Re: 1957 Chevy 4x4 NAPCO conversion...
In the photos it shows the untouched frame without the body and motor. The bell housing had stripped threads on the passenger side mount and someone had replaced the bolt with an undersized longer bolt and a flat washer and nut run through the crossmember and bell housing. I removed and cleaned the housing and after sandblasting took it to the engine shop to have it magnafluxed. Three cracks appeared-likely due to the previous fix I mentioned. I got a later model housing to replace it and chromed the shift lever and ball it pivots on to build them up from wear and provide a mooth surface for future use.
The next photo shows the crossmember where the transfer case mounts. You can see the torched holes for mounting. After I rebuilt the transfer (Spicer 23) and replaced the mounts with neoprene bushings I had made from the old bushing as a pattern, I used a transmission jack to hold the case against the frame and tack welded thick grade 8 flat washers which were later welded to the crossmember. I took a number of phtos of the frame to have some record of where things go for the rebuild; i.e. clutch linkage, brakes (including emergency cables and brackets), and steering box.
|