Subfixer

Ok guys and gals, I have an early 64 and need to remove the pinion mount from the differential.
The two front bolts are easy. The rear attachment is a long bolt that goes through the differential case.
Attempting to remove it results in the bolt contacting the floor pan about halfway out.
How do I get that bolt out without dropping the diff or raising the body?

pop23235

Short answer: you won't.
You can release the crossmember with the two hockey pucks and drop the diff. Other obvious parts need to be removed/disconnected first, like the spring.

rccarson

MikeM

Try a long pry bar and see if you can pull the differential down and remove the bolt.

Tmichaelson

Not sure if the 64' is the same configuration as my 66' but I disconnected both of the inner half shafts universals from the differential and then pulled down the front of the differential. The long bolt JUST cleared when removed. Read somewhere that an option is drilling a hole in the side of the jack compartment to remove the bolt.

Subfixer

I can give that a try.
Trying to avoid the "hole in the jack compartment" scenario......

Tmichaelson

Forgot to mention to put a wood spacer between the TOP of the front of the differential and the fiberglass bottom before you disconnect anything. This will keep the front of the differential from riding up when it's disconnected and be close to correct position to reconnect the maindrive shaft. Good Luck.

pop23235

I would yield to the experience of others here, but I'm not loosening anything till the energy is released from that spring!

Tmichaelson

You are CORRECT- I did have my leaf spring disconnected and the half shafts off because I was replacing my trailing arms.

GUSTO14

One of the first jobs I did on my '63 after buying it in 1969 was to change out the rear end. When confronted with the same problem as the OP I decide to consult my "master-mechanic" Father. His response was, "son, just drill a hole in that body panel there and after you put the bolt back in, put a plastic body plug in the hole."

A while later I happened to be at a local Chevrolet dealer where I sourced all of my parts and asked if I could speak to their "Corvette" mechanic. A young guy not much older than myself came out and asked if he could help me. I asked him how he removed that same bolt. To which he remarked, "ah, there's a trick to it. First you have to drill a hole in the side of the jack compartment..."

GUSTO