3.45 Differential install
3.45 Differential install
I purchased a 2013 Camaro SS manual transmission differential on Ebay. It had 17,000 miles on it. $850 with free shipping and it had new axle seals installed. I removed the rear cover, checked for metal particles, drained the rest of the fluid, installed a new cover gasket and painted the rear cover. I also ordered some polyurethane, BMR BK-001, street durometer of 68. Drilled out the old bushings with a 2-1/4" hole saw and then with the edge of straight file cut a relief across the inside body of the remaining steel shell. Was very careful not to cut into the aluminum bushing housings. I used a couple of different drifts and chisels to push the old bushing shell towards the inside, peeling it away from the aluminum wall of the housing. I took my time and a lot of patience (two nights after work) to do this.
On Saturday morning I met my friend Jeff who owns J2 Speed here in Southwest Omaha, NE. With his help, we accomplished this swap in 2.5 hours.
Two things of note, from our mistakes that would make things go faster. 1) Drain the old differential first. We found out the hard way removing the old diff. 2) Set the trans into neutral BEFORE removing right rear caliper. We had the caliper removed before I had removed the 3 drive shaft bolts. I jumped into the car to put it into neutral to rotate the drive shaft. To get it into neutral you need to depress the brake pedal. DOH! Spent a little time gaining pad spacing to re-install the caliper.
NOTE: I have added the bushing removal pics further down this thread!
On Saturday morning I met my friend Jeff who owns J2 Speed here in Southwest Omaha, NE. With his help, we accomplished this swap in 2.5 hours.
Two things of note, from our mistakes that would make things go faster. 1) Drain the old differential first. We found out the hard way removing the old diff. 2) Set the trans into neutral BEFORE removing right rear caliper. We had the caliper removed before I had removed the 3 drive shaft bolts. I jumped into the car to put it into neutral to rotate the drive shaft. To get it into neutral you need to depress the brake pedal. DOH! Spent a little time gaining pad spacing to re-install the caliper.
NOTE: I have added the bushing removal pics further down this thread!
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- 1-Getting Started at 1100.jpg (152.29 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 2-Exhaust Removed.jpg (109.93 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 3-Caliper and upper control arm removed.jpg (147.04 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
Last edited by Pursuit on Tue May 27, 2014 3:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
As the install progresses. We also removed the ABS sensor connector, wire and the push-in wire retention clip from the hub assembly.
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- 4-Entire rear hub assembly removed.jpg (159.55 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 5-Another view of rear hub assembly removed .jpg (162.95 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 6-Rear hub assembly with splines and CV joint protected.jpg (200.6 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
Last edited by Pursuit on Tue May 27, 2014 9:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
Still making progress
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- 7-Driver's side differential bolt hits shield.jpg (117.61 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 8-Differential removed with drivers side CV joint and bellows protected.jpg (162.83 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 9-PPV Differential.jpg (151.34 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
Camaro 3.45 Differential versus the PPV 2.92 Diff
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- 10-Camaro 3.45 on left PPV 2.92 on right.jpg (143.94 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 11-PPV diff on left Camaro on right.jpg (151.6 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
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- 12-Another view.jpg (154.84 KiB) Viewed 30028 times
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
Camaro diff in car. It took one full bottle of the GM approved Differential fluid and one bottle of the LSD Friction modifier. Synthetic Fluid PN 88900401 and Friction Modifier PN 88900330. Filled right to the bottom of the fill plug. We had the right rear wheel back on at 1:30pm. All we had left to do was to install the exhaust and re-program with HP Tuners.We were hungry and decided to do a quick lunch. Tuning was quick and easy, verified with GPS later that afternoon. Did a few figure "8's" left and right and no noise coming from the rear end.
This modification really woke the car up. Right now the tires will slip at the 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shifts, but does not spin through the gears like I thought it might. It does get into the traction control in Normal mode. With the Performance Mode engaged, it still just barks the tires.
One of the best mods I have done!
This modification really woke the car up. Right now the tires will slip at the 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shifts, but does not spin through the gears like I thought it might. It does get into the traction control in Normal mode. With the Performance Mode engaged, it still just barks the tires.
One of the best mods I have done!
- Attachments
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- 13-Camaro differential in car.jpg (155.41 KiB) Viewed 30026 times
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- 14-Fill and Drain plugs.jpg (158.6 KiB) Viewed 30026 times
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- 15-Right rear wheel back on at 1330.jpg (169.74 KiB) Viewed 30026 times
Last edited by Pursuit on Tue May 27, 2014 9:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
Sweet!
I figured this would be one of the best bang for your buck mods for our cars!
Later!
Tom Slick
I figured this would be one of the best bang for your buck mods for our cars!
Later!
Tom Slick
1932 Glassic Ford Model A Roadster Replica - Ford 302/C4, approx. 1400lb...
2015 GMC Sierra SLE Extended Cab - 5.3L
2015 GMC Sierra SLE Extended Cab - 5.3L
Re: 3.45 Differential install
Here are the Bushings and the carnage involved!
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- All three bushing shells.jpg (160.46 KiB) Viewed 30022 times
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- Close-up of bushing shell.jpg (164.46 KiB) Viewed 30022 times
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- Differential housing with bushings removed.jpg (207.9 KiB) Viewed 30022 times
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- Rubber bushings after being hole sawed .jpg (154.64 KiB) Viewed 30022 times
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
Were the original bushing in that bad of shape, or did you just not want to worry about them?
Later,
Tom Slick
Later,
Tom Slick
1932 Glassic Ford Model A Roadster Replica - Ford 302/C4, approx. 1400lb...
2015 GMC Sierra SLE Extended Cab - 5.3L
2015 GMC Sierra SLE Extended Cab - 5.3L
Re: 3.45 Differential install
They were in good shape. Diff was out and available for a bushing upgrade. Why not change/upgrade them? The "street" durometer is just fine. No noticeable noise.
Maurice
Maurice
Maurice Sheil
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
mhsheil@gmail.com
2011 Caprice Phantom Black 9C3
2012 Impala 9C1
1995 9C1 Caprice
1996 GMC Sierra C1500
1996 Chevrolet K2500 Extended Cab, long box, 454, 91,000 rust free miles
1974 SJ Grand Prix 455 well optioned with factory moon roof
Re: 3.45 Differential install
I have been keeping on the lookout for a 3.45 diff . I have seen some deals on the camaro forum but was just a bit late on the trigger . But great mod .