Last Saturday I bumped into my friend who tells me what's at the yards at the moment. He tells me there's a convertible centurion at this yard I've never been to. I ask how long ago? - I was there a couple of weeks ago. So You think it might still be there? - Maybe, they don't flip cars that quick, but parts are a little more expensive. Ok, maybe I'll take a look, what's left of it? - It's in prett decent shape, the whole dash area is intact.It's in the front row, you can't miss it. So I head out, and of course there's no centurion in the front row. I'm like, my usual luck I guess. But two rows down I see it. It's white and it's missing the front lights and bumper. I'm first not sure what year it is, but so what I think. I see the engine is still there, but valve covers are gone. Some hood bolts have been taken out, and I put this exhaust piece under it to keep it up. The whole interior is gone, including the carpet??? All glass has been taken out, and the top is also gone. I think, there can't be a useful piece left here. But I decide to spin the rear drum, and the other side spins in the same direction, I can't believe it. They've taken almost everything but left the posi? I quickly head back to the car to get the tools. I take off the diff. cover, and I can't figure out the numbers stamped there. So I take the carrier out, and start to count. It's twelve on the pinion, and something else on the ring. I start scribbling with my greasy finger on the trunk lid.. equate ... 3 . 4 . 1 + something else. lucky ducky... I now have the problem with having the carrier out of its case, but so be it I think. I go up to the window, how much is a rear axle, drum to drum? - 175$ including core and tax.. I'm like no way, that's twice what the other yards charge. How much for a diff? - What do you mean, the third member? or what ever he said. I'm like ok, what ever you want to call it. - 60$. I think, ok 60$ ain't that bad. But I want the gears too.. I've never taken out a pinion gear before so I'm a bit stuck on that. The drive shaft is out for some reason and it's just sitting there spining around. I also see I don't have a socket that's big enough to fit on the bolt on the pinion gear's back. Screw it, I'll take the axle minus the brakes and shafts, maybe the price will drop. So the struggle starts, it's gravel too, so it's not the ideal conditions, but evetually the axle comes out. I start to think, if it has 3.42 geas it could have the hi po 455?? I look at the driver's door and the tag says 71. Chances are...I also want the fuel level sender from the tank so I get that out, and a build sheet slides out. It says Hi Po 455. I think bingo.. I go up to the front and start taking things off the intake, for some reason the carb is still on it, and I put that to the side. The rest of the story can be found here: http://v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=87406
For some reason I can't reply to your link. Does the engine turn over? If so, put the spark plugs back in the heads and turn the engine over as fast as you can with your ratchet or breaker bar. The compression may pop them heads lose.
I'm going back out on Friday, I'll give it a shot.. I'll need a couple of tricks like this to get these guys off, thy're like cement glued on there.
a much less messy way to find out the diff gearing is to put a jack under the pumpkin, get both rear wheels off the ground, put the car in neutral (if the driveshaft is still attached) and use a grease pencil to mark the driveshaft/diff yoke and one of the tires. now, count the rotations of the driveshaft necessary to make the tire go one revolution. on a peg leg rear, you'll have to divide by two but you only have to jack up one tire.
