MY REAR END PROBLEM
If you follow this newsletter, I am sure that you remember “Grandma.” She is the 1954 Chrysler Windsor four door sedan (the world’s most uncollectable car) that I am in the process of replacing the original straight six cylinder engine with an amazing 1955 Chrysler C300 hemi engine. In my April 1st newsletter, I revealed how I was astounded to learn that she was the test vehicle for the Chrysler C300. I was also amazed to find out that she is the mother of Christine, the evil Plymouth that Stephen King wrote about and became the main character in the 1983 horror movie by that name. You may also recall that I was alarmed to discover that she is having a bad influence on “Bluebird,” my 1962 Pontiac Catalina restomod. In fact, I had to separate them in the garage so that Grandma could no longer cause havoc with Bluebird.
I thought that this separation would allow me to have everything under control with Bluebird and its howling differential that I am positive Grandma induced. I had Western Drivetrain replace the original 2:30 ring and pinion part of the Auburn limited slip differential with a 3:90 ratio. The LS3 420hp engine really likes that gear ratio, and Bluebird accelerates like a bandit and gives good gas mileage with the six speed automatic transmission. BUT … after I parked it in my garage for a bit and then took it out for a drive, the new ring and pinion also started howling again, but this time at a different speed. Instead of a “treat,” I got a “treatment,” thanks to Grandma. I turned the whole problem over to Dave Fitzgerald and his experienced rear end auto expert Andy. They naively thought they could use a ring and pinion from another manufacturer as the Auburn gear set has a racing profile and extra beef, making it good to handle 1000hp. (I seldom need that much power on South Broadway, and I don’t do burnouts!)
They found out that Auburn is the only game in town for a replacement 9.3 inch third member ring and pinion gear set. A total rear end replacement with a Ford nine inch is an option – a dramatically expensive option!
I left Bluebird with Dave and Andy, who will remove the Auburn, double check the contact pattern, and then send it to the vendor in Wyoming, who will expertly set it up. If it comes back and still howls, I will be left with two options: earplugs or dynamite. With Bluebird out of range of my garage, Grandma should not be a factor. Not sure what I will do when Bluebird returns. Grandma may lose her place in the garage and go to outside storage.
NOW GRANDMA PICKS ON THE CADILLAC
Last Monday was one of those Chamber of Commerce Colorado days with clear blue skies, moderate temperatures and no rain in the forecast, not even in the mountains. I decided it would be a perfect day to take Albert, my friend from India, on a tour of the mountains. Even though he worked as a nurse in Denver for several years, he had never ventured into the mountains. What road in Colorado is more spectacular than the 12,000 foot high Trail Ridge Road through Rocky Mountain National Park? That was our destination, and the Cadillac CTS was the car. The 3.6 engine is adequately powerful, and the economy is really good for this type of car. It is a 2010 model that has only 25K miles on it, as well as being super clean with not a mark on it. It is still riding on the original Michelin tires with lots of tread (more on that later).
We drove over Berthod Pass to Lake Granby where we had lunch to wait out the 2PM entrance time since we did not have a reservation. Normally by midafternoon, you fear for your life in the Alpine tundra due to the lightning storms that form around that time.
We were in luck as there were just a few puffy clouds in a clear blue sky and a gentle 40 mph gale at the top (95F in Denver and 61F on top).
The descent to Allenspark was the usual slog behind a Texas pickup towing a big camping trailer with the driver dragging the brakes at every curve and, of course, there were no passing zones. The Cadillac’s disk brakes got a good workout. We cut over to I- 25 near Longmont to join the 80 mph and 20 mph nose to tail thrill drive to Denver and return home. So what’s the beef?
The next morning I took the Cadillac out of the garage to get some carryout lunch. It pulled hard to the right. Yep – a flat tire. Not a normal flat, but a disintegrated sidewall, and we were going 80 mph on that tire!!! There is only one logical explanation why I drove home with no issue on that tire, and it disintegrated overnight. Grandma was jealous of the Cad and took her anger out on it. She had to stay over the pit with no front clip while the Cad went on a nice outing, and the Bluebird is getting special attention. To a certain extent, I have some sympathy for Grandma as we have been slow to get her dressed and on the road again. Dave got sick and couldn’t help, Johnathon had to skip a couple of weeks, and I had a sciatica attack, so work on the cars slowed down considerably. Nevertheless, I expect Grandma to be a good sport about her transformation. All her relatives are either in the junkyard or made into pots and pans. Any more acting out, and she may join them. I have had it with her!