My piggy project 1975 55.

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billstoudt

billstoudt

10 Year
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Threads
55
Messages
225
about a month ago i purchased a 1975 pig on craigslist i have been wanting a 55 for many years and when i finally found one on CL that met my criteria i went out and bought it. my piggy originally came with a 2f but at some point in the past it was fitted with a 1f (or F or 2F - 1 however you want to say it.) i'll probably keep it in for at least a year or so while i get all the details in order and then swap it for some SBC.

my plans
disc brakes all around
Power steering
a few inches of lift
17" rims 33"tires
grind sand and replace all rusted parts
interior makeover.
aftermarket AC (it was 103 outside today so i added this to the list)
reliable sunday driver.
try not to go crazy in the process

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i have my front disc's installed. i got started on the rears last night. however i wasnt aware that i had to remove the axle in order to install them. i'm a bit weary about doing this so its going to be a trial by fire.

problem 1 i cannot find a tool that will fit that drain plug my sockets are too thick.

problem 2 several of the nuts holding the differential cover on took the threaded post with them.

problem 3 i took off all of the nuts holding the differential cover and the cover will not come off. i cant even get a thin flat bladed screw driver in the gap am i missing something?
 
i think you have just talked me into revisiting my decision to pull the axle. i had debated cutting the backing plates off but i didn't have a tool that i could get in there to cut them any ideas?
 
i decided to take the plunge and and pull the axle i really needed to replace the axle seals because they were leaking. and cutting that backplate was a nightmare.

so i have the diff cover off. and the retainer pin and spacer out and the c clips off

i have 2 questions.

1 in the process of removing the shaft pin and spacer the two gears on the top and bottom along with their race fell out. is this going to be a problem getting back in

2 i have the C lock off the axle but i can pull it out a few inches how do i get it the rest of the way out? i somehow naively thought it would slide right out.

every step of the way has been sheer terror that i wont be able to get it back together again.ive never had to take apart a differential while i know how it all works in theory its terrifying to work with it in reality, but i'm learning so much as i go.
 
Just get a tray that you can keep your parts together, throw on some adult diapers, and dismantle like a pro.
 
If the C clips are off, and you can slide the axles out a few inches...keep pulling, they'll come. Putting the spider gears back in is fun and entertaining. They need to rotate as they go in, try it 10 or 20 times you'll get it. Or put an Aussie locker in the diff and put the spiders in the glovebox.


Amusing anecdotal edit: Pighead blew out his Lok-Rite on a 45 run, had to re-install his spiders (which were in the glovebox) to drive home. Took 10 or 20 tries to get them in right.
 
well with a little coaxing i got the axle off my i had a blow out on the the freeway with my daily driver so i didnt get much farther than that.

i started stripping the rust and cleaning the gunk out. tomorrow i'm replacing the seals and repacking the bearings and maybe get the kit on.

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the bearings don't get packed in the rear. they are oil lubed with the diff fluid. put down some cardboard and get a wire brush and go to town on that gunk. you will feel much better when it's clean;)
 
nuclearlemon thank you very much you just saved me from making a very stupid/costly/time consuming mistake.

i wondered what was keeping the diff oil out of the bearings and now i know that nothing is keeping it out and now it all makes sense.

so do i pre lube them when i put them back in?
what type of oil should i use to fill the differential?
 
billstoudt said:
every step of the way has been sheer terror that i wont be able to get it back together again.ive never had to take apart a differential while i know how it all works in theory its terrifying to work with it in reality, but i'm learning so much as i go.
Click to expand...

Pighead said:
If the C clips are off, and you can slide the axles out a few inches...keep pulling, they'll come. Putting the spider gears back in is fun and entertaining. They need to rotate as they go in, try it 10 or 20 times you'll get it. Or put an Aussie locker in the diff and put the spiders in the glovebox.


Amusing anecdotal edit: Pighead blew out his Lok-Rite on a 45 run, had to re-install his spiders (which were in the glovebox) to drive home. Took 10 or 20 tries to get them in right.
Click to expand...

The entertainment value of this thread is high!
I remember when my spiders fell out, or any number of unplanned consequences that made me think "Oh :censor:". The best was when I took apart my ASCO hub dials and the little BB went shooting across the garage...
Never found it!
Reminds me of when i put a lift on my 40 and screwed up my rear third member trying to fix pinion seal leak and install an Aussie.
Pighead is righ, you just have to play with those spiders...
 
added entertainment value is that i'm a complete 4wd Novice. ive worked on cars for years but i cant believe how much i don't know.

so i wasnt going to post this but i since we are talking about entertainment value i will... my dog knocked over the magnetic tray that i had the rear end parts in. all the parts stayed in the tray the spiders and shims were hopelessly mixed up, so i hope there isnt a top and a bottom if so i have a 50/50 chance of getting it right.
 
Funny! I have a 75 as well and all this stuff is new to me too. I am finding that after it is done it really doesn't turn out that hard. I just put 62 knuckles out and a 62 rear end as well. Procrastinated for ever because I was skerred. Don't be! I am just about to start doing the power steering conversion and I am skerrred again. I just go slowly and ask a ton of questions. The folks on this site are a GREAT help for all us amateurs! There are alot of other posts that you can check out and get good ideas. Don't forget to post pics. That is the way I have gotten alot of answers. Others down the line will learn from your trials and tribulations.
 
Bit of advice- Always power wash the area that you are about to work on. It makes the work so much more pleasant!

On that third picture that bleeder valve- bleeds out and makes a mess. I replaced it with the 62 valve, which is a post that has a longer hose on it that lets the oil bubble up but not out on your housing. Cleaner down the future.

Can't wait to see you progress!
 
"try not to go crazy in the process"

Going crazy yet?

:popcorn:
 
xtiaan2000 said:
Bit of advice- Always power wash the area that you are about to work on. It makes the work so much more pleasant!

On that third picture that bleeder valve- bleeds out and makes a mess. I replaced it with the 62 valve, which is a post that has a longer hose on it that lets the oil bubble up but not out on your housing. Cleaner down the future.

Can't wait to see you progress!
Click to expand...

I think the third picture is showing the breather for the diff...
I should look at the 62 piece. Seems like my 55 breather makes more mess than the one on my 40.
 
Hey Bill,

Are you replacing the rear bearings? If not, don't try to pull them. You might destroy them doing so, I did. I would replace them, but it can get a be a slippery slope. :) You can use a long pipe and knock them out from the other side.

I take that back, are you removing the whole carrier or just doing seals? Sorry, I get alittle carried away.
 
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I am just going to replace the seal from what i can tell the bearings look to be in good shape.

does anyone have some installed pictures of the SOR rear disc brake kit i can use for reference. i would rather be safe than sorry putting all of this together?
 
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