Looking through the assembly manual for '66 I notice that the differential mount bolts appear to be installed from different directions. If the manual is correct the front bold installs FROM the left side with the nut on the right. The rear bolt appears to do just the opposite. I've also always been curious as to why the bolts are not the same, with the front one having a point and a cotter pin hole to pin the castellated nut while the rear is flat on the end like a conventional bolt and uses a conventional nut. Since neither bolt can be removed with the differential in the car unless the body is off, which mine happens to be right now, it's got my curiosity up as to why the differences.
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Re: Front differential mount bolts on '66
Norris,
I can’t speak to why GM has the two bolts entering from opposite sides, nor why one bolt has a dog point and slotted nut with cotter pin, and the other doesn’t. But that’s the way it is. Here’s a photo I captured from a virtual judging school, probably from a year or two ago. I don’t remember the presenter to give credit for the image.
IMG_9259.jpg
In any case, the fasteners are exactly as described in the AIM. Another interesting tidbit is that the nut (GM # 3765425; GM-discontinued) for the near-vertical bolt at the front of the mount is copper plated. Why copper and not zinc/cad? I have no idea. The why questions don’t always have obvious answers.
Gary -
Re: Front differential mount bolts on '66
Thanks Gary. As far as the copper plated nut, I wonder if it's the same as the copper plated ones used on the upper A Frames on SOME Chevies back in the 60's. I've got one set of those. Have to go look and see what size and thread they are. Thanks again. It's also interesting that the front bolt supplied by several vendors is a little over 1/8" too short and just enough to prevent a cotter pin if the washer is used. Had to go back to the not so nice original.Comment
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