Thanks for the response, Doug.
I'm curious to hear how this one turns out. The car would have had to take
quite a shot to scoot the diff over. The differential mounting is very
rigidly mounted to the frame (albeit, prone to cracking), and the mount
would not move over without taking the frame with it. Furthermore, the axle
is collapsible and the trailing arm mount points are located 2 feet away and
out of line with the differential mount point; so I'm having a hard time
picturing what type of accident would impact on the differential without
tearing the rest of the car all to hell.
I agree, though, that my theory of the car being built with a crooked
driveline sounds equally improbable :-) For weight-distribution and
structural stability, they'd have wanted both the engine and differential
smack on the centerline of the car.
So I vote even more strongly now for a body that doesn't sit squarely on the
chassis. Or maybe the prescription has run out on John's glasses and he
just hasn't realized it yet? :-)
When is this day gonna end...
Kevin Riggs
'72 TR6
rkriggs@ingr.com
Huntsville, AL
----------
> Well, I have been thinking about this, and I have interpreted it a
> little different than Kevin.
>
> I think that John is saying that there is a misalignment from side
> to side of the driveshaft. (really bad ascii art follows)
>
>
> ------------------ Front axle
>
> | |
> \ /
> | | Transmission
> -
> \
> \ Driveshaft
> \
> --------{}-------- Rear axle
>
> If this is the case, then the differential mounting is out of alignment,
> and the car has probably been "crabbing" down the road and showing rapid
> rear tire wear. This can be caused by the frame being misaligned from
> new (not likely), a DPO bodge/restoration (possibly) or being hit and
> not repaired correctly (most likely).
>
> If John is referring to a misalignment is in the vertical direction,
> ie higher at one end than the other, then what Kevin wrote is basically
> correct.
>
> Doug Mitchell
>
|