Shoebox Rearend Question

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Anyone know what kind of special f#%kin tool you need to to remove the drain and fill plugs on a stock '51 Ford rear end?

I took the car out for the longest run it has been on since 1967. It was only 40 mile round trip. About half way through the rearend started a slight howl. It really isn't that bad, but it made me think about the fact the lube hasn't been changed in 37 years!

I bought the lube and jacked up the assend and cannot for the life of me figure out how to get the plugs out. They are two different sizes. The fill is a 5/16 square with a small star bit hole in the center. The drain is 3/16 square with an even smaller star in the center.

Any help would be great.

Mike

BTW the car ran better than expected, almost well enough to consider taking a longer trip!

[C9]

I know you got what you got, but thinking back on the Shoeboxes I owned, seems like a 1/2" breaker bar or ratchet would always get them off.

I wonder if someone replaced the original plugs with some off-beat ones?

How big are the plugs?

If I remember right, the ones I dealt with were 1/2" NPT.

I wonder if some penetrant - I like Aero-Kroil - would help?
Shoot em for 2-3 days, get a tool that fits and give it a shot.

There is a Shoebox board on the net.
You may find the info you need there.

[Reggie]

I also remember using a break-over bar to remove mine....seems like it was a 3/8 though. You might try applying a little heat to the area to loosen up the crud.

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Thanks guys,

I should have posted that I already tried the breaker bar method. That is how I found out that it is 5/16. The 3/8 just wallowed around on the fill plug. The half inch won't even fit at all. The drain plug is bigger than a quarter, but smaller than the 3/8 ratchet.

I sprayed the crap out of them and cleaned off all the dirt with my pocket knife. So now I am stumped http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Looks like I will have to fab something up.

Mike

[Rocky]

I think I'd be tempted to weld a 1/2" nut onto the fill plug and turn it out with a 3/4" socket while it's still hot. You could reuse the plug or replace it with a more common plug.

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I think I'd be tempted to weld a 1/2" nut onto the fill plug and turn it out with a 3/4" socket while it's still hot. You could reuse the plug or replace it with a more common plug.

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Sometimes it is the simple solutions that elude me! No shit this is exactly what I should do. Looks like I need to take a trip to lukesters shop (I don't have a welder http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

Thanks Rocky!!!!!

Mike

[Rocky]

Hey Mike....when you're over at Luke's shop, take a few photos of my old willys pickup. I'd be interested to if he's started working on it..

[Rocky]

This little jewel.....

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will do! I don't think he has, but I haven't been over there in a couple of months.

Mike