My buddy has a 75 Bronco with a 302, C4, James Duff 4" lift and 31's. The dipstick tube cracked out of the factory transmission pan, so until we just installed a new aluminum Trick Flow pan (good excuse to upgrade), it had been sitting for awhile.

I have a couple of questions: Has anyone else had a problem with the transmission dipstick tube? On his Bronco, it has no support at the top, nor any indication that it was ever supported. Seems like it was designed to develop a stress fracture where it attaches to the pan... we're going to make a bracket with an insulated clamp near the top to help isolate it. I'm just curious if this is common.

The other, more important thing is this: now that it's finally back on the road, it's making a clicking sound from somewhere in the drivetrain. It sounds kind of like a bad CV joint on an old toyota. It only makes it while rolling and under load. We can only hear it at slow speeds, but that's probably just because the glasspacks overpower it.

We took turns crawling alongside the truck while driving, and it sounds like it's coming from the transmission area, although it's hard to tell, as everything echoes around underneath the car.

We were unable to duplicate the sound with the rear wheels on jackstands in the shop. I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestion as to what this sound might be. Thanks in advance.

Oh, one more thing while I'm thinking of it: we found a small black spring on the floor of the shop (approx 1/4 x 1.5" if I remember correctly) under where the bronco was sitting, although it could have likely been there for a long time and just got noticed.... but just in case, is there any small spring like this that could drop out in a standard pan/filter removal and installation? If you want to see the Bronco in question, go to www.wantlandracing.com and click on "Projects". It is listed. Thanks again.

 

eh, what the heck, i'll give it a bump....