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Anyone seen where a welded rear differential cover has been re-welded into a half moon shape? About half of the differential cover was welded back up...

It sounds like that rear axle may have had some "work" done on it...

As to the "welded plug", it is not a plug- It is an adjuster for the side plat shoe on the ring gear: The nut is a jamb nut, welded to the central adjuster screw: Inside the case, it has a shoulder and pin: On the pin is a piece of flat metal, cut in a curve shape, and with a hole in the back for the pin. When the differential is assembled, the adjuster is tightened against the ring gear, then backed out a few thousandths- and then they weld it in place.

Scott

I agree sounds like rear was damaged and repaired. I have never seen one without a drain plug. you could just cut the weld all the way around and drill and tap for a bolt on cover but the bolt on covers for the big diff are hard to find.

G,Day all .I have a feeling that the lower stud on the front of the diff is the drain hole . It goes right thru the case into the oil . Remove stud and you should strike OIL . The same goes for the early diffs . Do not remove welded stud on side of diff . It is ,As Scott said an adjuster for the crown / ring gear . Ray

If I remember correctly, the late...welded cover type housing has a small 1/8" NPT plug at the very bottom. This is the drain plug. Just make sure that the oil is warm/hot before you try and drain it. As the small hole restricts the flow very much.

Last question- anyone seen where a welded rear differential cover has been re-welded into a half moon shape? About half of the differential cover was welded back up...

never seen that before. I would grind the welds down

never seen that before

Yeah, somebody definitely did not want to replace that axle housing..

Axle lobotomy scar

WOW, looks like that had a MAJOR ring gear failure, I'm glad I wasn't around to witness that one

Ian

maybe they broke an axle and too lazy to pull diff to get the piece out?

You think the previous owners name was Bubba