Help! new here need help

[grizzlyb2]

well i bought this c3 78 sa it needs a bit of work but only wanted it for a driver had to replace the universals on the short shaft on the pass side when i unbolted everthing the shaft slid out of the rear wth? well its my first vette but im good with chevys bulit motors etc> looks like it needs a snap ring on the shaft but how the^&*() do you get in the rear?

 

[GerryLP]

Grizzlyb2,

So you are saying that the shaft end on the third member, the one that connects to the driveshaft between the rear end and transmission, slid out of the differential end???

This is going to be a project. The differential rear is bolted at the top of the cover by the cross member (4 bolts), and at the bottom by the leaft spring assembly. You have to unbolt the short shafts of either left and right side, and you have to unbolt the third member's front mounting point. Unless you take it out, and let a pro shop repair it, it will probably take you the rest of the summer to do it for the average mechanic with the average family costs.

So, you might to consider this. That shaft sliding out of the front is the pinion shaft and it it came out, the may likely further damage. However, look on eBay to see if someone is selling a used unit that you swap in while you determine if the original is salvageable.

 

[GerryLP]

I just re read your post. Yes, you'll have to undo the parts that attach to the rear cover, to gain access to the third member's inners. The short shaft is held in place with "C" clips. But it is likely that the clips are still there, for they tend to wear a groove into the slip yokes for the short shafts. :ugh

 

[grizzlyb2]

thanks

;squint:i think i see i have to remove the spring and the top bolts for the cover then i can take it off, slip the short shaft back in place and put a c clip on it i think everything else is ok looks hard to drop the spring though!

 

[JohnZ]

;squint:i think i see i have to remove the spring and the top bolts for the cover then i can take it off, slip the short shaft back in place and put a c clip on it i think everything else is ok looks hard to drop the spring though!

It's more complicated than that. In order to get to the four top bolts that attach the rear cover to the crossmember, you'll need to drop the crossmember out, so the spring has to come off and the half-shafts and strut rods have to come out. When you finally get to the point where you can remove the rear cover from the diff housing, you may find that the inboard end of the stub axle has worn down into the snap ring groove, which is why the snap ring is gone.

Good luck with the project.