I can't even hear phone calls or the radio in this van the noise is so loud.

[EastCoastCB]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyhdB-sd-sk

mine sounds like this jeep only MUCH louder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjoaGOrhQco&t=47s

[2kool4skool]

I wish I had recorded the sound Mary's Buick was making from a front wheel bearing...Wow. was it loud.

[Brewerbob]

Sounds just like a kid at work. I told him it was probably a wheel bearing. That would be a lot cheaper than a new rear end. I don't think he ever told me what they did or what it cost to fix.