Ford Racing aluminum axle cover fit?

nyuk98GT said:

WJBertrand,

Not sure if you have the option but you could remove the axle tube vent and bring it in to the hardware store. They have a little rack or two with different bolt sizes and thread pitches that you can test fit your bolt (or vent fitting). If not, I can provide some info (and I hope it is correct, lol).

From the interwebs, I found a thread elsewhere where a Mustang owner determined that the vent is tapped as 7/16"-20 fine thread. The poster bought a 3/4" long bolt, added some washers, plugged the axle tube vent hole and moved the vent to the diff cover vent location.

***edit:
"Vent Assembly - Rear Axle - Ford (BR3Z-4022-A) is the p/n for the bolt that plugs the vent hole on the tube according to my cataloging." is from another erstwhile poster who is also a Ford Technician.
***end of edit.

HTH,

Chris

Click to expand...

Thanks Chris! I too determined that the thread was a 7/16" x 20 T/in by trying all the bolts in my collection of spares until I found one that fit. Trouble is that all I could find were 1" or more and I'm not sure how much distance there is to the axle. The part number you provided seems to the the answer. Thanks!

Dubbya,

You're welcome! I thought a plumbing store or a Fastenall store might have a stubby plug but the price of the Ford plug is worth avoiding the search (and possible disappointment), lol.

Pics of the installed cover. Everybody likes aluminum diff cover porn.

Chris

I just ordered that plug last night as I'm planning on installing one of those covers in the next couple of weeks. The main reason is to move the vent from the axle tube to the top of the cover. I'm hoping it's just a matter of moving the current vent to the cover.

01yellerCobra,

You can install a turkey baster on the axle instead of the stock vent. The trick is to use two little zip-ties to clamp the rubber bulb to the metal barb of the axle fitting. My baster was leaking a bit and I thought I would try zip-ties before replacing the baster with a catch can. You could use a metal crimp ring instead of the zip-ties but I like the idea of being able to take the bulb off once in a while to check for any grunge.

HTH,

Chris

nyuk98GT said:

01yellerCobra,

You can install a turkey baster on the axle instead of the stock vent. The trick is to use two little zip-ties to clamp the rubber bulb to the metal barb of the axle fitting. My baster was leaking a bit and I thought I would try zip-ties before replacing the baster with a catch can. You could use a metal crimp ring instead of the zip-ties but I like the idea of being able to take the bulb off once in a while to check for any grunge.

HTH,

Chris

Click to expand...

That's why I'm installing this cover. I'm just not a fan of the turkey baster. Well, that and I got a decent deal on this cover.

Finally got some time to install my cover. I had to undo the right side of the pan hard rod to get enough clearance to slip it into place, through the old cover came off without having to do that. Once the cover is in place and the pan hard rod reattached, everything clears fine. I had previously installed a JLT expansion tank so I moved the fitting for that from the axle tube to the top of the new cover, shortened the hose and plugged the threaded hole on the axle tube with the plug discussed a couple posts earlier.

I found that the lube capacity was not changed, still about 2.5 quarts. I used the LubeLocker gasket and that seems to be working fine. It’s going to be a while until my garage no longer smells like 75w-140 though!




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Dubbya,

Hey, is that a QuickJack? I am envious! I've been looking at one for a while but haven't committed yet, lol. Which model did you get? What's your experience with it? 100% satisfied? Any complaints? Help a fellow Mustanger spend some money!

Thank you.

Chris

nyuk98GT said:

Dubbya,

Hey, is that a QuickJack? I am envious! I've been looking at one for a while but haven't committed yet, lol. Which model did you get? What's your experience with it? 100% satisfied? Any complaints? Help a fellow Mustanger spend some money!

Thank you.

Chris

Click to expand...

Yup, QuickJack model BL-5000EXT. I’ve only used it a few times but it is sweet. Great for getting under to change fluids where you need to keep the car level. Great for doing tire rotations too. Seems to lift the car very easily and holds it very solidly. No real complaints, but you have to get under the car from either end as the jacks cut off side access, not that big a deal though. Yesterday the up button was acting a little intermittent, so I have an email in with their support department. It started working normally again, so not sure what’s up with that.


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Awesome! Thanks for the Consumer Report, Jeff. I will be happy to buy you a cold beer or two if you get to Missouri anytime.

Chris