1976 corvette with 1980 differential... HELP!!!!!!!!
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Cruising
Joined: May 2016
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1976 corvette with 1980 differential... HELP!!!!!!!!
Greeting, my 1976 corvette apparently the last owner installed a 1980 differential using the 1976 side yokes (I know is 1976 yokes because are installed with U bolt). The left side ( drivers side) is causing me a lot o problems like leaks and burning the seal. Apparently the last owner send to the machine shop the left side yoke to make it shorter.When I remove the left side yoke I realized that doesn't have the snap ring (the gap for the snap ring neither) I know the 1980 side yokes the left side is 6 3/4 long and right side is 7 1/2. Does anyone know the size (long)of the 1976 yoke? Do I have to replace both side yokes? Buy a differential its to expensive for me right now. Thanks!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Charlotte NC
With it being an 1980 differential (aluminum)...get the correct side yokes and move on. And you can get the HEAVY DUTY side yokes for the manual transmission...which take a larger diameter bolt...and you will also need the straps for it....and use it.
Are you driving this car really hard???? Because if you are not...the larger bolts and straps for the correct side yokes to hold the universal joints will hold up well.
I would then be concerned about the condition of the pinion shaft where these side yokes ride against. When ever I replace side yokes...the pinion shaft gets replaced so the surface is perfect for the new side yokes.
DUB
Are you driving this car really hard???? Because if you are not...the larger bolts and straps for the correct side yokes to hold the universal joints will hold up well.
I would then be concerned about the condition of the pinion shaft where these side yokes ride against. When ever I replace side yokes...the pinion shaft gets replaced so the surface is perfect for the new side yokes.
DUB
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2016
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Hi, i was thinking there is a possibility that the last owner used just de 1980 differential housing with the internal components of 1976? Because the side yoke splines from 1976 are extremely different that 1980s...
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Race Director
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From: Charlotte NC
The dfifferntials are competlely different and I can not see any way that the intrernals of an early Eaton be able to be put in a Dana...and that goes for the gears these side yokes go through....maybe soemone 'fudged' soemthing there.
DUB
Last edited by DUB; Jun 27, 2016 at 06:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Ocala FL
I wonder if they really put in a '76 side yoke or simply drilled out a broken bolt from the '80 yoke? In which case, they would have drilled all four holes and then used the u-bolts.
Why are you worrying about it that far away? If someone else is working on it for you, let them take pictures, and figure what parts are what.
Why are you worrying about it that far away? If someone else is working on it for you, let them take pictures, and figure what parts are what.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 10
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I wonder if they really put in a '76 side yoke or simply drilled out a broken bolt from the '80 yoke? In which case, they would have drilled all four holes and then used the u-bolts.
Why are you worrying about it that far away? If someone else is working on it for you, let them take pictures, and figure what parts are what.
Why are you worrying about it that far away? If someone else is working on it for you, let them take pictures, and figure what parts are what.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 291
From: Ocala FL
That raises more questions than answers. The pictures of the new '76 and '80 yokes show a different number of splines on the different years. If true, then a '76 wouldn't fit in a stock '80 rear end.
That goes back to another post about possibility having the guts of a '76 rear in the '80 housing.
While racing, I ran across a few who ran the iron rear end cases bolted to the aluminum batwing and cover as it lowered the weight on the race cars. IIRC, there was something weird with how they bolted together at top as the two different styles didn't quite match.
I think the rear bearings were different sizes in the cases, so the '76 guts may not work in the '80 case. Maybe they just changed the spider gears.
Without seeing all that is inside, it might be tough to figure out. The four months with the mechanic is a drag.
That goes back to another post about possibility having the guts of a '76 rear in the '80 housing.
While racing, I ran across a few who ran the iron rear end cases bolted to the aluminum batwing and cover as it lowered the weight on the race cars. IIRC, there was something weird with how they bolted together at top as the two different styles didn't quite match.
I think the rear bearings were different sizes in the cases, so the '76 guts may not work in the '80 case. Maybe they just changed the spider gears.
Without seeing all that is inside, it might be tough to figure out. The four months with the mechanic is a drag.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Charlotte NC
I would like to see a photo of the differential with the rear cover off of it.
YES..the side yoke photo is that of a 1976 design side yoke and it does not appear to be modified.
Or better yet...another photo with both side yokes side by side so we can see how.... as you wrote.... someone cut one down.
DUB
YES..the side yoke photo is that of a 1976 design side yoke and it does not appear to be modified.
Or better yet...another photo with both side yokes side by side so we can see how.... as you wrote.... someone cut one down.
DUB
Last edited by DUB; Jun 29, 2016 at 05:15 PM.