450B project

[1983m35a2]

I am new to this message board and new to JD crawlers also.
My name is Jim and I live in middle TN. I bought a 450B project
a few weeks ago. The motor has been out for about 20 years and it needs frame rails and a lot more. I already bought frame rails and rebuild kit for the engne. Today I pulled the H-L-R clutch out to check it out
and I know what I need there but, my question is about the oil manifold.
I saw where I could buy a sleeved one for about $400. I have the
equipment and ability to sleeve the one I have but, I am not sure
what type of steel would be best to make it out of. I appreciate any advice on this.
I am at the beginning of a big project.I just wanted to save this machine for some reason.
Thanks Jim

[LeonardL]

Jim,
Welcome to the madness! I don't really have an answer for what you are doing. It is one of the many things I never came across while working on these older 350s and 450s. I would think that any good mild steel would work. I see no reason why it would need to be any better than that. Some of these machinists on here may have a better answer than that. I hope they let you know if you do need something better.

Buying a project machine can be costly but a lot of fun in the end. I hope you have good luck with it and keep us posted.

[1983m35a2]

I finished rebuilding the reverser, sleeved the clutch oil manifold and replaced
All o-rings and seals in the hydraulic system.
I wanted to test it before I put the covers on so
I made an adapter to spin the input shaft with a air drill.
This is where my questions come in. When I spin the input shaft
With the drill in the two forward speeds the clutch will lock up and turn the
tracks. In reverse the reverse clutch will slip but, I can see some oil coming out between the clutch disks. Now the drill is not spinning the shaft
Very fast. Do you think this is because I can't spin the shaft
Fast enough or do you think I have an issue with reverse?
Also there is 5 detents on the valve two of them seem to be
Neutral is this normal?
Thanks Jim

[1983m35a2]

Well been working on this thing off and on for about a year now.
Today I installed the new frame rails and with all frame bolts tight
the bell housing bolt holes are about 3/8" low.

[1983m35a2]

If I loosen the top two
frame rail to steering clutch housing on both sides until there is a 1/16
gap at the top I can get the holes lined up by jacking up the bell housing.
Any idea what could be causing this?

[Jim S.]

Hi Jim,
Regarding lining up your frame rails to bell housing. I have just been through this and have some ideas but they will be hard to describe in a post. Feel welcome to give me a call and I will explain better over the phone.

PM sent with phone number.

Jim S