Slant Six Forum
https://slantsix.org/forum/

Valiant rear end re-do almost done
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=63887		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  GregCon [ Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Made my first voyage today with the Valiant...the 13" rear tires were so dry rotted I was afraid to drive it fast or far. So...I had some 15" Nitto's off another car I decided to use. That required some surgery and a change to an 8-3/4" rear. The gears went from 2.76 to 3.91, too...though with the larger tires it's actually like I changed to 3.14's. A nice improvement in pep.

Next step is to finish the trunk (paint) then find a way to put matching wheels on the front of the car (going to 4.5BP).

I also got rid of the stock gas tank and went to a flat floor, no more spare tire well. The new tank provides way more exhaust pipe room on both sides as well as bigger fuel outlets in case I ever need them.

Attachments:
mt rear school lr.jpg
mt rear school lr.jpg [ 179.68 KiB | Viewed 7579 times ]
MT left rear lr.JPG
MT left rear lr.JPG [ 203.76 KiB | Viewed 7617 times ]
trunk inside lr.jpg
trunk inside lr.jpg [ 145.6 KiB | Viewed 7618 times ]
gas tank lr.jpg
gas tank lr.jpg [ 188.75 KiB | Viewed 7618 times ]
Author:  Rob Simmons [ Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Nice!!
Author:  Dart270 [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 2:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Looks like nice progress. Enjoy the building and the driving.

Lou
Author:  GregCon [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 4:44 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Thanks guys. Now I am thinking about tackling that pesky transmission situation...

Plus I probably have to go back into the rear end....the 3.91's are from a mail truck...I took them out around 1985 and they were rusty & pitted back then. I thought letting them sit for 30 years would fix that but it didn't....I knew they'd be a little noisy but they're NOISY so I don't see them being a long term participant.
Author:  drgonzo [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 4:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Cool car Greg. I like it!
Author:  sixinthehead [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 6:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
If you can hear the gears, your exhaust isn't loud enough :wink: :lol:

Nice stance on that one :D
Author:  GregCon [ Fri Aug 02, 2019 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Thanks again. The rear is actually 1" lower than it was 'stock' but the tires make it look higher.

Exhaust? Well....you'd need a really loud V8 - reeeally loud - to drown out those gears! They're actually quiet under acceleration, mostly. But in the transition from accel to coast, they scream pretty good! I have another 3rd member with 4.10's that are good so that might be the easiest way out.
Author:  GregCon [ Sat Aug 03, 2019 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Today's project was to install the front wheels. With 4 new tires (and wheels) the car rides much smoother. Even with the original 1968 133,000 mile front suspension it drives and steers very nicely.

Now the car has the 4.5" bolt pattern on all four corners with the stock 9" drums up front, lol.

Attachments:
TT front lr.jpg
TT front lr.jpg [ 225.98 KiB | Viewed 7520 times ]
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Looking good.

How do you do 9" drums up front with 5 on 4.5" bolt battern? Redrill the hubs / drums or adapters,

Greg
Author:  GregCon [ Sun Aug 04, 2019 7:58 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Thanks. I redrilled the fronts. There's plenty of meat there. The trick, in my experience, is to never separate the hub from the drum. I drilled and tapped them together (1/2"-20)and installed the new studs before driving out the old studs. I didn't bother measuring runout with a dial indicator because...the eyeball indicator shows there is essentially no runout.

I have at least one complete set of good discs/spindles I could have used but I want to retain the lightness and compactness of the drums. If I ever get inclined I might change to discs but it'll be Wilwoods or something similarly light.

Attachments:
Front drum lr.jpg
Front drum lr.jpg [ 166.56 KiB | Viewed 7462 times ]
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Sun Aug 04, 2019 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Valiant rear end re-do almost done
Result!

Nice idea.


Greg
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC-07:00
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
https://www.phpbb.com/