Well, actually got some tinkering time on the car today so I replaced some bolts, reset the timing and changed out the leaking carb gasket. Took it out for a run to stretch her legs and see how the gasket felt when BANG! Heard a nasty noise out out of the front end. At first I thought it was the drive shaft as it sounded like a drive shaft going thump, thump, thump but I felt it in the steering. Strange, so I stopped the car, got out and started looking under, over, around, and checking the car. Nothing, stance on the car was fine, I shook the car, no noises, shocks and springs were working. Hmm... so, I got back in, started her up, revved it, sounds good. Ran it through the gears in the tranny, good. Started pulling forward, thud, thump, thud, thump, from the front passenger side. Sound and "feels" like the front tire. Got out, checked the tire, looks good.

Well, called a wrecker and had it towed to my mechanics shop tonight. I talked some with Hammer and we both think that the bearings in the front right went out. The ones in the spindle or just in front of the spindle. I'll know for sure tomorrow. Pretty interesting experience.

Oh, and yes, the car seems to run much better with the carb gasket ;D

Ouch Rich! Sorry to hear that! I hope things work out okay!

I've never had wheel bearings go that bad. I hope that is all that it is.

Good luck with that Rich!

Nothing wrong with the front end. When I hit second gear she spun the rear end. Yep, actually broke the welds and the rear end, or housing, is pointing at the floorboard. We don't know yet if the drive shaft is OK but the U-joints? in the rear are hosed. My mechanic thinks he has a camaro 3:08 rear end at his house. He's going to look at it tonight and let me know tomorrow.

The first thing he says to me when he calls, "Hey bubba, you have braggin rights!" I said, "OK, this sounds like I don't want to hear what happened." and you the know the rest.

So, I'm off looking for a rear end, any suggestions? Sure would like a posi-trac.

After running through some calculations, and I'm posting this to run this by you guys, looks like a 3.08 is the best gear ratio I'm looking for at the moment. Here's why...

Tires: 275/70/R15 (although, I will be moving to a set of 60's in a year or two)
Tranny: TH350
Rear Ratio: 3.08
RPM: 2300
MPH: 66

This looks like a good overall gear ratio which doesn't strain the engine doing the speed limit on the highway but also gives me a little more punch off the line. Thoughts?

That sounds like a decent gear to go with Rich.