Argg, okay, who had trouble with the t40's on the rear diff?

[fastmonkeywheels]

This isn't really tech so it's here, more of a vent.

I'm all but 6 t-40 bolts away from having the rear out of my SVO. I spent 1 hour getting everything else removed and 2 hours fighting with these bolts. They're the ones that hold the e-brake cable and caliper brake like to the axle tube.

I broke 2 bits already, cleaned them out really well, soaked them in PB Blaster, heated them up with a blow torch, nothing. The problem is that I can't get a good enough bite in there, the bits pop out. I think I'm going to take a drill to them tonight. The 8.8 that's going in doesn't even have these holes drilled, so I'll have to drill holes in that one and tap it. Hello 6-point metric bolts, good buy t-40's.

[fastmonkeywheels]

Well, a t-45 was way too big, the t-40 fit right in. The first bit I twisted off was a cheapie, the second was a Craftsman. I've messed the bolt up now too.

The car isn't too rusty, everything else came out without the use a breaker bar, including the control arm bolts. It's just that I can't keep the bit in these little bastards. Unfortunately I don't have a hand impact wrench. I'll give a few of the other bolts a shot, maybe it's just this one that's being such a pain. Either way this one is getting drilled out now since it's all messed up.

[svono50]

You are not alone on your rant. I ended up drilling the heads off mine to get the brackets off my former 7.5 to swap over to the 8.8. I now use 3/8" SS socket head cap screws and SS washers to hold the brackets on my 8.8.

[fastmonkeywheels]

You are not alone on your rant. I ended up drilling the heads off mine to get the brackets off my former 7.5 to swap over to the 8.8. I now use 3/8" SS socket head cap screws and SS washers to hold the brackets on my 8.8.

That makes me feel better .

I'm not alone. I also guess this was more tech than rant so the admins moved it, thanks and sorry.

[BrianO]

You could always hijack your own thread into a real rant...

I've done that, it works!

[fastmonkeywheels]

I think the SVOCA members should all attend TJA, thread-jackers anonymous.

No more thread jacking about thread jacking, this is MY RANT and I'll cry if I want to.

[84svoracer]

Yeah, after having no success with them for about thirty minutes of messing with them I just grabbed the drill, so you guys definately are not alone on this.

[85ttops]

mine gave me troubles but i got them out , i had a harder time putting them back in , one to this day is still not all the way in on the driver side

[Raven855]

I have never had a problem taking them out or putting them in. But I'm a old guy so I'm problably slower, meaner, wiser, ect.. And now that I've said I never had any problem it will never go smooth again!

[fastmonkeywheels]

Okay, I twisted off another Craftsman bit, lol. I also got 1 bolt ground off and 1/4 of another until I ran out of dremel cut-off wheels. I tried drilling but I think my bits are too dull, damn.

Oh well, more cut-off wheels and a few more hours and they should be out. However, a group of us are going to the new Indiana Jones film tonight so no more work on it until tomorrow.

Anyone have any better ways to get the head off the bolts other than a cut-off wheel?

[fastmonkeywheels]

Alright I finally got those 6 bolts cut off, what a pain. The rear end is finally out and my new one goes in tomorrow, hopefully.

[fastmonkeywheels]

Well I have 2 8.8's now, 1 from a Mustang GT with 2.73 gears and drum brakes, and the other from an 88 TC with 3.73 and disc breaks.

Either way I'm swapping my axles over into the new housing. Originally I only had the Mustang 8.8, since it has drum breaks the flange at the rear where the e-brake cable and brake line bolt to I'd have to drill those 6 holes and tap them.

I found a TC rear end on Thursday that has recently been serviced that I'm getting for the set of 3.55 FRPP gears I had, that I was going to put into the Mustang 8.8. So, the TC should line up better since those holes are already there. I also have 1 less gear swap to do.