Rear Differential
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria VA
Rear Differential
Hello fellow corvette owners!
Here is my particular dilemma. Two years ago I bought a 91 L98 with 142k miles on it. She ran swell (aside from some radiator bugs) forever. In the last year there was a strange groaning sound coming out of the back whenever she was cold and idling in gear (automatic). So, sure as hell, last week the differential bit the dust. I took it to a Chevy dealer and they tried to charge me 8500 bucks... You can guess what my reply was. So i'm going to attempt this thing myself.
On to the question! Does anyone know which models of the C4 L98 have compatible drive train parts? I saw this one on ebay today, and I was hoping they would work together...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...iewitem=#v4-36
Thanks for taking the time to read my post!!!
Here is my particular dilemma. Two years ago I bought a 91 L98 with 142k miles on it. She ran swell (aside from some radiator bugs) forever. In the last year there was a strange groaning sound coming out of the back whenever she was cold and idling in gear (automatic). So, sure as hell, last week the differential bit the dust. I took it to a Chevy dealer and they tried to charge me 8500 bucks... You can guess what my reply was. So i'm going to attempt this thing myself.
On to the question! Does anyone know which models of the C4 L98 have compatible drive train parts? I saw this one on ebay today, and I was hoping they would work together...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...iewitem=#v4-36
Thanks for taking the time to read my post!!!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
If you have a automatic, you have a Dana 36 rear, they are plentiful and cheap.
Check with Y-Me here on the parts section, I think he has one available and he lives in Manassas VA, close by.
If you need someone to install it, I might be able to help you out, I'm in Alexandria and I have a lift,
Gibby
Check with Y-Me here on the parts section, I think he has one available and he lives in Manassas VA, close by.
If you need someone to install it, I might be able to help you out, I'm in Alexandria and I have a lift,
Gibby
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
!!$8500?!??!?!
holy smokes.....glad you ran from that one.
As far as attempting it yourself.....It is as easy as taking out everything you see in the way.....and putting it all back together.
Sure there are steps and someone will post them...but really....I did mine in July and it was really uneventful. So the challenge is to find a replacement, but as mentioned the D36 is everywhere.
My 16 year old took mine out. I looked under and told him which bolts to remove and he did all the work.....I put it all back in myself and the rear end took a slow moving afternoon to do and it was very very simple. First this bolt then that bolt....just common sense.
I did take the time to put all hardware in plastic sandwich bags and tie them to the component they belonged to.......So for instance when I grabbed the spring.....all the bolts and spacer that go with it were in a baggy....no questions as to what hardware went where.....
holy smokes.....glad you ran from that one.
As far as attempting it yourself.....It is as easy as taking out everything you see in the way.....and putting it all back together.
Sure there are steps and someone will post them...but really....I did mine in July and it was really uneventful. So the challenge is to find a replacement, but as mentioned the D36 is everywhere.
My 16 year old took mine out. I looked under and told him which bolts to remove and he did all the work.....I put it all back in myself and the rear end took a slow moving afternoon to do and it was very very simple. First this bolt then that bolt....just common sense.
I did take the time to put all hardware in plastic sandwich bags and tie them to the component they belonged to.......So for instance when I grabbed the spring.....all the bolts and spacer that go with it were in a baggy....no questions as to what hardware went where.....
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria VA
Dude ZRWhat that would be awesome man! I've never had a car up on a lift that I was working on myself, but i've always wanted to learn it.
Ham, you did the whole thing in one day? I hope its as easy as your making it out to be :p I'll take your advice on the baggies, thats a pretty smart move. Thanks for the tip.
As for the diff out in cali, it'd probably cost me more to ship it than to buy it. I gotta see if I can find someone on the east coast that has one.
Thanks for the link!
Ham, you did the whole thing in one day? I hope its as easy as your making it out to be :p I'll take your advice on the baggies, thats a pretty smart move. Thanks for the tip.
As for the diff out in cali, it'd probably cost me more to ship it than to buy it. I gotta see if I can find someone on the east coast that has one.
Thanks for the link!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,372
Likes: 3,259
From: Hartford WI
This might be a golden opportunity for you to do something like installing a D44 to replace that D36 in your rear end. As Bob Ross would say, "There are no mistakes. Only happy accidents". Get a D44 from a stick shift car
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
And yes getting the rear end back in....it couldn't have taken but an hour or two.
That day, I put the tranny/OD, rear end, rear suspension, drive shaft, C-beam and filled all the fluids (finishing at about 9:30 pm) So I'm not sure about the D36 by itself.....
Thinking about it.....if I had another D36 to go back in.....I'd bet that job would Take me.....5 hours....taking breaks to eat and watch football etc....I'm not sure I would try to rush it. I'm getting old and it is hard to work on my back like that for too long. The day I put the whole driveline back in....I had to see the chiropractor the next day or two.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,124
Likes: 117
From: San Antonio Texas
A lift and a friend make the job much easier. It's not nearly as dificult as it may look. Keep track of the things that need to come off or move and before you know it, you'll say....Hey we're done! That wasn't bad at all and I saved 8 Grand and made a new friend!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 2
From: No HOA, New Hampshire
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Dude ZRWhat that would be awesome man! I've never had a car up on a lift that I was working on myself, but i've always wanted to learn it.
Ham, you did the whole thing in one day? I hope its as easy as your making it out to be :p I'll take your advice on the baggies, thats a pretty smart move. Thanks for the tip.
As for the diff out in cali, it'd probably cost me more to ship it than to buy it. I gotta see if I can find someone on the east coast that has one.
Thanks for the link!
Ham, you did the whole thing in one day? I hope its as easy as your making it out to be :p I'll take your advice on the baggies, thats a pretty smart move. Thanks for the tip.
As for the diff out in cali, it'd probably cost me more to ship it than to buy it. I gotta see if I can find someone on the east coast that has one.
Thanks for the link!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
just pull the differential assembly; the structural portion or "batwing can remain in the car. Everyhing will be there for you to see; the damage may not be anywhere as catastrophic as you image. Get a quote from a rear end shop to rebuild it on their bench Reinstall it.
It'll be way cheaper and you'll have a rebuilt unit of known quality. Plus your labor won't be any more than swapping in an used differential of unknown quality. Good luck.
It'll be way cheaper and you'll have a rebuilt unit of known quality. Plus your labor won't be any more than swapping in an used differential of unknown quality. Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 195
From: folsom california
just pull the differential assembly; the structural portion or "batwing can remain in the car. Everyhing will be there for you to see; the damage may not be anywhere as catastrophic as you image. Get a quote from a rear end shop to rebuild it on their bench Reinstall it.
It'll be way cheaper and you'll have a rebuilt unit of known quality. Plus your labor won't be any more than swapping in an used differential of unknown quality. Good luck.
It'll be way cheaper and you'll have a rebuilt unit of known quality. Plus your labor won't be any more than swapping in an used differential of unknown quality. Good luck.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
Dude ZRWhat that would be awesome man! I've never had a car up on a lift that I was working on myself, but i've always wanted to learn it.
Ham, you did the whole thing in one day? I hope its as easy as your making it out to be :p I'll take your advice on the baggies, thats a pretty smart move. Thanks for the tip.
As for the diff out in cali, it'd probably cost me more to ship it than to buy it. I gotta see if I can find someone on the east coast that has one.
Thanks for the link!
Ham, you did the whole thing in one day? I hope its as easy as your making it out to be :p I'll take your advice on the baggies, thats a pretty smart move. Thanks for the tip.
As for the diff out in cali, it'd probably cost me more to ship it than to buy it. I gotta see if I can find someone on the east coast that has one.
Thanks for the link!
Gibby
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
http://store.boxwrench.net/Rear-Axle...ideo_p_61.html
$8,500 hu? You could replace the whole car for that. Crazy bastards.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,372
Likes: 3,259
From: Hartford WI
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,226
Likes: 9
From: Irvine Ca
It seems to me...that cracking the case open while it is still in the car...that seems to be a bit more troublesome.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 3
From: Tampa Fl