Well, I got the new old wagon home this past Wednesday. Of course, it ain't as nice as the pictures looked, but...she is a solid example and should make a fine driver for a long time to come...

The issue is with the rear end though. I knew it didn't work, and I just now figured out why.... (the tell tale holes through the differential cover from the inside are a good clue as to a problem...)

Brief history on that is that the rear had gone out sometime last year, and the only rear to be found was from a sedan.. so, this brilliant mechanic opted to cut the axle housings, and weld the wagon housings to the sedan pumpkin. Silly guy. So, question number one: If he didn't get that aligned all perfect, where would the most likely stresses take place?

As it is, the problem with the rear end now is that both the planetary spider gears are in lots of little bits, and I'm curious as to whether this creative weld job caused that, or some other incompetent move by said mechanic, or...perhaps an unrelated coincidence. I have an extra spide gear set that came with the car...intact... I was thinking of just changing the ring gear and swapping it... as a temporary fix until I get a new rear end housing that is...

Any thoughts/insights/or advice on this project?

Thanks,
Matt

70 145s
65 1800s
72 164e
66 122s wagon
Other junk...