Best way to seal differential cover?

[FastA$$89Vert]

Im assuming you would use sealant with you put a new cover on....will hylomar do the job?

 

[crazypete]

RTV, man. Cheap, easy to work with and effective.

 

[maverick0716]

I don't even use a gasket, just RTV silicone.

 

[rd]

No gasket, blue RTV. Has worked every time.

 

[FastA$$89Vert]

I got one of those summit rear kits with the cover bolts etc.

They give you these long bolts with a flat pedastal on the end, does the pedastal go into the rear against those caps?

 

[Rick 91GT]

I got one of those summit rear kits with the cover bolts etc.

They give you these long bolts with a flat pedastal on the end, does the pedastal go into the rear against those caps?

Yes...it is to support the caps, do not OVERTIGHTEN them...bring them in to they touch and lock them in.

 

[FastA$$89Vert]

Directions said make sure they dont touch at all.......

Of course I run into another problem, one of the original bolt heads broke off, now i have to find a way to get the bolt out of the rear completely flush with where the cover would be........

any ideas

 

[FastA$$89Vert]

Well I tried to get that bolt out and it didnt work, now i have a hole there (crooked) with no threads......i basically jus drilled it out, i had no chance at it. Now its never gonna seal right without that bottom bolt

 

[HISSIN50]

SO you have a bottom bolt boss (in the rear end itself, not your girdle) that you cannot chase or retap? I am not following and ask in case others are not either.

Good luck.

 

[Shakerhood]

Directions said make sure they dont touch at all.......

Of course I run into another problem, one of the original bolt heads broke off, now i have to find a way to get the bolt out of the rear completely flush with where the cover would be........

any ideas

I got a Summit rear cover too and it said to make sure those bolts toch, but just not have them any tighter than 10 Ft Lbs. I put nothing close to that, I screwed them in until they touched and that was enough.

 

[FastA$$89Vert]

Yes I cannot put the bottom bolt in because the rear itself is now stripped and i Was unable to thread it.....

I sealed it up best I could, i have a feeling it will leak

 

[HISSIN50]

There are enough bolts around the circumference you might get lucky, esp if you were slightly liberal with gasket maker (in that situation, Hylomar might not have been the best choice - otherwise, I like the stuff).

I cant remember on an 8.8" rear - is there room on the back side to use a smaller bolt and put a nut on the back (actually toward the front of the car)? Like some folks do with starter bolts?

Good luck.

 

[FastA$$89Vert]

Nope, No open end on the rear, you put the bolt right into the rear and its closed along the back of it. I could have tried to make a bigger thread in there, but I would have also had to make a bigger hole and re thread the diff. cover also....so for now Im gonna see how it works when I get the motor back together.

If something happens, its back to the drawing board.........Im tempted to put some type of clamp where the bottom bolt would be to try and hold it tight.

 

[393Bird]

Use a Helicoil in the hole. Drill, rethread to proper size for the coil, install the helicoil with lock tight.

 

[89MustangGX]

I agree with the helicoil -- those covers are thin and warp and bend and need all the help they can get. A missing bolt is just asking for trouble.

 

[HISSIN50]

Are the girdles really that thin of a metal? I considered getting one, and one reason was for a little stronger metal (to help with cover flex and the small drip that can result).

 

[ALMOST STOCK]

No gasket, blue RTV. Has worked every time.

Same here!!

 

[Shakerhood]

Are the girdles really that thin of a metal? I considered getting one, and one reason was for a little stronger metal (to help with cover flex and the small drip that can result).

I did not think my Aluminum Girdle was thin at all, the stock cover is thin!

 

[HISSIN50]

I did not think my Aluminum Girdle was thin at all, the stock cover is thin!

Yeah, that is what I expected (the girdle being stout). Thin gauge metal would not have the integrity to support the bearings caps.

 

[89MustangGX]

Are the girdles really that thin of a metal? I considered getting one, and one reason was for a little stronger metal (to help with cover flex and the small drip that can result).

I definitely meant the stock piece. I don't know that the girdle will seal any better, but it is stronger.