Xanath

Hi all,

My 28 year old seal on my old 10-Bolt Rear End finally gave out after a long New England winter of sleeping in my garage. So, I went out and got a new gasket and cover and Permatexed that onto the back but I couldn't quite figure out how to get the darn fill plug out on the top of the other side of the rear.

It appears to be a 3/8" square plug, like something that I could just pop my ratchet/extension into if it didn't have that darn ball bearing in it. Does anyone know exactly what size this thing is and/or what I need to do to get it out?

Also, I bought 2 liters of lmtd diff gear fluid for the back, but I didn't know if anyone knew exactly how much I needed to refill it. I looked here and googled around, but I couldn't find the exact amount anywhere.

As always, thanks all.

Xanath

Anybody got any advice? The socket extension doesn't seem to want to fit just right, (I'm assuming due to the ball bearing), and I don't want to damage anything by just hammering it in there to see if it will fit. And I don't like leaving the gears dry back there. The cover's on et all, but they've been sitting without juice since last weekend, I'd like to get them swimming again.

Wish I had the cash to just get a Strange S60 and be done with it. Some day...but for now...

Bueller?

Hubes

I used a 3/8 extension on mine, the ball should push into the extension, do you have problems getting sockets on it? if the extensions working fine maybe the plug is a little too rusty. if its almost going but not quite you could probably tap it in with a hammer

KNBlazer

make sure you don't need an additive for your gears...

built91Z28

It uses just a normal 3/8" extension. Just push on it a little while turning to make sure it stays in.

Xanath

Hi all. Thanks for the responses. Thus far, I've tried three different 3/8" socket extensions, all with different levels of protruding ball bearings and heights, and none fit in; even after a little...love...was given to them. I tried just man-handling the heck out of the one that had the highest, most sunken ball bearing so it sat the deepest, and after several attempts, I've backed off as I'm afraid I might strip the darn hole. The plug head isn't the hardest metal I've ever tried to turn, it felt real soft with the socket on it.

I tried hammering the plug and spraying it to see if it was just stuck, but last spring or the fall before when I had the thing drained and refilled, they put the plug back on with a impact wrench which is no match for my hands. Must'a torqued the heck outta it. O_o

In an interesting aside though, as I laid on the ground under the car, staring up in desperation at the faded and cracking yellow paint denoting what I believed as the only plug in town for the rear, I began to feel around the rear assembly for some ray of hope and found at the top passenger side some other plug-type thing. It was plastic and felt like a tire valve stem cover, so I turned, but it just spun and spun. So, I said "Oh well, here goes" and give it a tug and POP, off it came.

So, after looking in all my ingenious GM Pontiac, Hayes, and Chilton guides, I can see that NO ONE denotes what the heck this plug is. So, I ask you, TG.Org folks, what the heck is this plug??? Is this some other filler plug? I'm really at a loss, but it removed real easy so I'd love to use it. =D

Thanks again for any help all, it's much appreciated.

Xanath

Yeah, it's a "ballsy" stock 2.93 with lmtd diff, but I've got the fluid for it. Thanks though, that I knew and wasn't about to screw up.

Oh, and when you all took your filler plugs out, if you're facing the plug, did you turn the wrench clockwise or counter-clockwise?

I just want to make sure that it's not some other weird 80's backwards screw type thing that no one knows about and that makes any sense and that I may be busting my **** turning it the right way that was the wrong way back in 1982.

//<86TA>\\

iTrader: (14)

its defiantly right hand thread, and a 3/8 extension fits it. even if it has the bearing in it, it will still fit, it may be a little tight because of dirt grime and rust in the plug.

built91Z28

The other piece you felt is probably the vent.

Your fill plug is probably stuck in there. There are no special tools to get it out. I've taken out hundreds of fill plugs. Its just a regular extension. If you absolutley cannot get it out, they make covers that have a fill hole on them. But they are not exactly cheap.

KNBlazer

spray some carb cleaner in the 3/8 plug that you can't seem to get a good hold of... give it a few squirts, then let it penetrate for a few minutes and repeat it a few times... the last time just flush it for a few seconds and see if you have luck...

Blown84Bird

Use a small screw driver to dig the dirt out of the hole also.
3" 3/8 extension and ratchet / beaker bar and a hammer the plug has normal threads so clean the plug out put your extension in and smack it with the hammer ( works like a impact )
If all else fails get a torch heat the plug and put a candle on it the wax will be drawn in to the threads and should help the plug out
Good luck