Working Man's Burbon - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Dieselwrencher** · 07-08-2021, 08:48 AM

Man, that really stinks. Sorry to hear your friend passed away. Luckily the damage to the burb wasn't worse. Hopefully you can locate a good body shop and get it fixed up soon.

**HO455** · 07-09-2021, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dieselwrencher

Man, that really stinks. Sorry to hear your friend passed away. Luckily the damage to the burb wasn't worse. Hopefully you can locate a good body shop and get it fixed up soon.

Thanks. Replacing the quarter panel will get done, it's a matter if how much of a hassle it is going to be.
Driving past my buddy's old shop everyday was tough before I needed a good bodyshop. Now it is even sadder.

**HO455** · 08-09-2021, 05:18 PM

Is been a while since the last time I posted. I have done a lot of running around and there is no end in sight. I have decided on a body shop for the work. The owner has already agreed to allow me in on Saturdays when his workers are gone to work on the WMB. Big plus! Now just waiting for my slot.
I other related news I was grumbling about my turn signal switch cams going bad as it has become difficult to get the signal to operate smoothly and stay on. I finally realized the problem was because the steering wheel was no longer straight up when the truck was driving straight. I took it to my friends at Trackside Motorsports (A-N-T tire) to get the alignment checked. And the results showed the rear end is no longer straight. With the driver's side is toed out and the passenger side is toed in. So I'm crab walking down the road these days. (Photo #1 is from the alignment last November and photo #2 is the latest one) Not the best numbers for tire life and fuel efficiency.
While on the rack we noticed what appears to be oil seeping from where the axle tube goes into the carrier housing and from one of the axle tube plug welds on the left side.
I have not had any luck finding any place who wants to or can repair the axle. But some shops have by yet to return my call.
The truck was converted to 5 lugs when I bought it but I wasn't sure how it was done. I called Mel at ClassicBowtie about a replacement rear end. He told me he has an early rear end but not a 71/72 rear. So armed with the axle width dimensions he gave me, I jacked the truck up and measured hoping to find an early axle. But alas I'm not that lucky. The axle flange face to face measured 63 3/8". Close enough to 63 1/2" to ID the housing as a 71/72. ( Photo #3 & 4) (An early axle would have measured 62")
I clamped some straight square stock to the flanges and measured inside edge to inside edge to determine the length. The 1/8" difference may be due to the aftermarket axle on the left side.
The real rub on this is how the insurance company is going to respond. I don't doubt they will accept replacing the axle, but will I have to pay for rebuilding it? I had the current rear end completely gone through several years back. Fortunately I have an aftermarket long track bar so I could use a later axle and have the mounting pads changed.
So the negotiations to began. Fortunately I have good documentation with receipts and this forum.

07-08-2021, 08:48 AM	#1
Dieselwrencher 6>8 Plugless........ Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Prairie City, Ia Posts: 17,143	Re: Working Man's Burbon Man, that really stinks. Sorry to hear your friend passed away. Luckily the damage to the burb wasn't worse. Hopefully you can locate a good body shop and get it fixed up soon. __________________ Ryan 1972 Chevy Longhorn K30 Cheyenne Super, 359 Inline 6 cylinder, Auto Trans, Tilt, Diesel Tach/Vach, Buckets, Rare Rear 4-link and air ride option Build Thread 1972 GMC Sierra Grande Longhorn 4x4 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Super K20 Long Step side tilt, tach, tow hooks, AC, 350 4 speed 1972 C10 Suburban Custom Deluxe 1969 Chevy milk truck 1971 Camaro RS 5.3 BTR STG3 Cam Super T10 1940 Ford 354 Hemi 46RH Ford 9" on air ride huge project *Tired of spark plugs? Check this out.*

08-09-2021, 05:18 PM	#3
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,638	Re: Working Man's Burbon Is been a while since the last time I posted. I have done a lot of running around and there is no end in sight. I have decided on a body shop for the work. The owner has already agreed to allow me in on Saturdays when his workers are gone to work on the WMB. Big plus! Now just waiting for my slot. I other related news I was grumbling about my turn signal switch cams going bad as it has become difficult to get the signal to operate smoothly and stay on. I finally realized the problem was because the steering wheel was no longer straight up when the truck was driving straight. I took it to my friends at Trackside Motorsports (A-N-T tire) to get the alignment checked. And the results showed the rear end is no longer straight. With the driver's side is toed out and the passenger side is toed in. So I'm crab walking down the road these days. (Photo #1 is from the alignment last November and photo #2 is the latest one) Not the best numbers for tire life and fuel efficiency. While on the rack we noticed what appears to be oil seeping from where the axle tube goes into the carrier housing and from one of the axle tube plug welds on the left side. I have not had any luck finding any place who wants to or can repair the axle. But some shops have by yet to return my call. The truck was converted to 5 lugs when I bought it but I wasn't sure how it was done. I called Mel at ClassicBowtie about a replacement rear end. He told me he has an early rear end but not a 71/72 rear. So armed with the axle width dimensions he gave me, I jacked the truck up and measured hoping to find an early axle. But alas I'm not that lucky. The axle flange face to face measured 63 3/8". Close enough to 63 1/2" to ID the housing as a 71/72. ( Photo #3 & 4) (An early axle would have measured 62") I clamped some straight square stock to the flanges and measured inside edge to inside edge to determine the length. The 1/8" difference may be due to the aftermarket axle on the left side. The real rub on this is how the insurance company is going to respond. I don't doubt they will accept replacing the axle, but will I have to pay for rebuilding it? I had the current rear end completely gone through several years back. Fortunately I have an aftermarket long track bar so I could use a later axle and have the mounting pads changed. So the negotiations to began. Fortunately I have good documentation with receipts and this forum. Attached Images __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377



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