As received from Josh....529 V6 US GEARS will be installed in this nice lookin 3rd.:)

Josh brought me all the right stuff....master install kit and a solid collar from Marlin crawler.

V6 529 US GEAR

It don't get any better.

Also installing a Detroit EZ Locker.

Whoever Marlin is having do the machine work is really doing a great job.

step 1 is to install the EZ.

Putting a lunchbox style locker in a 4 pinion split style case is easy. Re-using the cross but ditching the 4 spiders.

Thought it was a little unusual that the driver couplers would not fit inside the case without some clearancing. So had a class A machinist remove the access with a lathe.

He happens to be my dad also. Opened up the radius about .080" in one spot inside.

Now assemble the locker.

Torque the 8 bolts down......locker in.

Installed the ring gear and tapped the carrier bearings on.....they went on tight. A press could have been used but just showing that there are options sometimes.

Just comparing a V6 529 pinion with a so-called 4 cylinder 529 pinion of the same make. The V6 one has a built-in step washer at the top as well as a little bit more tooth but that's about it. Ring gears appear identical.

Now the V6 bearing on the left definately has some meat.

It took 3 tries to get the pinion pre-load just right....It was a good idea to use the press to ease the very tight fitting pinion shaft off the front pinion bearing.

I checked it with the TW-1 torque wrench and had 12 in/lbs.....I ended up using .028" worth of shims with Marlin's specific solid collar.

OOPS....(not you David)....it no fit.

turns out the pinion is offset about .275"....this V6 3rd was from some other application. Did I say that Josh brought me ALL the right stuff? Go to part 2.....
EDIT: Just figured it out that this 3rd is for a V6 factory 4.88 and only the factory 488 gears are said to fit in these unique 3rds....now I have been enlightened.

PART 2