Mouse House - diff crossmember
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 3
From: Tampa FL
Mouse House - diff crossmember
Got motivated today and pulled the differential from my 72. It needs side yokes, have about 1/8 in player in them. When I pulled the crossmember, it was full of crap. Looks like a mouse was living there at some point. Lots of leaves, attic insulation, and some whole peanut shells, minus the nuts. Where the heck did the peanut shells come from???!!! I hope the insulation was from the previous owners house, not my attic!
Anyway, had some fun breaking the cross member loose. The B.F. Hammer didn't work on its own. Pulled out the ball joint pickle fork; stuck it between the welded in frame crossmember and the diff cross member, behind the bolts that hold the diff cross in. 5 BFH whacks on each side and it was out.
Anyway, had some fun breaking the cross member loose. The B.F. Hammer didn't work on its own. Pulled out the ball joint pickle fork; stuck it between the welded in frame crossmember and the diff cross member, behind the bolts that hold the diff cross in. 5 BFH whacks on each side and it was out.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 455
Likes: 0
From: Buffalo New York
A couple weeks ago I let the car sit for a few days because of the weather, when it finally got nicer, I fired it up and this disgusting smell started coming from the engine bay almost immediately. Put the hood up and saw smoke coming from the headers.
Stupid mice built their nest right where the header pipes come together. I used a screw driver to get all the crap out that hadn't already burned.
The mouse traps have been full a couple of times since then...
Stupid mice built their nest right where the header pipes come together. I used a screw driver to get all the crap out that hadn't already burned.
The mouse traps have been full a couple of times since then...
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I found the same thing in my old crossmember when I pulled it off a few days ago. My local ACE hardware had some grey plastic snap-in caps that were exactly the right diameter for the holes. 
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,922
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Feckin' mice. 
: They chewed some of my plug wires. 
My cat will be spending the remaining years of her life in the garage.
: They chewed some of my plug wires. My cat will be spending the remaining years of her life in the garage.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
Found some small nut lookin things in mine But my Question Has any one figured a way to make the bolts tighten from the bottom where you could see .It would make it soooo much eaiser to get the rear end cover back on.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 228
Likes: 3
From: Tampa FL
It would be a much weaker attachment if the threads were not in the thick metal of the differential cover, and instead were on a nut welded to the "thin" metal crossmember. The bolt would be "loose" inside the diff cover if the threads were drilled out of it. GM put some thought into this one.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
After thought ,You should see my arms Around my elbos solid brusing. The rear end seems to have sealed so I guess its no big deal for aleast A year till the half shafts start leaking Or the pinion seal.I put the rear end cover on first then attached the crossover. it was hard to put the bolts in but once in all tightened up good and tight.
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