3rd member swap

[scott]

double dang. i was all set to stop by the local bolt shop and get 2 bolts for the 2 that were broke on the ring gear and couldn't find any. it turns out the ring bolts are unique to series iia rings. even the rcc ring bolts won't work. there are 8 regular 3/8 x 1" BSFs and 2 special 3/8 x 1" BSFs with a higher shoulder that acts to center the ring. guess which 2 broke. i've order the set of 10 and they'll be here in time for next saturday's knuckle bang'n time. the two broke bolts, the special centering ones, were 180 degree apart. i'm thinking they have to go in and snug down first to center the ring. does anyone know if there are 2 special holes or will any two holes 180 degree from each other work?

[J!m]

There are probably special holes for these special bolts. Once you have it apart (with some paint dabs to retain orientation) you should have your answer...

[scott]

it only get's better. the rrc 3rd mbr has 3 things different from the series iia's. like i said earlier 1- the grearing and the spider carriers, 2- no fill plug on the rrc and the 3rd thing, discovered yesterday as the sun was setting, the series has 2 guide pins on the axle housing tucked in between a couple of the 10 bolts the hold the 3rd mbr on. and with these 2 pins the series 3rd mbr has 2 corresponding holes, the rrc doesn't. i had to crawl out from under the rove with the frankenstien 3rd mbr, wearing insulated overalls cuz i'm in my brothers back yard and we get about a week or two of winter here and it just happen to coincide with this project, and head cross town to larry the blacksmith (you don't need a machinist when working on stuff this old) made a pattern from the series 3rd and built a jig for the drill press and modified the rrc to look a bit more like the series. went down this morn'n and bolted it on. everything looks good, cruise around a bit, check out the 4x4 and low range, no leaks, squeals or wierd vibrations. toltal cost, $24 ring gear spacer, $145 2 rrc 3rd mbrs, $60 for 10 ring gear bolts (these prices incld s/h) and i owe my bud jeff a rear axle kit. no bang'd up knuckles this go arround but a bunch of sore muscle caused by wrenching in awkard positions and cold temps. i wish i had a camera to show you the right side jack up about 18" with an inverted 1 quart gear oil bottle that has the bottom cut off, propt against the wheel with a couple of 3 foot sticks, connected to a piece of tubing routed in to the axle housing through the axleless hub. merry christmas