Small crack in lower case - Is this a common problem?

I'm going to say that it could be a pin hole in the casting .... but if it just appeared .. it looks like a ring bolt tried to make a quick exit ?

Ron

Thanks. Couldn't bring myself to say it. Any suggestions for a shop for safety wiring around San Francisco?

Sorry I had to be the one ... but I have a similiar problem ... my fluid comes out with silver color to it the 3 times I changed it ...yea there is RBT and Quella ? There a lot closer to you then me ... I searching for a light wieght crate to ship mine out with .. these days shipping is a REAL NUMBER.

Ron

As far as merely safety wiring the ring gear bolts, you can do it yourself. All the vendors sell kits with high quality bolts, safety wire and pliers. I'll be doing mine sometime in July. So yank your ZF, take it to a shop to weld up that crack, then bring it on down to San Jose and you can safety wire yours at the same time. I have the pliers and wire already - just need new bolts.

Brian,

Dont drive that car again until you have pulled the sump cover and removed the piece of metal that caused this. Something is rolling around in the bottom of your box and got jammed between the ring gear and the sump cover.
If your pinion bolts come loose they wind there way out until they touch the inside of the case - they then mill away at it until destruction.


Ron, if you are getting silver oil stop driving that car immediately (your car is off the road anyway isn't it?) Pull the tranny and check your pinion bolts.
Unfortunately it's not possible to pull the sump cover with the tranny in the car because the iron output bearing housings are held together at the bottom with 2 bolts that can't be withdrawn because they hit the chassis.


Lloyd Butfoy is very helpful. Send him a fax and he will call you back. If it's just your pinion bolts go down and spend the day with Garth..

Johnny

http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9550045562...750097745#5750097745

Well, There is good news and bad news ....

The bad news: You probably have a part loose in your case. My guess, along with others is that it is a pinion bolt. You will have to pull the tranny out of the car to determine what the problem is and get it fixed. If it is not the pinion bolt, it could be something more serious. In any case, don't make things worse - fix the problem before you drive another mile.

The good news: If it is a pinion bolt, you can do the work yourself and you do not need to ship the tranny out. The crack in the case can be TIG weld repaired. The crack is in the pinion cover AND is is the only thing needed to be removed for the repair. - You won't need to ship the tranny. Finally, ZF pinion gear covers are not a difficult part to come by -if you do not want to repair it.

B.G.

Thanks for all of the advice.

Garth, thanks for the generous offer of assistance.

I'm a newbie and have a good local mechanic, so I'll start with a tow there. It's got ~60K miles and 35 years on it. While it's out, should I consider anything beyond the repair and safety wire? I'd rather not sit out the summer, but better safe than ...

Brian

It's also an excellent time to detail and paint your ZF since it will be out. See this post by Johnny Woods:
http://pantera.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6450045562...950020494#4950020494

Yes, I've seen those shots, but I really want it on the road this summer.

It looks like ZF/steering rack surgery next week, then I'll be back out there.

I'm still hoping it's just a ring/pinion bolt.

Brian

quote:

I searching for a light wieght crate to ship mine out with .. these days shipping is a REAL NUMBER.

Ron, Go down to your local Lowes and get a Contico Pro Tuff Bin Item #91573 Model#3725 for $50....the ZF fits in it perfectly if you remove the reverse switch. I've used mine three or four times, here's a photo...I lined the bottom with a small piece of chipboard, bolted the ZF mounting ears through the side of the box and added a couple cross pieces to bolt the front end to. Shipping weight is right on 200lbs.

I like that ... very nice ... I;m going to check LOWES out this weekend.

Thanks

Ron

It was recommended to me that I take pictures prior to shipping. That way, in the event it gets damaged along the way, you can prove that it was properly secured and any damage incurred was due to improper handling not improper packing. Saved someones tail awhile back.

quote:

It was recommended to me that I take pictures prior to shipping. That way, in the event it gets damaged along the way, you can prove that it was properly secured and any damage incurred was due to improper handling not improper packing.

Exactly the reason I had a photo at hand to post.

I have something that looks similar only smaller in the rear case near the back of the transaxle. It is right at the bottom in one of the deep little bolt channels. Is there something back there that might let go and bounce around?