How big should this gap be?

[syclone1452]

I finally have Syclone 1452 almost back on the road. My son killed the tranny while impressing his friends... about four years ago. The carnage was so bad, that all four wheels were locked-up on the truck.

I replaced the tranny with a "race" tranny that I bought off a local Syclone owner. He said he paid a small fortune to get it rebuilt with all the best parts.. then sold his truck. about 11 years ago

I installed that transmission, and discovered that it wouldn't shift out of 1st gear. I parked it.. for about a year.

I got tired of looking at it this month and decided to take it to a local guy that builds racing trannys. He said that all he did was pull the governor cover and found parts of the governor all over the place. He put the governor back together, and it shifts, now.

But...

There is a serious buzz in the truck from about 1000-1800 rpm. I put the truck on the lift and discovered that the passenger side torsion bar is sitting on the crossmember.

http://oldpizza.net/images/syclone/IMG_3278.JPG
http://oldpizza.net/images/syclone/IMG_3279.JPG

I then started looking at the torsion bars and the back end of them. Are these mounts supposed to be higher? That would pick the bar up off the crossmember.

http://oldpizza.net/images/syclone/IMG_3281.JPG
http://oldpizza.net/images/syclone/IMG_3282.JPG

 

[bezerk]

Re: How big should this gap be?

i think it might be that way since you have it on a 2 column lift? and the wheels are hanging way down

 

[syclone1452]

Re: How big should this gap be?

i think it might be that way since you have it on a 2 column lift? and the wheels are hanging way down

<smacking forehead>
Of course!
I'll put it on the ground and have a look

Thanks... can't believe I didn't think of that <shaking head>

 

[DaveP]

Re: How big should this gap be?

Those mounts probably need to be replaced. They are most likely sheared. Try prying upwards on the cross member with a big pry bar. I bet you can lift them. But I don't think these are the source of your "buzz".

You indicate recent transmission work. I would investigate that the metal fuel lines from the t-case forward over the trans aren't contacting the floor. It's really tight in places, and after trans work, the lines may be hitting.

That's all I've got....

 

[syclone1452]

Re: How big should this gap be?

I put the truck on the ground, and there is about 1/4 inch between the bar and the crossmember.

I started the truck, and it still has a vibration...even at idle. I put the truck back in the air, and discovered the transfer case is rubbing on the floor. A really close look at the crossmember shows some marks on the bottom.

Hmm... I wonder if my truck as a story to tell?

Can I bend that crossmember?
How low should it hang?
Will a normal 4x4 or Bravada crossmember work?

 

[Slyclone]

Re: How big should this gap be?

Most likely something is sheared off. Some hardware is gone. I have had a vibration simmilar. It comes and goes under load. Some times at take-off it is bad. It is (in my case) the mount which holds the tcase. I have over tighten 1 of the bolts and it shear off. It was already backing itself out and it was showing some signs of movment. There was some oil or wearings inside and around the bolt. That is when I figured I could tighten it. It had snapped right off. some one had mention at that time I was "Rushing"- This was a case where the bolt was backing out... weakend head.... Impact strength sheared it off.

So I would really check around. Inspect your T case brace and all the hardware. Try and make sure everything is tight. Inspect the Crossmember bolts both sides and try and atleast go over everything insight and out reachable or not 1 time.

 

[DaveP]

Re: How big should this gap be?

Look at the body mounts and perches. Someone very recently reported his Ty body was sitting on the transmission. The body perches were completely rotted away, and the body had settled.

 

[syclone1452]

Re: How big should this gap be?

I bought a new GM crossmember locally. I removed the original from the truck and put it next to the new one. The difference was quite small; I actually didn't see any difference. I was a bit sad

I installed the new crossmember, anyway. The passenger side torsion bar is now about 1/4 inch farther away from the crossmember. The transfer case is now about 1/4 inch from the floor.

Mission accomplished!

I put the truck back on the ground and started it, There were no vibration noises.

Now, to get it inspected, and wash over four years of dust off this beast.