Some years ago my yellow bug-I had a leaking rear seal, not bad
enough to replace just a small puddle wherever I parked and a well oiled
back of the car. No problem, just fill the tranny once a month. This was
when I invented my first special tool, a piece of 5/8" garden hose about 4
inches long. Loosen the fill plug with the socket and extension and place
the hose over the plug. This allowed me to R&R the plug with my big fat
hands.
Then the ribcase started jumping out of first and second gear, still
it ran OK so why worry about it. A little later the puddle started getting
bigger and the refills more frequent. It still ran and at home I parked on
a drip pan so no big problem right. Wrong one day reaching under the seat
to get something I noticed that the floor and carpet were full of oil,
besides putting a quart of oil in every 100 miles was getting old.
I got a "deal" on one of the $600 rebuilt ribcase trannys and the
fun started. 7 R&R's, two ribcases, a datsun 5-speed, clutches, engine
rebuild, later and we were running. First ribcase was bad out of the box,
second one lasted 200 miles, and soaked the clutch before it blew up. One
R&R was because I forgot to oil the pilot bushing, another because no mater
how much you clean it the clutch is bad. A couple of R&R's for clutch
problems with the 5-speed.
Besides the 5-speed the best things I learned were how to R&R a
bug-I engine and tranny without removing the bonnet and always replace the
rear tranny seal if it shows any signs of leaking at all.
Sorry if you read all this but with 4' of snow that was packed by
rain to 18" of concrete and it just started snowing again with another 2'
forecast today Reno is in deep snow. I guess the 10 year drought is over
for now, got to go shovel some snow, later. 20' of new snow in the mountains
this week.
Crash
What's the collective wisdom concerning the replacement of the driveshaft
seal? (Is it even replaceable??)
Everytime the engine is pulled?
Wait till it leaks then replace it?
Leaks prevent rust - never replace it?
Tim
Dollar Bay MI
1966 Sprite
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