I was under my car checking out the condition of my 1985 300D flex disks and center bearing and I happened to notice this. What am I looking at, how serious is this and what should I do about it?

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It ain't leaking, therefor it ain't broke, so don't....

You don't think that crack will spread and the whole thing won't break off at a really unopportunistic time? I'd like to be able to trust this car for long trips. Would JB Weld be a terrible idea to try to stop it from spreading?

am I looking at the speedometer cable? If so maybe Frank is right and this isn't such a big deal?

Yes.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

I've seen this, oh maybe, 100 times from being over tightened. You can drive it this way forever as long as you're mindful of it if you ever need to remove your cable and re-secure it. BTW, that looks like a fresh crack as the crack itself is clean.

thanks everybody for the advice. I'll let sleeping dogs lie.

In terms of it being a new crack, I'll bet the transmission shop that swapped in that transmission did this. They worked on the car a couple of years ago and it's hardly been driven since. I'm just starting to resurrect it to be a daily driver again.

Since it isn't leaking, there must be a circumferential O-ring seal inboard of the cracked area. Looks like a poor design because cast aluminum doesn't like to flex, so why did they think it would work as a clamping lever? If really concerned, next time the transmission is off for rebuilding, I'm pretty sure you can replace that whole end-cap since it bolts on axially, as I recall. I tore the transmission apart on a junked 1983 300D I had to save the guts, as the case was cracked in the front. I have photos (another PC). If so, procure a used end-cap before the rebuild.

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1984 & 1985 CA 300D's
1964 & 65 Mopar's - Valiant, Dart, Newport
1996 & 2002 Chrysler minivans

Yeah, that really does seem like a poor design, just leave it alone it looks to be leak-free. Personally, I would hate to know that that is there but there is not much you can do. Although it is cracked, in my mind's eye I can see it still holding it in there pretty well via that "clamp".

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