Ed/Charo,

  If you would like to build a 3.17:1 box and use
  the rear planet one trick is to EDM out the roll pins
  holding the six planet shafts in and replace them with
  hard shoulder bolts. Then screw the shoulder bolts into
  a flange on the prop shaft. Makes a real elegant box.

  This will work on the front planetary too if you wish 2.85:1.

  I am leaning towards a splined prop flange held on with a large
nut.  A lot like a Merlin. Fits a hollow prop shaft well.

  ---------------------------

  Better picture of the Merlin prop shaft.

  Easy to install needle rollers. Also easy to take
  apart and inspect everything.

  Also hundreds of Ross boxes used rollers so a separate oil
  supply is no big deal. No hot high pressure oil from the engine
  required.

  Paul Lamar

Yes, that is my favorite design, with the bolts replacing the planet
pins. I intended to get back with you on this in the future after
getting the damper done. There are many automotive wheel spindles
that use splined through bolts to hold them in the hub. I was
considering that myself. It just seems safer than using 6 or 8 bolts.

As I jested at Whitman last time you were there, I don't know how my
wife's name became the title name on my email. Gmail must have done
it automatically when we used one of my wifes email address's as backup.

You should wait till the parts arrive before sending a check, they
might be damaged in route.

Ed Carver

OK Ed.

Yes charo carver is probably the  name used on your account.
When I send a reply that comes up automatically.
Kind of confusing.

Paul Lamar


Could you use the drive hub for the auto trans pump on the drive hub and
matching pump? This would separate the oils and prevent cross contamination in
the event of a failure. I would then put a chip detector also with a filter
for the PSRU oil.

Dale Davies

It is kind of easy to build in a low pressure centrifugal pump on
the front side of the 2.85 planet carrier flange. That will circulate
the ATF fluid through the trans oil cooler and back into the gear box.

Tracy already does something like that with the 2.17 box because the
ring gear rotates.

Paul Lamar