A Muncie Destroyed By A Loose Magnet!!! [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: A Muncie Destroyed By A Loose Magnet!!!


DZAUTO
Mar 21st, 08, 5:09 PM
Here is an example of something that I've mentioned several times when telling about rebuilding Muncies.
All pre-70 Muncies are built with a donut magnet glued to the bottom of the case. All Muncie cases have a lower boss for a drain plug, but the drain plug did not come standard until 1970 (pre-70 M-22s had drain plugs).
When I rebuild a Muncie, I pry out the donut magnet, drill and tap a hole in the lower boss for a drain plug and install a magnetic drain plug. Period!
In 40+yrs of rebuilding 4spds, I have only had ONE person tell me not to install a drain plug (it was the original Muncie in a totally numbers matching 68 435hp/427 Vette).
It is very rare for that donut magnet to come loose, but when it does, BYE-BYE Muncie!!!!!!!!
Almost everything in this Muncie was destroyed or damaged beyond repair.
The case is not worth trying to repair.
Cluster is junk.
Input has busted teeth.
The rear reverse idler gear has busted teeth.
The inside reverse idler gear has EVERY tooth sheared off.
Teeth on 1st gear are chewed (but none broken off).
Second and third gear teeth are pitted.
The midplate is junk.
The syncro splines are packed with powered metal particles.
The bearings are junk.
About all that is useable is the main shaft, snap rings, bearing cage for the rollers between input and main shafts, and reverse slider gear.

Below is a photo of a donut magnet that I removed from a Muncie sometime in the past. Those 2 masses are what is left of the magnet (and a mass of metal particles) that came loose in this Muncie and tore apart a perfectly good 69 M-20! The other piece is a brand new magnetic drain plug that I install in all rebuilds that don't have a magnetic drain plug.
The bottom photo is the guts piled in a pan and you can see the damaged gears/teeth.
So, when you rebuild your Muncie, or have it rebuilt, remove the donut magnet and install a screw-in magnetic drain plug.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Driveline/100_1406.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h219/DZAUTO/Driveline/100_1407.jpg

Oh ya, if this sounds like I'm using scare tactics----------------------------I AM!!!

Brettd85
Mar 21st, 08, 5:19 PM
Wow!~ :eek: A little JB-weld and she will be good to go! :thumbsup: Really though, I can see why you install magnetic drain plugs. I always hear you talk about it and I wouldn't hesitate for a second if I were rebuilding one. :beers:

animal69
Mar 21st, 08, 6:13 PM
We always removed that magnet. I had a Muncie back in the early 70's that looked a like that one!

Chevy fan attic
Mar 21st, 08, 7:44 PM
ouch

69300deluxe
Mar 21st, 08, 7:58 PM
Hmmmmm That looks just like the muncie I just bought!!!!

SWHEATON
Mar 21st, 08, 9:31 PM
Ouch!!!!!!!!!!!,Yikes,it Hurts Just To Look At It.

Scott

Wally
Mar 21st, 08, 9:36 PM
Go Tom:yes::yes::yes::yes:

I have a collection of those funky magnets stuck on the cleaning tank, I find that is a better place for them:D:D:D

ken70ss396
Mar 22nd, 08, 11:03 AM
Holy Smoke! Looks like that muncie was hit with a Bunker Buster.Thanks for the info DZ.

pdq67
Mar 22nd, 08, 11:15 AM
Years ago, I pulled mine, took it to a carwash and blew it clean inside and out AND also blew the magnet off!

I bolted it to my side cover.

pdq67

1badss396
Mar 22nd, 08, 11:25 AM
Tom that looks like some tobacco chew you had just spit out? LOL Or something else I wont say, hehe
Are you going to make some new jewelry with those pretty gears..:D