Dave- The four bolts you mention, on our '65 with a later (large flange)
differential, are socket head cap screws (take a hex wrench to get them out)
there is one (and only one) position of the drive flange that will allow you
to remove these bolts. You have to rotate the drive flange to each position,
wiggle and squirm the head of the cap screw out, and go on to the next. I
found one of these bolts to be more of a pain than the others, can't
remember which, seems like it was at the top, rear. The bearing holder and
seal should come out fairly easily after the bolts are free- it depends on
what sealant was used. The shaft simply slides into the splines on the side
gears of the diff. I wouldn't advise changing to hex head grade 8's, the
socket head caps have as good or better tensile strength rating, as long as
you don't get Chinese (H-K is a GOOD brand)-and they should be either
1/4"-20 or 1/4"-28- I can't remember.
Mark Haynes
"65 Spit-RMVR#162
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Childs, David [SMTP:dchilds@epri.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 1999 5:56 AM
> To: spitfires@Autox.Team.Net
> Subject: Differential Help Needed
>
>
> Let me see if I can describe the four bolts that give me SO much
> difficulty.
> I am at the differential
> Between the axle flange and the differential housing
> There are four bolts that presumably have bearings behind it.
> I am NOT referring to the four bolts that rotate with the axle shaft.
> These for bolts bolt into the differential housing.
>
> OK
>
> I can not seem to keep these little suckers from getting backing out. I
> have
> the same problem on three of the Spits I have driven. I can not get them
> all the way out. Even with the little indent they provide in the flange
> the
> head of the bolt just will not go by. After having this little problem
> total my first Spit and finding them finger tight on the second Spit and
> two
> of them missing on the third Spit I am a little sensitive to this issue.
>
> I would like to replace this part with a grade 8 bolt. However, I can not
> get it out. It looks like I will have to disconnect the 4 bolts that hold
> the axle flange first. Then I don't know just what to do the flange that
> is
> attached to the differential. Does this part just pull out? Then maybe I
> can figure out what length bolt I need and what thread pitch.
>
> This is all that is keeping me from getting the little sucker on the road!
>
> Any advice is welcome....
>
> Thanks
> Dave C
> 79 Spit 6 (getting painted)
> 80 Spit (girl friend wanted one! Honestly!!!!)
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