The weather here in Minnesota has been brutal this year, and refuses to warm up, but this last weekend, I've finally been able to get some work done on the Road Runner. As most know, I broke a rod in my 499 last year, and it pretty much destroyed everything in the short block, and kept the damage to the heads to a minimum. I was already in the process of getting things together for a new engine, and things are finally moving forward with that. With the new engine the old Jerico DR4 would be on borrowed time, so I sold that, and bought a new Liberty Equalizer Extreme 4 speed. Doing so, means the car needs some modifications to fit the new trans. Waiting for parts has been a huge issue, as most know, but with some luck, I have almost everything I need to finish the new to me 563ci engine. A huge thanks to Chuck Millan of Best machine, with help ordering the ATI Dampener shell with integrated Crank trigger magnets.

With a spare 440 block for mock up, I've been able to make stuff like a new throttle cable, and fuel lines, while I wait for my engine. I bought a used/damaged INDY block. it needed to be fixed by the pan rail, and have 3 new sleeves installed. All that has been done now. The car also needs a rear gear change. I'm going from a 4.88 rear gear, to a 4.56. Liberty wants a 4.30 in the car, but no one makes a 4.30 Pro gear for a Dana 60 anymore.

This next step hurt a little. I spent a lot of time making the floors in the car nice, and clean. To take a cutoff wheel to them, ALMOST had me installing a automatic in the car... I traced the Liberty trans on a piece of plywood, then cut it out. With a template, I was able to determine what needed to be cut a way. The trans now fits, and I need to make a removable tunnel for the car.

Looks nice Jeff! You do good work! What switch panel is that?

It's the stock dash filler panel. Switches are from Waytek Wire. I made my own wiring harness for the car.

Very nice!

Beautiful work and car Jeff. Looking forward to it running good #'s soon. If you're running an aluminum rod, check one for fit in the piston. Apparently, it's a more common oversight than I thought.

I have a US gear Pro gear 4.30 in my Dana. Part number 05-997430
Doug

I'm using Molnar 7.100 steel rods.

THANKS Doug! I'll look into it. What spool are you running? 4.10 or 4.56?

I have 4.30 pro gears in the 67 ..

Every place I have looked says no longer available. I called Nitro Gear, as they listed them about a year ago, and had them on their website. No longer available, was what I got when I called them directly. The US gear number Doug gave me, is turning up the same way. maybe they will have one in stock?

Try this???
https://usdieselparts.com/i-24076553-dana-60-4-30-ratio-pro9310-ring-and-pinion-drag-also.html

Just got off the phone with US Gear, and they are no longer supporting Dana 60 parts.

I called the link you posted Ted, and they do not have one on the shelf, and Nitro gear will no longer be making a 4.30 Pro gear either... I'll stick with the 4.56's, and if it's too much, I'll make the switch to 4.10's next year I guess.

Looks awesome Jeff! I could see the anxiety behind cutting on that thing but lets be real, we all know you would never put an automatic in it lol.

Good luck Jeff!

You have no idea how close I was to going that route. Cutting the car was a HUGE factor. The many hours spent with Joel during our Drag Week travels, convinced me to keep the manual, and order the Liberty. I ordered it a week after we got back.

Love that car !
I understand the floor thing, but it's never going back to stock, right ?

There is zero chance of that ever happening.

The only person it should really matter to what it looks like is YOU Frick the rest of them, huh