Recracked repaired diff cover...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Evansville WI
Recracked repaired diff cover...
Sigh...I knew I'd eventually come across something on my new '73 that wasnt repaired...er...properly... Up to this point I've been impressed with the quality of the work that had been done on teh car. The only odd thing I really found was the+ battery cable to the starter is black, the - cable to the frame is red. Then I pulled the wheels to prepare for a wheel swap. I'd been under the car and even checked the diff fluid before, but I hadn't had a reason to take the wheels off until now. here's what I saw:
Both ears cracked. Not only cracked, but previously repaired and recracked. I'm only the third owner of this car and I know there were no "at home" repairs, it was always taken to a shop to have any work done. It looks like whoever welded it did it right as far as cast iron welding goes, but with the propensity these covers have for cracking and what good used ones go for I'm surprised it wasn't just replaced. They're good quality welds, but as is so common with cast iron, it recracked right along the weld edge. There's some rust in the crack, I wonder how long it's been broken, and how long I drove with it cracked
Both ears cracked. Not only cracked, but previously repaired and recracked. I'm only the third owner of this car and I know there were no "at home" repairs, it was always taken to a shop to have any work done. It looks like whoever welded it did it right as far as cast iron welding goes, but with the propensity these covers have for cracking and what good used ones go for I'm surprised it wasn't just replaced. They're good quality welds, but as is so common with cast iron, it recracked right along the weld edge. There's some rust in the crack, I wonder how long it's been broken, and how long I drove with it cracked
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Evansville WI
Yup, HD cover's on the way 
So, the diff cover was repaired, the diff it's self looks new as do the stub axles, the spring was replaced, and the plastic shield above the spare tire well is cracked. Could all these things have been caused by the same "incident"?
So, the diff cover was repaired, the diff it's self looks new as do the stub axles, the spring was replaced, and the plastic shield above the spare tire well is cracked. Could all these things have been caused by the same "incident"?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,200
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi BJ,
Are all the spring leaves there? It's a bit hard to count.
It looks like the top 2 leaves are up-side down. I believe the curved ends are intended to point 'up' and there should be 3 straight leaves..
Regards,
Alan
Are all the spring leaves there? It's a bit hard to count.
It looks like the top 2 leaves are up-side down. I believe the curved ends are intended to point 'up' and there should be 3 straight leaves..
Regards,
Alan
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 805
Likes: 5
From: Naperville Illinois
That spring does not look right. Alan's spring doesn't look right either though--too perfect.Your car doesn't have to be hit to crack those ears, both of mine broke from regular driving. I highly recommend the Muskegon HD cover, a cheap upgrade for peace of mind. Just make sure you follow the correct procedure for tightening the spring perch bolts, which (I believe) is to snug the bolts, then lower the car so the weight is on the spring, then progressively tighten the bolts to 70 ft lb.
Good luck
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Don't get discouraged, we all go through this, it's part of the hobby and learning experience..... and be prepared to find some more things that were not corrected or repaired the right way. The welds on that cover would eventually fail so good you found it and are replacing it with a HD cover as others have suggested, while your there clean and tighten the filler cap.....enjoy your 73...
Last edited by 73jst4fun; Jun 2, 2010 at 06:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Evansville WI
Getting it apart was easier than it looked, pretty straight forward really. The crossmember was a bit stuck, but with a bit of prying it popped apart without damaging the bushings. Everything else came apart ok. I'll double check the direction my leaves are stacked. Does it matter that this is a replacment spring? I got my Muskegon cover today, talk about beefy 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,200
Likes: 4,287
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi BJ,
It matters how the three straight leaves are stacked. The shortest leaf is the first one or the one against the bottom of the rear end cover. you can see the three lengths in my picture.
You should have 9 leaves if it's a stock spring or 7 leaves if it's the F-41 optional spring.
Good luck!
Regards,
Alan
It matters how the three straight leaves are stacked. The shortest leaf is the first one or the one against the bottom of the rear end cover. you can see the three lengths in my picture.
You should have 9 leaves if it's a stock spring or 7 leaves if it's the F-41 optional spring.
Good luck!
Regards,
Alan
I'll be sure to get them stacked right when I put it all back together 