Well... crap

No update in awhile, sorry.

Got the transmission in, been driving with it for almost two months now. Everything's been great, except for a vibration in the back of the car and steadily decreasing gas mileage.

The shudder I attributed to shot rear springs and control arm bushings, so I bought some new ones. Tonight, I removed the control arms and springs, tomorrow I'll have the old bushings pressed out and the arms sandblasted so I can paint them.

However, while I was dicking around, I spun one of the rear wheels. Click click click click... well, shit. Bad side bearings? Pop the diff cover off. The fluid, which I changed when I did the transmission in early September, was gray and sparkly with metal shavings. Bad news. Spun it again. Click click click... coming from the damn spider gears in the differential.

So, car is up in the air for a couple of weeks. I won't be able to get to the junk yard for a new rear end until next Saturday at the earliest. Damn old cars.