1970 trouble...

[imaguywithemail]

So I'm almost done with my chassis swap, but am having some trouble. A few weeks back I took her for a drive, and about 2 blocks from my house the rear-end locked up on me. I thought I'd gone into two gears at once, so I ordered a new installation kit from hurst, installed it, but am still having trouble. I'm about 99.9% sure it's not the transmission, because I can shift into each gear, including neutral and reverse, without trouble. In fact, when I release the clutch the truck will move about 1-2 ft forwards or backwards then stop and i have to clutch or stall. My question now, is that I heard that it's possible it's my emergency brake that's causing this. I got kind of hasty while doing the swap and disconnected the cable running to the parking brake pedal in order to save time during the actual swap. So my parking brake cable is just sort of hangin out under the truck, with no tension. My question is, is it possible that the emergency brake has retracted and the rear brakes are now locked? Just trying to figure out what could be going on with the least amount of tearing apart. Thanks a bunch.

[1968CHEVYC10]

big chance I could be wrong, but I think it wouldn't be because of the e-brake, because when a working e-brake is engaged it tightens the line, and its loose when its disengaged, so I'm not sure how a disconnected line could cause it to lock up. when I got my truck all the brakes had locked up I think from just sitting with the e-brake on to long, and I don't the think wheel cylinders where any good. thats my 2 cents.

[unclewatts]

Did you consider that it might be a problem with the differential? I'm not saying that it is but there doesn't seem to be a lot of other options.

[cdowns]

i'd put it on jackstands disconnect drive shaft take brake drums and diff cover off and start lookin at things

[jay6891]

If it was me, I would pull the cover off the diff and see if the the pin in the carriers has some how come loose and hanging about half way out. Hitting something inside on the half turn and locking up.

[imaguywithemail]

Originally Posted by unclewatts

Did you consider that it might be a problem with the differential? I'm not saying that it is but there doesn't seem to be a lot of other options.

yup it was the differential. I ended up breaking up with my girlfriend who's house I was keeping it at, so I had it towed to a shop the next day. The diff had no oil in it when I thought it did, and in a fatal moment of stupidity and eagerness I didn't check DOH! So the rear diff locked up, I got a new one put in for me and now she's driving again. Almost. I still gotta move the engine two inches back, reconnect the rear brake lines and put an exhaust on. Then she'll be up and terrorizing the streets of Eureka once again!