This last week I had the pleasure of working with doug on my aluminum case od tranny.

As always it was a great to see him and gander at teh toyshop. Thanks a million doug, and I hope the racing goes well this weekend.

For everyones info, here are some assembly tips for the OD.

1 Consider putting in the counter shaft last. To do this you will nee hte correct length dummy shaft that will also hold on the thrust washers. (We couldn't find it, so I just shoved the thing inplace anyway.) you should consider this because the third gear position cog is huge and the main shaft does not want to go around it if all the clusters are in place.
THere is a trick though.

2. after you realize that putting the counter shaft in pace after the main shaft is installed is a total headache (if you have ever tried it), you begin to wonder why the 3rd and fourth gear retainer groove is so small... hmmm.... maybe you were supposed to put 3rd and fourth gear cluster in AFTER you put in the counter shaft and main shaft in.

Hmmm, one problem remains: How on earth are you going to get the inputshaft bearing over the shaft after you put the inputshaft in the hole.....

needless to say, it's all very confusing and hold off on the beer till you at leaste 3/4 the way through unless you have done this before. (cometo think of it, disassemble was a nightmare too.....)

Well, somehow by beer 2 we were mostly done, but it definatly posed one interesting question.

how the hell did the factory workers assemble these things. there are three chicken and egg loops.

We decieded that there was a guy called ernie that has very skiiny fingers to get the shifter forks on. A coup=le of skinny screwdrivers pulled it off.

Good luck all, and thanks again doug!

Richard the crusty green valiant convertible owner

Inglishboy@yahoo.com

Just grab a standard household broom and lop the correct length off with a saw (See tech manual for Mopar Tool # DF001)...Works great...
:
: 2. after you realize that putting the counter
: shaft in pace after the main shaft is
: installed is a total headache (if you have
: ever tried it), you begin to wonder why the
: 3rd and fourth gear retainer groove is so
: small... hmmm.... maybe you were supposed to
: put 3rd and fourth gear cluster in AFTER you
: put in the counter shaft and main shaft in.
:
: Hmmm, one problem remains: How on earth are you
: going to get the inputshaft bearing over the
: shaft after you put the inputshaft in the
: hole.....

Doug's best tip was to put the input shaft in first then put tranny nose first into a 1" hole in your bench and slide the tail assembly into the input shaft...that has got to be the slickest trick in the book...

Thank you also Doug...

Another good piece of advice is to dope the countershaft seal at the front of the tranny with some good oil resisting sealant...the RTV I picked didn't do the trick and now I'm going to pull my rebuild that's never be used yet to seal that back up...sheez...

2 cents...

-d.Idiot

maybe the beer had kicked in by then. Does doug have a broom (tease!)?
:
: Thank you also Doug...
:
: Another good piece of advice is to dope the
: countershaft seal at the front of the tranny
: with some good oil resisting sealant...the
: RTV I picked didn't do the trick and now I'm
: going to pull my rebuild that's never be
: used yet to seal that back up...sheez...

Yeah, we never took that thing out! (lazy!!!!) anyways there is always more than one way to skin a kat, and we got hammers and we hd fun. THanks D for the advice and as always it was on the money.
: 2 cents...
2 cents well spent ! Thanks
: -d.Idiot