Rear suspension cross member/differential

[Chuck S.]

Once Upon A Time...

When I was young and stupid, I lived in a land where it snowed.

Two lands actually...One place was such that frequent 6"-8" snowfalls closed the schools and workplaces, and the other where 12" overnight meant that everything went on as normal whether the plows came or not. In that place (Upstate NY, but south of the "snowline"), 12" was just a flurry, you see...a real snowfall was maybe 24". I drove in it, shoveled it, had to stay home from work in it, was depressed by it, and observed, but never owned, old beater cars with the bottom of the body panels eaten away.

Quoth the Texan, "Nevermore...Life's too short for 'it' ". Those that have to live in 'it' have my deepest condolences, but you'll not get me north of the Red River for any extended period of time.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Once Upon A Time...

Chuck,

Fred Flintstone cars are fun! Rusted out floors just make live more, ah, interesting.

Haven't owned one like that since high school, and even then I repaired the floor.

Patrick

[frank mccracken]

It's funny how these boards go with all the

different opinions. I particiated in a thread not too long ago that belittled those that removed the the carrier from the cover. Now this thread they're belittling those who do it the other way. I'm not searching for any problem, I'm looking to avoid one. The general opinion seemed [seems] that removing the diff and cover as an assembly is a way to avoid damaging the gasket on re assembly etc. A little more work to do a nicer job is not masochistic, possibly a problem in search of a solution.

>>>>>"Removing the rear cross member on a C2/C3 Corvette to access the differential carrier must be an old masochistic hot rodder's trick. This technique is NOT in the GM service manual. In this case, anti-seize appears to be a solution in search of a problem. JMHO"

[Chuck S.]

Disclaimer...

Frank, this was strictly my opinion; no one else has said one way or the other. Anyway, any opinions stated here are strictly those of the respective posters, and are in no way endorsed by the NCRS organization or "The Technical Discussion Board"...in other words, use any advice you get here (or any other board for that matter) at your own peril.

I have removed both the complete differential (I believe this is what the GM service manual is actually describing) and the rear cross member. Neither component made a particularly memorable impression of extreme difficulty, but the differential was removed with the body on the car and the cross member removed from the bare frame. As Patrick implied, I was blessed because my car spent its entire life in the southwest.

However, anecdotal evidence from many earlier threads on this board have suggested that removal of the rear cross member can be EXTREMELY difficult. I was suggesting that this is because GM engineers designed those end connections to become a heavy interference fit when they are torqued, and they did it that way FOR A REASON. Addition of lubricant or anti-seize will tend to defeat that design. Therefore, anti-seize may provide convenience for ONE gear change, but may have unknown side effects for the long term.

But what the heck do I know, opinions are like ********, everybody has one...go for it.