So I have cleaned/painted my housing, got the center section rebuilt with the original 3.23 gears and a sure-grip.

I noticed when I was cleaning the housing, that some of the studs for the pumpkin, were "worn" . . . the car must have been driven on a lot of gravel roads ??? . . . I cleaned up the studs as best I could with the die set and tapped the nuts . . . however, when I put it back together, some of the nuts would not torque up tight . . . I had used a bit of silcon and a gasket . . . all seemed ok. But after sitting for a while (still haven't moved the car - getting everything else together on it) I have noticed it is leaking from the bottom part of the center section/housing.

I was thinking I should just get some new nuts and see if they will torque up ? Or do I need to replace the studs in the housing. Of course all this happens AFTER you have installed EVERYTHING !!! So much easier when it is out of the car !! . . .

Thanks,

Mark

Change the nuts , if they still won't torque then you need to replace the studs .

Also make sure it's leaking from the gasket seam and not the weld seam underneath.

Did you use a gasket ?

When cleaning threads it's best to use thread chasers instead of taps and dies .

If it t'was me...

I'd replace all studs together with new hardware...

I like a gasket(dry)...

Yup, I did use a gasket and a thin layer of silicone on one side . . . am sure it is not leaking from the weld, but the gasket . . . so who would have the correct studs ??? Doctor Diff ?? . . .

Thanks,

Mark

Your call, but if it was me, I'd pull one out and make my way to the nearest auto parts, or some place that sells fasteners...

Edited because I was wrong. These are special studs. Sorry.

No Ace Hardware up in my neck of the woods (Calgary Canada) . . .

Did you use thread sealer on the nuts and studs? If not try that first, get them really clean first though I had a similar issue reusing the original studs that had been removed to narrow the housing, just one or two of them leaked on the drivers side. Mopar use to install soft flat copper washers, maybe some other type of soft meatl also(CRS ) on a lot of the early cars, the washers would squish out and seal the threads, they where a bear to get off some times but they did help seal the unit up real well

I would check with Dr. Diff for the studs.

Cass said he has a stud/nut kit. Am gonna try the new nut route first. . . . Should be able to get those from local supply. Like the copper washer idea too - I even have those in the shop now !

Thanks

Mark

Not to Hijack,

but what is the proper way to install the new studs. I have to admit that pulling them in with the nuts did not end well for me.

Good question . . . Aren't the originals swaged in place ?

Update . . . . got new nuts and copper washers, installed and looks like that fixed the leaking !! Everything tightened up great !!!