Removing a Pumpkin

[zerfetzen]

Hi all,
I've never removed a pumpkin before, specifically the stock 741 with 2.94:1 gears that came stock on my '69 with an 8 3/4" rear.  Anyway, so I took off the 10 nuts holding it to the axle housing, let it drain a while, then put a jack under it to prevent it from outright dropping to the floor.  Next, I tugged a little on the front of the pumpkin, then wedged a big screwdriver in one side and tried to pry it from the axle housing.

No luck.  I mean, I can get one side pried almost out as far as the threads, but the screwdriver can't get in there far enough and then it slips.  So, my wife who'd like to avoid the whole thing, agreed to help.  I gave her my creeper and a screwdriver, and she slid under and started prying on one side while I started prying on the opposite.  No luck.

Is there a trick to getting these off?  I always thought of them as quick-change, but they don't seem too quick. 

Thanks.

[firefighter3931]

Is there a trick to getting these off?  I always thought of them as quick-change, but they don't seem too quick. 

You need to pull the axles out of the carrier before you try to remove it. Sounds like you haven't done this yet. 


Ron

[zerfetzen]

Ack, thanks Firefighter, I remember reading that before, should've known that.  Thanks! 

[firefighter3931]

Ack, thanks Firefighter, I remember reading that before, should've known that.  Thanks! 

No problemo...sometimes it's the obvious stuff that eludes us.    Good luck with the swap ! 


Ron

[Hot_Rodder]

When you go to put it back together, if using a factory style axle setup, and not the green axle bearings, you have to set the preload on these axles, don't forget this....

[zerfetzen]

Thanks for the good tip, but it's not going back together.  I'll sell the pumpkin, then sell the 8 3/4" when I get around to swapping in that Strange S60 that's coming when the budget allows    Yep, this charger's in for a significant rebuild on all accounts.

[zerfetzen]

Hey here's a question though:

The reason I'm removing the pumpkin right now is for easier access to wire brush the underside up by the shock tower area; removing it would just make life easier.  But the car's a roller right now without rear brakes, so I have a block behind a rear wheel.  Question is: if I pull the axles and pull the pumpkin, can I push the axles back in (I know, into nothingness), put the wheels back on, lower it, and then get under there for wire brushing?  If the axles don't go into anything, can the wheels still go back on with reasonable safety, I mean, they won't flop loosely, will they?  I've replaced shocks and springs before (on a Cuda), and pulled axles to put new brakes on (again, the Cuda), but haven't tried this before.  Will I be safe?  Thanks.

[Charger-Bodie]

yes that will work!

[zerfetzen]

 

All right, time for me to get crackin', thanks much.

[1969chargerrtse]

When you go to put it back together, if using a factory style axle setup, and not the green axle bearings, you have to set the preload on these axles, don't forget this....

Can you explaine this?  I pulled my 4:11 rear pumkin out, put a 3:23 pumkin in, slapped the axles back in, and thought that was that? 

[Hot_Rodder]

The factory style set up requires a preload adjustment, but I'm not the person to explain this, maybe someone who could explain it better than I, should do this.