The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Torque Tube Removal?

yes, another torque tube thread. I have done a search on the forums, and looked in the shop manual. What I can't find, is how to remove the actual tube. All I have found in the search is how to remove the rearend and TT. The front of the TT is disconnected. I just need to pull off the tube to fit my new tranny. From the picture in the shop manual it looks like I can grind off the four rivets and pull it out. Is that correct/proper?
Thanks!
Colin

Yes , the tube is solid riveted to the diff housing.

if I grind the rivets off will the tube come out?
Thanks!

Don't grind anything? I don't think we have a clear picture of what you are doing.
If you are swapping stock tranys, you just need to take the U joint appart and jack up the torque tube to give you some room to slide back the trany. If you are tossing the torque tube for a new rear end, pull the whole mess as a unit, rear end and all. If you really want to dissassemble the torque tube, (can't imagine why)to maybe pull the driveshaft, there are three bolts around the tube towards the back. Then the propeller shaft, pinion gear, bearings etc can go out the back. THink you'd better find the manual. Good Luck.

Suggest you check Patrick's Antique Cars & Trucks in Arizona, www.patricksantiquecars.com. Amoung other things they sell a ring & pinion gear upgrade for the TT diffs, the instructions are very detailed on how to dissassemble and reassemble a TT Rear end. I am considering the swap and they were happy to send me a copy of the instructions to review. Might help if you proceed with this - Bug

Thanks JiMerit and BugDuckley.
Sorry i'll try to give you a clearer picture. I am swaping the TT, rear end, and the tranny for a different one(s). The tranny is a T5. I pulled the stock tranny and have to fit the T5 in order to move the crossmember. The TT can only be lifted up so high and I cannot fit the T5 in the space provided. The thing is, I don't want to pull it all (TT and rearend), because I cannot fit the other rearend and need the chassis to roll so I can get it to my workplace for sandblasting and where my boss will help me fit the other rearend. I don't know if that makes any more sense. The stock rearend and TT will not be used again. I just needed a simple way to get it out of the way so I can fit the T5 and have a rolling chassis. Whew! Okay, my boss says just cut it off with the cutting torch, so thats the simple way for now. Thanks for all the help and sorry for the confusuion.

Colin

Colin - Glad you clarified that because I was on the phone with Patrick on my project and he told me under no circumstances do you ever remove the TT from the 3rd member on one of these differentials. I guess they are aligned and joined together when manufatured and to separate them would destroy the rear end.... whatever you do with the existing TT to get it out of the way remember jacking it up or down creates spring tension and it can hurt you if it's suddenly released. WHen I jacked mine up to remove my 3-speed I put a chain around the frame and the TT to catch the TT just in case my bottle jack failed. Good luck!