diff sat upside down outside for ten years?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Newbury MA
diff sat upside down outside for ten years?
so i went to go look at a diff tonight, its a 3.08 gear which is what i'm looking for. the seller tells me its been sitting outside for ten years upside down, says it was takin out of his parts car before he scrapped it, his story makes sence becasue it comes with the crossmember and rear spring.
so anyways the yokes spin smooth so hopefully its not too bad inside. my question is, when i was spinning the side yokes in opposite directions to check the posi, it seemed to have a good amount of resistance, which is good. but there was a certain point where i had to push a LOT harder to get the yokes to keep spinning. does anyone have any idea what that could be from? when i first checked the posi there also seemed to be a point where it didnt have a lot of resistance...could the springs just be temporarily stuck?
i dont really want to take the cover off in this guys backyard to check it, plus its pretty cheep (200 bucks) and he said he'd throw in a tranny crossmember and driveshaft.
so anyways the yokes spin smooth so hopefully its not too bad inside. my question is, when i was spinning the side yokes in opposite directions to check the posi, it seemed to have a good amount of resistance, which is good. but there was a certain point where i had to push a LOT harder to get the yokes to keep spinning. does anyone have any idea what that could be from? when i first checked the posi there also seemed to be a point where it didnt have a lot of resistance...could the springs just be temporarily stuck?
i dont really want to take the cover off in this guys backyard to check it, plus its pretty cheep (200 bucks) and he said he'd throw in a tranny crossmember and driveshaft.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
A 3.08, 1980
I have one nearly new complete with bat wing, side yokes, strut rods, bushings, and composite spring. I was going to try it in my 68, but never got around to do it. I just finished the car after setting 35 years....just a taste lazy....
.. Figured it would lighten the car by 100 lbs. or more....if interested e mail me.
.. Figured it would lighten the car by 100 lbs. or more....if interested e mail me.
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 7
From: Jacksonville FL
I thought that was the beginning of a really good joke....
So one differential walks into a bar and says to another...... I slipped up and forgot the rest of the joke
Im highly disappointed in myself
So one differential walks into a bar and says to another...... I slipped up and forgot the rest of the joke
Im highly disappointed in myself
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Newbury MA
i offered him 100 bucks and he seemed to get offended. i just dont want to pay a decent amount of money for something that might be useless to me. 100 would be fair for a questionable diff.
so what would make the posi hit a "hard spot" like that?
so what would make the posi hit a "hard spot" like that?
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,193
Likes: 4,016
From: Connecticut, USA
I think Mike nailed it good.
Without removing the cover you have no idea what's inside. What year is it? the posi's and housing changed over the years.Some are better then other, the best would be a custom built one but you're not going to find one for under $1000. You'll find stock built ones for less but you get what you pay for.
10 years outside in AZ would be ok but not in NE. I've seen a lot of these at swap meets in NE and most were overpriced or just plain junk.
It should rotate smooth, if it's binding you may be hitting a rust patch. The vent would allow moisture in and if upside down all the oil is gone.
It might not be $25 if the internals are rusted or cracked. $200 is about 1/2 of a decent used diff in most cases. You're better off buying one of those. Be aware I've seen many advertised as ready to bolt in and have looked at a lot and few were in that condition.
Gears and parts are avail to rebuild any 63-82 diff.
Without removing the cover you have no idea what's inside. What year is it? the posi's and housing changed over the years.Some are better then other, the best would be a custom built one but you're not going to find one for under $1000. You'll find stock built ones for less but you get what you pay for.
10 years outside in AZ would be ok but not in NE. I've seen a lot of these at swap meets in NE and most were overpriced or just plain junk.
It should rotate smooth, if it's binding you may be hitting a rust patch. The vent would allow moisture in and if upside down all the oil is gone.
It might not be $25 if the internals are rusted or cracked. $200 is about 1/2 of a decent used diff in most cases. You're better off buying one of those. Be aware I've seen many advertised as ready to bolt in and have looked at a lot and few were in that condition.
Gears and parts are avail to rebuild any 63-82 diff.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Newbury MA
UPDATE
so i saw this diff was still on craigslist and the price dropped to 175. i bit the bullet and went and bought it. i got the diff, half shafts, spring, diff crossmember, tranny crossmember and driveshaft. all for 175.
got it home, took all the parts off the diff and took the cover off...had about a quart of oil and maby a couple teaspoons of water in it. very very little rust, mostly on the inside of the case. took the carrier out and the bearings are all perfect and the pinion spins as smooth as it possibly can. the cross pin has almost no wear, all the teeth on the gears are there and look mint. the posi has a good amount of resistance also.
i noticed a couple chunks of metal came out of the oil, after i looked at them for a little bit i figured out they were pieces of an old stub axle snap ring. at one point in its life it must have broken a snap ring and it got chewed up, but still no damage anywhere.
its getting cleaned up, new seals and a gasket and its gonna get run. i have 50 bucks in seals in it, and my buddys doing the work of freshening it up in exchange for the tranny crossmember.
i'd say it was worth the risk.
so i saw this diff was still on craigslist and the price dropped to 175. i bit the bullet and went and bought it. i got the diff, half shafts, spring, diff crossmember, tranny crossmember and driveshaft. all for 175.
got it home, took all the parts off the diff and took the cover off...had about a quart of oil and maby a couple teaspoons of water in it. very very little rust, mostly on the inside of the case. took the carrier out and the bearings are all perfect and the pinion spins as smooth as it possibly can. the cross pin has almost no wear, all the teeth on the gears are there and look mint. the posi has a good amount of resistance also.
i noticed a couple chunks of metal came out of the oil, after i looked at them for a little bit i figured out they were pieces of an old stub axle snap ring. at one point in its life it must have broken a snap ring and it got chewed up, but still no damage anywhere.
its getting cleaned up, new seals and a gasket and its gonna get run. i have 50 bucks in seals in it, and my buddys doing the work of freshening it up in exchange for the tranny crossmember.
i'd say it was worth the risk.
Last edited by imdawrlus; Jun 2, 2009 at 11:26 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Well....I guess you won the 'crap shoot'. Congrats. It doesn't come out that way very often. It might have been a blessing that the unit was stored upside down; gear grease may have sealed off the vent so that water couldn't get in. Have fun! 
