IML: sure grips, odd noises and gene pool

["mike sutton" <mikanlin62@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Bill, and List..

I copy this to the list regarding the sure grip you inquired about.  It is 
possible to convert a 8 3/4 rear to a sure grip provided you have a sure 
grip center section and all the associated small parts needed when taking 
the differential apart and changing it over. The way its designed, you 
disassemble the differential, replace the standard center section with the 
sure grip and put it all back together.   By the way, on the style of 
differential we have in our Imperials , there is no separate cover on the 
rear of it, you simply remove each axle ( easier on the later non tapered 
axle cars ), remove the driveline at the rear end, and unbolt the 
differential.  There also , as I recall, no axle retaining clips on any 
Mopar 8 3/4 axle set up, the axles are held in by plates out at the end, by 
the wheel bearings.

The other side of the coin here is that by the time you pay the labor , at 
whatever ungodly rate they are asking for,  to remove the differential, take 
it apart, install the new parts, set up the backlash, pinion depth and ring 
gear to pinion gear pattern on the bench, and reinstall it in the car you 
are in a large pile of cash.  I would contact Randys Ring and Pinion in 
Everett and see about getting one outright and just having it installed. 
You would be surprised at how fast and easy it is to just swap a 
differential compared to doing all of the rest of it.  There are other 
places who do differentials nowadays, getting a sure grip isnt difficult nor 
should it be exhorbitantly expensive.

As far as your post regarding small shops and folks who know and understand 
older cars....bravo!  As one who cut their teeth on them, Id prefer to work 
on a 60s or 70 vintage Detroit ironworks vehicle any day of the week.  As 
much as I admire the technology and the application of it in newer cars, and 
the relative ease of much of the routine maintenance ( what do you mean " 
tune up".....they dont exist, just change plugs once a decade and put some 
injector cleaner in the tank ) and the fact that in some instances the 
ergonomics and the bells and whistles of many new cars are very attractive, 
they still strike me as soulless kidney beans mass produced by Conglomart 
much like the way the golden arches take drums of McMatter and process it 
into fries, burgers, shakes and kids toys...yet it all came out of the same 
machine way in the back that we never see.

By the way, its too bad you, and Leslie and a few others werent so bloody 
distant in regards to finding someone to work on the Imperials.  I can 
proudly say that I was at least out of the kiddie end of the gene pool and 
where I grew up the cut off age for sleeping with ones parents was 
relatively low and at that point you had to either marry a cousin or get 
adopted.  I also have learned to keep my knuckles off the floor and 
discovered that those breathe right strips really help keeping ones mouth 
shut while breathing.

Thanks for the list of noises, very similar to what we hear in aviation 
except theres no listing for this type of whining.....the kind of noise 
someone makes when they have to pony up to the bar and pay for the privilege 
of flying in 150,000 dollars worth of disposable income that has to be 
maintained.  If you remember the scene in " The Jerk ", think of the guy who 
asked Steve Martin for money because his leather seats had cracked.

Mikey
62 Crown Coupe 




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