1957 country sedan build

[SkylinerRon]

3280 is right, 3281 is left.   (B7A-A)

Ron.

[gasman826]

Following to see how this comes out.  Generally, 28 spline, 9" and 8" axles are 1.553" ID.  The hard part is the seal OD.  2.085" is common but could vary.  Big and small bearing often use the same seal.  There are two ID sizes for 31 spline axles (shouldn't be an issue for stock '57s).  Best practice is save the number off the old seal.

[hiball3985]

OD on the wagon/ranchero seal is 2.5  ID 1.5

[1930artdeco]

Well, got the seals replaced on the differential, then had an accident. The diff rolled off of the jack and landed upside down. Fortunately, it was only about 6? off the ground and I didn?t see any damage. But they were the original leather seals and probably were still good but just wanted to make sure.

Got the front brakes done-finally. So the only thing left on the front end is tighten up the steering parts and try to install the sway bar. Speaking of which, how does one do that? She is on stands now and everything is connected but hanging down. It looks like I need to ?bend? the bar a bit to get it fit in the lower control arm.

Hoping this week to get the rear springs and diff installed and order some tires. Won?t be the best tires as they will probably age out before I get anywhere close to running out of tread.

Mike

[thomasso]

Its much easier to install the sway bar with the control arms at ride height.  My Addco sway bar ordered in April from Jeggs is susposed to arrive this week.  We'll see how its installation goes.

[1930artdeco]

Ok, I have a bottle jack that I can use on one side and then the other.

[hiball3985]

I was glad to see the factory bar go, they are almost worthless..

[alvin stadel]

Thomasso, that is crazy to have to wait 7 months for a part that would have been about 2 or 3 weeks out before all this crap started.  I hope I am wrong, but I bet it gets worse before it gets better.

[1930artdeco]

In preparation to take the block and crank to the builder I tore down the rest of the engine today. Not all that bad actually. The cylinders and pistons were in really pretty good shape, same with the crank. The cam bearings on the other hand were all shot beyond belief.

Mike

[mustang6984]

I would say someone got their monies worth out of those cam bearings...and then some. Guessing the cam is not in very good shape anymore either then.  OUCH!

[1930artdeco]

 Ok, got the diff and new springs in. According to the manual it should diff, metal spacer holder, rubber spacer, spring, rubber spacer, metal spacer holder then shock pad.

Now my 57 wagon didn?t come with any of these spacer things. I am going to add them IF they should be there from the factory. My questions are these:

1) if installed, how does the diff keep from shifting front to rear? Will the U bolts keep it from sliding?

2) how do I install the top metal spacer holder? I can install the rubber pad, just not the spacer as it would force the diff spring pad to sit up about 1/8?.


Thanks.


Mike

[RICH MUISE]

I can't remember which has the holes and which have the pins, but all of those components align using that hole and pin to keep it from shifting. That's why that sheet metal retainer plate has the hole.......as would lowering blocks.
Honestly, I'm totally confused by your 2nd question..

[1930artdeco]

I will have to take a better pic to show you how the diff pin wont sit down in the metal plate.

Mike

[1930artdeco]

Figured it out, the parts I have are for a T Bird so the metal plates won?t fit. So I am going back to the way she came from the factory without rubber insulators.

Mike

[1930artdeco]

Rolled her out today! Minus a few things that still need to get put back on. But she is on her wheels!!! That is the dirt I hosed out of her engine bay. She does lean to the left a bit if you look at her.

Mike