I'll C2 it

Earlier this summer I redid the whole rearend of my 66 with the body on. You know, wire brushing, sanding the frame on my back under the car. Then installed rebuilt trailing arms, rear end, etc. Not looking forward to doing the rest of the frame that way I decided the body must come off as it was down to just a shell anyway. Here's my question, if I remove the shocks, loosen and drop the differential cross member, take the trailing arms bolts and front differential bolt out can this slide out as a full unit? Looks obvious but I don't want surprises.

Patrick03

I'm not sure that you'll easily be able to remove the cross member. I wasn't able to get mine out when I tried and I've read others had to use really big pry bars. If you want the differential out I'd just unbolt it.

I'll C2 it

Thank you, that's plan B since I can get to those from the top. The crossmember is already blasted and painted and the frame is scheduled for Tuesday so I would like to separate them there. It was a FIGHT the first time! Since it's new maybe not so much. Thanks for the reply.

Patrick03

Oh, ok, if it will come out easy, then yes, drop it and take it out as an assembly. Your original idea will work.

Patrick

pop23235

Without the spring you're good.

66jack

When you did the earlier work, did you put in new 'Sombrero's' in the diff carrier cross member? if not now would be the time do do it..

Dan Hampton

It is easy. Get a power hammer and center it on the ends of the cross member. It will take about four seconds for the cross member to drop on each side. Make sure you have something to support it when it separates. It will come down hard and fast.

I'll C2 it

Yes, new sombrero's were installed. I disassembled and reassembled piece by piece, I just don't want to take the rear totally apart again if not necessary. Thanks for the input.

SledgeHammer 2.0

I've removed my crossmember before. I used a prybar on both sides and worked it down. It was easy. I actually pulled the rear end without removing the exhaust. .. you should be able to remove the whole thing as a unit, but it's going to be bulky and hard to roll without something to stabilize the control arms.

66jack

I'd take it back off so as to not sand blast the rubber on the sombrero's...everything else is off....it's only 2 bolts to remove it...

ghostrider20

Use a 2x4 as a brace between the two training arm spring bolt mounts. That and the half shafts should keep the trailing arms from folding or being wobbly. Unbolt the sombrero bolts, and the front training arm bolts. Jack the frame up and then just roll the whole thing out the back of the car with the tires on.

C2nut

I prefer using a hole saw to cut an access hole in the rear deck to get to the bolts that hold the differential to the cross member. Measure twice, cut once. No one will see it under the carpet and rubber hole plugs when you're done will look like it was that way from the factory.

I'll C2 it

All went OK. It came apart easily. I loosened all the bolts mentioned and proped everything up. I put the jack under the frame to lift it and the sombrero's separated from the weight. All is good and the frame is ready to go to the shop for blasting and paint. Pics to follow soon.

Psych1

Is it possible to remove the differential and crossmember without removing the entire suspension? I need to have my rear differential rebuilt but will need to still be able to keep the car rolling.

67*427

Probably gonna be hard to move the car without the differential in the car.... the half shafts form part of the suspension. Without them in place .. and connected to the differential, there will be little horizontal stability to the rear suspension.

I'll C2 it

And the spring must come out also. I removed and reinstalled as a complete unit. Your trailing arms can stay but as mentioned, I'm not sure about support to roll the car. You're this far into it, how about new u-joints and maybe even trailing arms bushings?

Rob_64-365

Sounds just like the road l traveled, took it all apart, redid everything, put it all back together, then decided to do a frame off... much easier without the body there!!

LouieM

Yup, done that before and it's easy.

SledgeHammer 2.0

?? Why. You can loosen the crossmember bolts, lower it enough to get a socket and ratchet in there and get the rear end out without drilling any holes in the body. Don't even have to remove the exhaust.

C2nut

Because it's usually alot easier to drill a hole in the fiberglass deck than remove those bolts.