Drain Plug for diff.
03-26-2020, 11:15 AM
#2
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2002
Location: Lebanon Township New Jersey
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There is no drain plug. To empty the oil you need to use a suction device to pull it out of the fill / level plug on the side of the diff. You can get most of it out that way.
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71 Green 454 (03-26-2020)
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73Reprise (03-26-2020)
03-26-2020, 12:25 PM
#5
Assuming your plug is square you ideally should use an 8 point socket
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mofotribe (03-30-2020)
03-26-2020, 01:58 PM
#7
Race Director
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5/8 square (8 point) (at least on the iron diff it is) what year is your car?
M
FWIW, one of those stupid multi-sockets (gator grip) will usually work if you can't find an 8pt, also can kind of get in there with a crowsfoot once you remove the passenger tire
M
M
FWIW, one of those stupid multi-sockets (gator grip) will usually work if you can't find an 8pt, also can kind of get in there with a crowsfoot once you remove the passenger tire
M
Last edited by Mooser; 03-26-2020 at 02:09 PM.
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mofotribe (03-27-2020)
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mofotribe (03-27-2020)
03-27-2020, 08:05 AM
#9
its a 79, 5/8 8 pt. sounds about right
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mofotribe (03-27-2020)
03-27-2020, 09:10 AM
#11
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03-27-2020, 10:38 AM
#12
03-27-2020, 10:47 AM
#13
If you use the 5/8 8 point with an extension there is no need to touch the spare.
03-27-2020, 11:49 AM
#14
Race Director
Unless your car has seen nothing but harsh conditions for 40 years, the spare carrier is a breeze to remove. Getting it out of there will make the job a lot easier.
03-27-2020, 12:29 PM
#15
Race Director
If it is the original spare, and 40 years old, it is useless as a spare.
If you aren’t an NCRS points guy, you could probably sell it to someone who is for a decent price.
If you aren’t an NCRS points guy, you could probably sell it to someone who is for a decent price.
03-27-2020, 02:15 PM
#16
03-27-2020, 02:22 PM
#17
No i am not a points guy, and i had no idea how long the spare has been in place, also i do not intend on using it either (AAA). Initially when i had this brain storm of an idea to drain out the old and replace with new, i was under the impression it would a be simple extraction and refill, however i am discovering that i do not own an 8 pt. socket, and i must remove the spare if i don't. So i sprayed the spare tire hold down with PB blaster, and pray i dont strip the threads on anything. i will keep you posted either way.
03-27-2020, 05:47 PM
#18
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not sure where you're located (consider adding your car year and at least rough location to your info) but if there's a harbor freight nearby they should have something called spline sockets, they will (should) work on square bolts, or check with a farm/tractor place, lots of old stuff had square head lag bolts
With the socket you just need to pull the passenger tire which you pretty much need to do to fill it anyway.
And if I may, when you go to fill it back up, run a needle through the bottle/hose that gets stuck into the diff, prevents it from accidentally falling inside
M
With the socket you just need to pull the passenger tire which you pretty much need to do to fill it anyway.
And if I may, when you go to fill it back up, run a needle through the bottle/hose that gets stuck into the diff, prevents it from accidentally falling inside
M
03-27-2020, 07:59 PM
#19
Race Director
This is why I had a drain plug drilled and tapped into the housing when I had the center section built.
There have been a few threads from forum members who drilled and tapped a drain hole in their diff's with it still in the car.
Run a search, because it can be done.
Good luck!
There have been a few threads from forum members who drilled and tapped a drain hole in their diff's with it still in the car.
Run a search, because it can be done.
Good luck!
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mofotribe (03-30-2020)
03-29-2020, 06:18 PM
#20
Melting Slicks
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I found it rather easy to remove/replace the differential oil in my '79. I just used an open-end wrench to remove the square plug. It removed rather easily. Had it been frozen I would have just used some big slip-joint pliers as it's an easily replaceable part. If I recall properly it is standard a black iron plug with tapered (pipe) threads. You remove with a "transfer pump". They're cheap and easy to find.
The old oil will be utterly vile smelling and you WILL get some on you. Wear clothes you consider disposable as the smell lingers after washing(s).
Make sure you have the car fully raised. If you only lift the rear you will overfill as the proper level is even with the bottom of the fill hole. In the vein have some rags handy to immediately cover the fill hole when you remove the plug in the event it was previously over filled. If it was and you don't you will have a nasty, hideous smelling mess
The old oil will be utterly vile smelling and you WILL get some on you. Wear clothes you consider disposable as the smell lingers after washing(s).
Make sure you have the car fully raised. If you only lift the rear you will overfill as the proper level is even with the bottom of the fill hole. In the vein have some rags handy to immediately cover the fill hole when you remove the plug in the event it was previously over filled. If it was and you don't you will have a nasty, hideous smelling mess
Last edited by SwampeastMike; 03-29-2020 at 06:20 PM.
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mofotribe (04-07-2020)