74 Monaco Troubles

Matt Gallant

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Campbellton, New Brunswick
So I have multiple issues, going to try and summarize them all in one go here with accompanying pictures:

1) My passenger side torsion bar had snapped while parked over the winter. I was able to remove the bar with ease, however the adjuster seems to be stuck and I already hashed the metal surrounding it a little trying to remove it with a cheater bar, any suggestions what I could do to get it out? It doesnt need to be salvageable but that route is proffered. Also in the picture with the adjuster, you'll notice the torsion bar key is stuck at the very top. I've tried prying on it to get it to come back down, but it seems to spring back into that position, what steps can I take to remove/solve that issue?
Torsion Key And Adjuster.JPG

2) In the rest of the pictures, you can see the damage my dented driveshaft caused to my extension housing. Is there a way to remove the housing without pulling the entire engine and transmission? I was looking at the bolts on the bottom of the crossmember for the torsion bars, can that be removed if both bars are out?
Extension Housing Mount.JPG
Extension Housing Zoom.JPG
Extension Housing.JPG
Torsion Bar Cross Member.JPG


Extension Housing Mount 2.JPG
 
Usually you can spray the key with a good penetrating oil to free it. The adjuster looks to be beyond salvage, you can try spraying it with the penetrating oil but it looks badly rusted. If you have access to a cutting torch, cut the head of the adjuster bolt and the threads sticking out the top and the capture plate will slide out. Take care not to heat up the lower control arm as they are tempered steel. If you remove the lower control arm from the vehicle you can usually move the key out of the way to remove the adjuster without cutting. That would be the preferred method, albeit more work, that way you have room to work and there is no worry about starting a fire with a torch or damaging any of the components.

The lower section of the cross member is designed to be removable so that the transmission can be pulled. Your cross member has some rust, that usually means that one or more of the bolts holding it in will twist off. Spray all of the bolts with penetrating oil and hope for the best. using drills and easy-outs to remove rusted bolts is another PIA. With the level of damage to the extension housing, it is very likely that this transmission has some internal damage as well. The transmission needs to come out for repair and inspection as the prospects of just replacing the housing and expecting this transmission to function are nil.

Dave
 
I'll follow that advice Dave! I must say though, for the damage sustained to the extension housing, I was able to drive the car home 15 mins without issue, no slippage either, so I have a thread of hope for the trans, but I still intend to remove the pan and check it out!
 
I'll follow that advice Dave! I must say though, for the damage sustained to the extension housing, I was able to drive the car home 15 mins without issue, no slippage either, so I have a thread of hope for the trans, but I still intend to remove the pan and check it out!
I would be concerned that there is damage done to the output shaft. If you try to repair this in the car you will need to find a way to check to see if it is true or has a wobble in it. Also there is a high probability of contamination inside the transmission it won’t all be in the pan. My recommendation is to remove it and have it checked out which would mean a rebuild at that time.
If you do tackle this when you remove the cross member you need to support the torsion bar frames so they don’t twist down on you.if you don’t it will be very difficult o put the cross member back on.
Good luck.
 
If you do tackle this when you remove the cross member you need to support the torsion bar frames so they don’t twist down on you.if you don’t it will be very difficult o put the cross member back on.
Good luck.
They will still twist even with the bars removed? Sorry for the seemingly silly questions, I'm just now diving into auto mechanics without a course and am learning on the go lol
 
They will still twist even with the bars removed? Sorry for the seemingly silly questions, I'm just now diving into auto mechanics without a course and am learning on the go lol

With both T-bars removed and the car properly supported on jack stands, the cross member should not twist unless it is rusted to the point of failure. If you do not already have one, download a copy of the FSM, www.mymopar.com.

Dave
 
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