3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level
I bought a 3.42 rear and plan to install myself. Looks pretty basic. I have both the service manual and a link to a Corvette Fever site with some pics.
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/18978/
Any tips or suggestions/shortcuts for making this an easy project. I have a lift and air tools as well as a tranny jack which should make life much easier.
Also, can anyone confirm the numbers that should be on the carrier?
Thanks
http://www.corvettefever.com/howto/18978/
Any tips or suggestions/shortcuts for making this an easy project. I have a lift and air tools as well as a tranny jack which should make life much easier.
Also, can anyone confirm the numbers that should be on the carrier?
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Re: 3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level (Mike Mercury)
Thanks a bunch. Lots of great info. Looks like a decent amount of work but should be no problem taking my time and referring to your site and some others.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: Duncanville Texas
Re: 3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level (78Vette-SA)
It really wasn't that hard. I never tackled anything of this magnitude...and it came out great!
Although I left the rotors and half-shafts hanging on the car, rather then pulling them down with the entire rear cradle. This made it easy to manuever and extremely light. You would just disconnect the lower shock bolts, tie rod ends, and lower ball joint.....pretty simple.
I also did not remove the entire exhaust (just the rear tail pipes) and I did not disconnect the torque tube!
Although I left the rotors and half-shafts hanging on the car, rather then pulling them down with the entire rear cradle. This made it easy to manuever and extremely light. You would just disconnect the lower shock bolts, tie rod ends, and lower ball joint.....pretty simple.
I also did not remove the entire exhaust (just the rear tail pipes) and I did not disconnect the torque tube!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Re: 3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level (z0sense)
Sounds like a much simpler way to go. Without removing the torque tube did you have to loosen it and tilt it down or did you have enough room to back off the carrier without touching the front of the torque tube?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 0
From: Duncanville Texas
Re: 3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level (78Vette-SA)
I didn't even touch the front of the torque tube! There is enough room......I also pulled out my tranny afterwards. When I reinstalled it all I assembled the tranny and the differential back together and that made it easy to all go back in! :cheers:
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Re: 3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level (z0sense)
there is not enough room behind the carrier to pull it off withut first tilting it down. The shaft exiting the transmission is long... about as long as the carrier is deep.
No doubt that if I would ever do this again, I would not remove the torque tube. It's not necessary.
No doubt that if I would ever do this again, I would not remove the torque tube. It's not necessary.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
Re: 3.42 Rear Install - Info and Difficulty Level (Mike Mercury)
I appreciate all the feedback from everyone. I do have to admit though that I'm a little confused though. Some say there is enough room to pull it without removing or even loosening the torque tube, others say there is not enough room. Some said you don't need to drop the transaxle, others dropped it. Some said upper ball joint removal, some said lower ball joints. :D
Probably all methods will work with various tricks and levels of rustration. I guess I'll probably just have to get under there and have a whack at it. :smash:
I'd prefer to go without removing the torque tube but am unclear on the loosening/tilting process. Do you remove the bolts completely and the driveshaft hub?
Thanks again...
[Modified by 78Vette-SA, 11:21 PM 5/19/2003]
Probably all methods will work with various tricks and levels of rustration. I guess I'll probably just have to get under there and have a whack at it. :smash:
I'd prefer to go without removing the torque tube but am unclear on the loosening/tilting process. Do you remove the bolts completely and the driveshaft hub?
Thanks again...
[Modified by 78Vette-SA, 11:21 PM 5/19/2003]
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