David,
The last post about your 72 Skylark is almost one year old. If you still have it, here is another forum dedicated to Buicks, and particularly Skylarks.:clap:

http://www.v8buick.com/index.php

I hope you enjoy looking and maybe you'll join. I'm not on "Lateral-G" very often, but saw your Skylark thread and thought you'd like to know about "V-8 Buick". :thumbsup:

Jeff
in SW Fla

Still alive
 

Hello Jeff,
Thanks for the link, i'm already a member of that forum.

The Skylark is sleeping in the garage, i still have some parts to come from your country like the blow carb, and some other parts.
It looks like i'm also sleeping in place of working on it but i'm planning on moving (4 years that i'm looking for the right house!) and my actual garage is a mess, ...... i sold some of my cars to make room and have more place to work easily and efficiently but there is still some work....

I have to say that coming here and watching all the great projects and finished cars, makes my heart warmer...

hh
 

i'm at work i will post pics soon

http://buickskylark.skynetblogs.be

the rear
 

so watch the oil mess from a damaged seal...

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/940/dscf2916b.jpg

my Buick is originally from California, so a no-rust car , but a little ride on our fuc--- salty road can make some damages. Fortunatly only surface rust.

http://img704.imageshack.us/img704/1541/dscf2920j.jpg

i had to make some cleaning, i used brake cleaner to remove all the oil:

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2002/dscf3121t.jpg

the new parts are ready to be fitted,

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/9555/dscf3124.jpg

the rear arms are ready to be bolted to the rear axle, i used some rust paint to have a nice working place...

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4209/dscf3127y.jpg

the axle
 

so now i'm busy with the rear axle and i need some help.
I have to set the pinion gear clearance to install the new Eaton differential.
Is it the right way to do it?
1-I have to replace the pinion bearings : the bigger must be pressed in . The smaller is not pressed.
Do i already have to place shims behind the big bearing at this point? if so which size ?
2-i check the gear pattern pinion/ring to see how much the pinion must move.
3-i must remove the big bearing to place (or remove) shims.
4-re-check the gear/pinion pattern...
5-then i set the ring and pinion tolerance with my dial indicator.

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/4122/dscf3211z.jpg
THE PINION WITH THE BIG BEARING

the bearing kit
http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/2533/dscf3207p.jpg

the other wheels
 

I bought a set of OZ Futura wheels for a future project (i'm looking for a 70-72 El Camino).
They are 8.5x18 ET13 and 10x18 ET6 and have a metallic blue center :( with a polished rim , for a more "menacing" look i will paint them matt black :unibrow: (i tried on one wheel and placed it on the Buick, just 2see...).

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/6752/dscf3206g.jpg

To answer you're axle question; It's a little more complex than that. You will need to figure out the backlash and pinion spacing. You may have to press the pinion bearing on and off a few times before you get it right. I usually start with the factory shims and go from there. I've only done 3-4 gear swaps, but they're all still holding up. Check out this site; it's for Toyota difs, but all the concepts are the same:

http://gearinstalls.com/

Thanks a lot
it's what i wanted to know, is there no risk to damage the bearing by pressing on and off several times? i 'll have to be very carefull...
i suppose you only fit the pinion seal after the backlash is set ?

Should be fine to press the bearing on and off, some people use the old bearing to figure out the shim thickness, then re-assemble and check with the new bearing. I would set everything up, get the right specs dialed in and then re-assemble one last time with the seal. You want to make sure you get the backlash and pinion dept right, otherwise you could end up with some broken parts or a noisy rear end.

One more thing, if you are using a crush sleeve, you only have one shot at getting it right. Overcrush it and you'll have too much preload on the bearing. You may want to consider a solid sleeve instead. The solid sleeves get adjusted by using shims.

sorry if i seem a little stupid, but what do you call a crush sleeve and a solid sleeve ? :D what is the difference ?
Is it the little tube that you use to set preload on the pinion?
i only got the one in the new bearing kit....
i try to do my best with all mechanical terms but some are :question:

David