I was able to get a few evenings in the garage the last few weeks.

I picked up some bucket floor mounts for when I eventually put the stock type buckets in the car.


CPP's new style 2" drop spindles.


Had to modify the lower corners of the caliper brackets and dust shields to clear the spindles.


All assembled with zero offset 11" rotors and large single piston calipers.




Also installed new shocks and V8 coils.




Almost ready to start on the engine compartment.

Lefty wrote:

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Thanks if you can send me the name or web site of the florida guy who does the re-plating, i have a spare bezel i could send him

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Sorry, I totally missed this request for info on plating your guage bezel.  The guys name is Bob Meals and he is in Pinellas Park, FL.  I have used him in the past and the work is top notch.  Let me find his business card for more contact info.
Could not find his card, I think it is at home in Michigan.  This is contact info:


-- Edited by forespeed on Wednesday 14th of April 2010 11:03:06 AM

Just my opinion and experience with the Acadian.  We used an OEM standard 5 lug spindle with what Wayne called a few modifications and a disc brake kit from Brake Masters.  We swapped several springs in and out to check for stance and ended up with a set of 6 cyl springs.   I'm not against CPP, in fact we used the mini sub frame kit with tubular lower control arms.

I recently read a post either here or on Steve's from an individual rebuilding a lst gen from ground up and could not resist the temptation to use the drop spindle and a cut coil.  He also had purchased his wheels and tires way ahead of time.  Upon final assembly, he ended up with a front end that wouldn't even turn without hitting everything in sight.  Moral is, there is such a thing as tooo much drop.
It seems everyone of these early cars is different so, pick a spindle, pick a spring, check the stance and then buy the wheels and tires that work or go back to step two and start changing springs until the tires don't rub.  I don't just mean in the garage, the real test is on the road with bumps and turns.
Most people insist on over-tiring these cars.  My choice is 17"x7", 5 lug with 4.75 bs.  It is also not uncommon to start out with everything clearing and after a year the springs will settle and/or sag a little from heat and fatique.  On the Hot Rod power tour, 1700 miles of driving in the heat up and down the hills of Kentucky and Tennesee caused me to experience a rub involving the top of my front tire and the top center lip of the front fender when the wheel was turned max in order to drive into a gas station and in hill country they have a curb as you enter from the street.  These extra little curbs are there due to flash flooding in heavy rains.

P.S. When I returned to the cooler weather of Michigan and the gas station driveways with normal pavement transition, guess what no more rub.

 

Well maybe if you answer my question on the other site I'll be able to button up the rearend and have some progress pics here.

Well as you can see from the last progress report there's been a delay.

I just started tearing into it again but ran into a snag...
I noticed one of the axle seals was leaking so I decided to pull the pan/axles to replace the seals....
After I broke the seal of the pan some metal parts fell into the catch can!
Great!  Found the remains of a clutch plate cage broken in pieces inside the housing.

Even better after doing some research there's no replacement parts for the Posi I have (it seems to be a Dana Posi 23619X GM # 3858916?).

And to top it off I aso discovered my spider gears and axles are '64 which are one year only spline cut and don't fit 65+up carriers.
So my axles cannot be used with new aftermarket Posi's.

Gonna move on to another area for now.



Parts found in housing.

Thanks for the offer Carl.
I have another 5 lug 8.2 in my parts car but's it's an open diff, which is my plan B.
Plan A hasn't been decided yet, either build up the 8.2 with a new eaton posi, moser axles, new bearings, etc... or narrowing the 8.5 I have, rebuild it's posi, new axles, etc... or go all out and find a 12 bolt and shorten/rebuild/etc...

Looking good Joel. Coffee night at your place when it's time to fire her up???

very nice build thread thanx for sharing!

Beaumont4008 wrote:

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Thats great Joel. Did you ever sort out your diff problems ?

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I bought an NOS clutch cage, so when I get time I'll remove the posi and take it apart to replace it.
I hope the clutchs are OK cause they don't make those anymore aswell so fingers crossed.

 

I will post this just incase you need.   The 12 bolt and 10 bolt use the same clutch plates, good to know.

62Beaumont wrote:

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I have an odd one year only ('64) Dana made posi so I don't think the eaton type clutch plates will be the same.
Once I tear it apart I'll get a better idea of what they look like.

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I see now why you will cross you fingers. It just had to be the one year only diff.

 

Time for an update Joel. I know you're busy with family, but have you had any time for your car?

Coming out for a coffee here in 10 days?