4 speed housing crack!

JOZW30 · #1 04-21-2007, 02:52 AM

Guys,

Maybe just need to vent as much as ask for advice.

I picked up my rebuilt 4 speed for my 73 W30, and was wiping it down to detail paint as I planned to install in the car tomorrow (Ohio is getting it's first nice weekend of the year. And, the local Olds club chapters Spring Dust-off is next Sunday.), anyway, one of the mounting ears has a crack in the web!!!

I'm pretty sure it wasn't there when I first installed the tranny last winter. I could have missed it I guess.

What are my options? Can this thing be "heliarced" (sp?) without being taken apart again? I just paid like $800.00 for the rebuild. You think they would have checked the case out for problems.

I am not sure if I'm more angry or depressed! I've waited all week to get the car out........

By the way, the other three mounting feet are fine.

Anyone get this fixed without problems?

What a bummer!

**scuncio** · #2 04-21-2007, 03:37 AM

It's pretty easy to do if you have the case totally disassembled. I'm sure you could pull it off with the trans assembled but the surface preparation for the cracked area would be a heck of a lot more difficult. Sorry, no experience doing it this way. Good luck, Tony

**SS427** · #3 04-21-2007, 05:51 AM

Are you sure it did not get cracked during the install? Many times people use the bolts to "pull" the trans into the bellhousing. Major no no as it can easily crack the ears. You may have a difficult time getting the rebuilder to take the blame for missing the crack simply due to the amount of time that has passed.

Fixing the ears can be done, is done routinely and is not that expensive (for just ear rewelding).

I just had an M-22 case that literally had an internal explosion and cracked the case almost 200 degrees around as well as breaking off 3 ears all in the name of saving an original case with the VIN intact. It was extremely expensive but the end result was well worth the effort. Broken ears on Muncie cases are very common.

As a side note, this same trans had porosity issues after the reweld and rebuild yet we were able to fix the welders errors and the leaks without tearing the trans back down and this area was in the main part of the housing not the ear area so you should have no problem welding it up. The biggest thing you need to be cautious of is making sure there is NO contaminate.
Rick

**Charley Lillard** · #4 04-21-2007, 06:13 AM

Just a cracked ear can be welded no problem and I would do it withour gutting the trans. I assume you have not filled it with oil yet. I would find a bellhousing to bolt it to when it is being welded to lessen the chance of it warping.

**SuperNovaSS** · #5 04-21-2007, 06:29 AM

I agree with Charley. I have had many welded with no disassembly. I am not sure about bolting it to a bellhousing if all 4 sides have to be welded though. I guess it depends on the situation.

Jason

crash · #6 04-21-2007, 07:30 AM

I fix cracked Muncie cases all the time... The easiest why for me is when I have an empty case that I can bolt into my surface plate with cut-outs so I can weld completely around the ear with out un-bolting it from the fixture... If you don't want to dis-assemble the trans you should do as Charlie said and bolt the trans to an old cast iron bell housing, because it will warp if you don't... (if you use an aluminum bell you could weld the case to the bell housing)... Crash

JOZW30 · #7 04-21-2007, 04:49 PM

Just wondering now how big of a deal is this crack? It is on the outer gusset rib, and is about 1/2" long. I checked the mounting surface and it is perfectly flat.

Once the trans is bolted up, what is the safety issue? The over-all housing assembly really doesn't see major torque does it? Even that one bolt location is still probably 80% intact, with the exception of some vibration it should not get worse.

Don't really see how this small crack will come into play.

Any thoughts? Maybe this crack has been there for years?

Joe

**Charley Lillard** · #8 04-21-2007, 06:22 PM

We could give you a better opinion if we had a pic. I have seen cars run for years with a ear missing so you are probably OK. You could install it and check it once in awhile.

JOZW30 · #9 04-21-2007, 06:36 PM

Thanks Charley! I will try to take a picture, but pretty sure you won;t be able to see anything. I can at least draw where the crack is as far as location and length. I think the worst part of it visually was the old aluma-blast paint that was cracked.

Once I cleaned the area with lacquer thinner, you can barely see anything at all.

I'm installing it and will do as you suggest and keep an eye on it. I don't think it's a structural problem.

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