MGD72Monte

Great to see some progress, it's good to have family.

Finally removed the pinion bearing today using a bearing spreader and a press at the auto hobby shop. It came out no problem, in great shape because you can get the spreader behind the inner race. Next is removing the carrier bearings. I don't see how I can get behind the inner race, the closest I'm going to get is behind the cage. Can I pull on the cage to get these out. Unlike the pinion, I don't care about damaging the carrier bearings, but I don't want to start grinding these out. Any opinions. Thanks

Must be on big block cars only then.

2.56 gears!!! I thought 2.73 were the lowest gears available in the Monte. Was that a special high mileage or top speed option?

Agreed! I assume they are being used as hood stabilizers in conjunction with the stock latch.

Great article to read, thanks for taking the time to share.

Yes, the originals had an increadibly small rectangular base as I recall.

Great job on the dash and your home made brackets. I love seeing improvisation that works!

Just a note, I noticed you mention that when you drive the car, it is for long distances (i.e. 100+ miles), presumably at relatively high speeds. If so, you will find better fuel economy if you stay with 2.73. I debated the idea of changing gears on my car but am not willing to take a drop in mileage across the board making me less likely to want to drive it. However, if you change the tranny to a 700R4 you can apparently have the best of both worlds. Just some food for thought. Good luck, no matter what you decide.

Very nice, looking forward to more pics.

Great work Bob, that's some sharp craftmanship. Keep at it!

To close this off, I ended up removing it and it came out easily twisting it back and forth gently with some vise grips. I also got the cap of by removing it by hand for cleaning. Thanks again.

Steve, yes I've got the carrier shims and bearing caps identified and the kit I'm planning to get JEGS Kit has a new collapsible spacer. The axles I'm hoping to pick up are JEGS Axles Mike, thanks for the useful link, I was actually looking for the torque specs so this great. Thanks for the tip about the races. I wish I had your experience at this. More to come.

Mike, That special tool looks close to the one in my book and would be more than the price of the overhaul so I'm thinking I'm going to pass. I do have access to a press though, I'll try to see if I can get a bearing splitter to try my luck. My situation is an overhaul on a stock 10 bolt 2.73, 8.2 ring gear. I have finished emptying the diff case and will be getting it sandblasted so I can paint it. Then new seals, bearings, axles but re-using everything else so hopefully no shim change? I really appreciate all the info you took the time to put down. Steve, it would be nice to have someone help me set it up like you suggest. Those people seem to be in short supply. I don't know anyone who has the knowledge around here and is willing to take the time to help me so I guess I'll have to rely on books and help I get from here. I'll keep you guys posted and I'll be back with more stupid questions .

Any suggestions on a non-destructive way of removing the pinion bearing? As I understand it, when you install a new set of gears you may have to make more than one pinion shim adjustment to adjust the pinion mounting distance. This requires removing the pinion bearing to access the shim every time. I can't imagine you are supposed to destroy a set of new bearings at every adjustment. The book I have shows a clamshell type of tool, but I have not found it amongst the local loan a tool options. How is everyone dealing with this task? Thanks

Thanks a lot guys, although a small item, I hate it when I break something because I have no idea how it is supposed to come apart. Thanks for the offer Mike, I'll keep in mind if I damage it.

Once it is twisted out, I assume it is re-usable? Do you need a special tool to ?press? it back in? Do you need any kind of sealant as part of the re-install. Thanks

I'm about to send out the differential for sandblast, and was wondering about whether I should just tape up the plastic differential vent valve or try to remove it. Is it easy to remove? How do you do it, I don't want to break it. Thanks

That's what I figured but think it will be easier to tape the opening than try to protect the cover from the blast media. Thanks

Thanks for the good advice guys, I'm having a place near Brighton do the work. The cover I have is an aftermarket chrome cover so I was not going to get it blasted.

Finally have finished the differential teardown. Ready for sandblast. I thought about doing myself but due to the size and the time it would take, I will be farming that out. Found a place in the area. To prep I plan to solvent clean the insides, then stuff it with rags, duct tape up the wheel end areas and the differential cover area. Any other tips on pre-sandblast prep? Thanks

Sounds like you are talking about a fastener kit or list which would have every single fastener nut, bolt or clip in the car. I have seen engine accessory bolts or other similar small bolt packages but not something that has everything. For years as I refurbished different portions of the car, I went to GM (when they still held stock), otherwise through auto parts stores, hardware stores, fastener specialty shops, even junk yards, etc... looking for replacement fasteners, an often challenging process. I know that shows like Overhaulin' carried large stocks of assorted fasteners to save time but I never heard of an all encompassing kit.

UN 3965975 confirmed on mine.