As TwiZted stated, if you're going to do anything, tear the motor down first to see what you need and go from there.. If at that point you decide you need a loaner motor or an S&S motor, do one or the other but don't be getting a new motor and then rebuilding an old one... Your just throw money away that doesn't make any sense at all. So let's see what you have and complete the year down first...

 

I'm probably wrong. But isn't the pinion shaft race supposed to be inserted from the inside of the case? If so it would not be possible for it to move out along the shaft?
Just curious because I think I remember doing it that way long ago when I replaced the bearing on the right side.

 

Well, here's a tiny sliver of good news in an otherwise bad situation: That's just the breather gear spacer. They sometimes/usually fall off like that when you pull the cone.

So whatever other troubles you've got, that spacer isn't one of them.

 

It sounds like to me you might?? be a bit over your head splitting the cases and messing with the crank, special tools and knowledge is required setting up the crank and lower end, you may want to find a good shop to do the lower end engine work?

 

Definitely something I've never done before! I'd like to learn more though, and have a solid mechanical knowledge from fixing up old Ford trucks. Hoping I can rely on that to get me pretty far. I was reading the engine chapter today a little further than I ever had and I'm absolutely in agreement on having someone else do the work. I don't have the capacity to measure thousands of an inch. Tools or experience.

The well rated shop here in Wilmington said it was 24 hours to tear down and rebuild. I'm hoping by pulling the motor and doing some of my own work, I'll get that number down. Not positive though, didn't have a conversation with them about it.

Still won't know the full situation with the motors health for a while yet. I was unable to get the compensator nut off tonight, that thing needs some real persuading!! I need to make the locking tool. Tomorrow's project.

 

Go rent a Milwaukee 18V 1/2 impact , found nothing these monster won't move. I'm serious I don't use my $$$ air impacts anymore since this thing.

 

Money well spent.

 

Caution! Impacts can demagnetize the stator. Try using a long breaker bar. Don't use a hammer either.

 

Stator loses a magnet it was going bad long before an impact got involved and in 40 odd years doing this stuff I've yet to see the impact directly damage one, replaced many that were bad already.

 

Over 30 years using impact here and no problems. Course now that i said that….