here's a pic of the pipe that opened my head up and a pic of the diff installed. i went out and took these while the other photos were uploading. i may pull the right axle shaft again and replace the bearing. its noisy when its rotated. not so good.

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/DSC07819.jpg

http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/DSC07821.jpg

Hey I put RP 75w90 in both the rear end and the trans. Made for a smoother shifting transmission!!!

i went ahead and ordered new rear wheel bearings, locking rings, and seals from the dealer yesterday. i figured that i'm just going to replace everything with new parts since i'm making this car a daily driver.

Sounds like your head is starting to heal at least. As for the parts, good idea using new stuff, I guess you had no luck getting a GSL rear?

Sean, no luck on the GSL rear. i'm spending a small fortune on this car as it is. i was thinking that since its only going to be a daily driver that a more performance geared rear end is not something in want over restoration parts. i just placed another order with the dealer for many grommets, and replacement gaskets on various places on the car. i'm just trying so hard to ensure that the car is put together correctly and is a vehicle i can depend on. i may swap in a GSL rear end in the future as well as the LE wheels..once i can afford them.

my head is starting to heal...its still sore to the touch. i noticed this morning that the "glue" is starting to wear down. i'm not sure how i feel about that just yet...

Yea I can definatly appreciate that, all the little stuff like door seals, hatch seal, window channels etc etc really add up. In the end is is worth it because you took an old down and out car and made it as close to original as you could so it'll last for years (and not leak rain, thats always a good thing lol)

parts prices do add up fast. the two door seals, the outer window seals, the hatch seal, and the striker seal set me back $255 and change. then the $30 headlight rid, a hood rod clip $2, rear wheel bearings $34, locking rings $30, and an unknown dollar amount of small grommets, screws, plugs etc that are restoration parts that will be in on friday.. and to tell you the truth, it wont be done there. i want to add tokico blue shocks and struts, RB springs (maybe..i already have the fronts), SS brake lines and clutch hose, new inner and outer tie rod ends, ball joints, idler arm, and an alignment. after that, a paint job to the original color and the addition of the IMSA spoiler i have waiting for the car.

"Done?"

I've heard of this concept of a car being "done," but in 30 years of searching, I've never caught sight of it. :dunno:

Yea thats true, by "done" I meant on the road and being driven, none of my cars will ever be done, at least not for long, they are done for a few months until I find something else that needs attention, its a fun circle to be stuck in though, at least I think so.

since this thread is still going i'll throw in my $2...

make sure you have a decent amount of silicon on there, make sure it can dry without getting oil on it (like seal it up friday, fill sunday, something like this)

also the bolts that hold the pumpkin in loosen up with abuse and time, so you might wanna torque em, and then REtorque em a little later

^Definatly good advice

definatly great advice. its been setting up since last thursday so it should be fine. got the axles and new bearings and collars dropped off at the machine shop today. i'll pick them up on friday and get the car back on the road friday night.

and as far as the car being done..well we're still a long way off but it should be a great driver when all is said and...i dont want to use the word done... how about buttoned up :)

extremely great advice, the bolts holding my pumpkin were so loose i could tighten them with my fingers.

^^thats scarey

will be picking the axles up friday afternoon complete with new bearings. i'll snap some pics friday of the progress and post how everything goes. hopefully i'll get it finished up and be driving it again this weekend.

well, got it buttoned up and took it for a drive. good news and bad news. good news is that the rear end sounds good. bad news is that now i can hear how bad teh front wheel bearings are and i can hear some bearing noise in teh trans in first and second gear. i'll get new front bearings on order tomorrow and look into changing the trans fluid with a better fluid in hopes to quiet the bearing noise.

here are the axles with new bearings ready to go in:
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/DSC07824.jpg

the oil that i used in the diff (def not the dr. pepper, lol):
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/DSC07825.jpg

and a pic of the new shoes installed:
http://i469.photobucket.com/albums/r...b/DSC07826.jpg