Chrome front differential cover

[wlowe]

Got my Mag Hytec rear differential cover installed today. This is an excellent product with "Made in the USA" quality. Installation went smooth, toughest part was trying to pry off the old cover. Went with Amsoil 75W-140W.

Now that the rear is covered I'm turning my attention to the front differential. I don't want the Mag on the front due to possible future clearance problems. Does anyone know who carries a quality chrome cover with drain plug for the front differential? For those of you who already have one a picture would be nice.



Thanks,

Bill

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

PML covers may be a viable aternative.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71634









Covers themselves







http://www.yourcovers.com/newdifferential.htm

 

[y-knot]

For your chrome covers , TRANS DAP makes alot of those type. They are availible at most auto store like JEGGS, SUMMIT. I would strongly not recomend them, I like you went with the MAG-HYTEC in the rear (with amsoil) and the chrome in the front, also with amsoil. The chrome covers are a pain to keep clean. They get a light surface rust, that most of the time comes off with polish. They do look nice when they are clean, but be prepared to be down there polishing some. Oh, I almost forgot, if you would like a MOPAR cover, which is what I have. Go to JEGGS, at www.jeggs.com . These are like OEM, very thick, not the weak thin ones like others sell. They come with a gasket, drain plug, magnet and cost around 30 bucks

 

[onesloryd]

I have covers from Concept pattern that I had polished & chromed. They have held up great and are much easier to take care of than when I had polished aluminum covers.

 

[HEMI®Dart]

I stongly recommend the Mopar Performance Dana 60 cover too. Like y-not said. I have had mine for 3-4 years. Still looks nice. If you live in the salt belt you MUST spray WD-40 on it all winter to protect it though.



Here are some clear covers that look kinda neat:



http://www.cleargearz.com/



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[parcher]

I personally would shy away from a chrome cover for the heat issues. Our trucks are known to have a few axle failures from time to time, extra heat cannot be good.

 

[VicR]

I don't supposed any of you gentlemen with the Mopar cover happen to have the Chrysler P/N? I'm going to service the front end of the 97 and figure that would make a good addition. I know I can probably get it cheaper at Jeggs or Summit, but I have a Chrysler parts gift certificate thats burning a whole in my pocket.



Thanks,



-Vic

 

[Glen Pratt]

Molten Image Designs Diff. covers

Bill, For something totally different check these out. They are cast from stainless steel. It was either Four Wheeler or 4 Wheel & OffRoad magazine that did a test on differential covers. In one test they ran each of them over with a bulldozer. These were one of the two that didn't get damaged. As I remember the Clear Gearz cover caved right in, but didn't break. Here's their website: http://www.moltenimagedesign.com/Product.htm . They're a little pricey, but your not going to see these every day. -Glen

 

[y-knot]

The part # you seek is 312-P3690755 at least that is the part number from JEGGS performance. It list for 45. 99 and if you want the chrome bolts for it,312-P4452787 they are 9. 99. This is a nice MOPAR PERFORMANCE cover. It is a little thicker then the original, has a magnet attached and works great. I would not be concerned with any type of heat problem. Just top off with gear lub (I would recomend synthetic) and go. This part number does not show up in there catalog, but trust me it is valid, I even re-checked before I posted this. Jegs is agreat company to deal with and shipping is free.

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You can kind of see it with this picture.

 

[VicR]

Thanks Y-knot. That is a great looking truck!



By the way, are all Dana 60 covers the same? Do I have to worry about getting a front one or a back one?



thanks,



-Vic

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Vic,



All Dana 60 covers are the same. Make sure you get the Mopar Performance one. Mine is 5 years old and still looks good. If you live in the salt belt, you MUST spray it down w/ WD-40 before the first road salting and several times during the winter. I had a cheap MR Gasket or Trans Dap? chrome cover that totally rusted after 1 winter. I didn't spray it down though.



The Dana 60 cover that you will buy for your front axle would also fit a '68 HEMI 4 speed Charger. No difference.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Some Dana covers have a higher fill plug than others. Some are thicker too. I have an old one that is maybe 1/16" thick and the fill plug is well below center. I have another from a front axle application that is almost 1/8" thick and has the plug nearly halfway up.

 

[02diesel]

Mopar cover question

I bought the Mopar chrome cover from jeggs and went to install it today only to find out after I removed the original (my fault for not checking) that the Mopar cover does not contain the vent tube fitting. What did you guys do to overcome this obstacle. If I weld a fitting into it I am afraid that it would ruin the chrome from the heat. Any ideas? By the way the part number on the box is the same as listed above.



Thanks

Frank

 

[y-knot]

Sorry I can not help you, my Mopar cover does not have a vent in it either. My axle vents from another spot.



Yes there are some very thin (cheap) covers out there to avoid, I think Transdap has a thin one? The thicker Mopar covers hold up very well to the elements. Just go over the cover in the spring with chrome cleaner/polish and it is good to go. Worst part about putting one on is you now have to wash it off, just remember to do it before you do the truck!

Also, my Rock Ring has come in from Spyder Customs, It looks cool as all get out and is nicely done. I will get a picture soon as the weather breaks, one get my truck back, and I have time to paint it.

 

[jrobinson2]

I would drill and tap the cover for 1/8" pipe thread, be carefull not to cut the threads to deep and use high strength locktite on the fitting so it wont come loose.

Jared

 

[tpruitt]

And if you guys want a real diff cover for real protection i would contact this guy. He built mine and it works like a charm. Its also is made out of 1/2 steel and weighs 20 lbs. Very stout



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...3728&item=2459543698&sspagename=STRK:MEBWA:IT

 

[VicR]

After gettting a good chunk of my spring to-do list around the house done, I finally got some time today to put on my mopar performance chrome front cover. Overall the install went pretty smooth, and I think the hardest part is getting the old cover off. The good news is the fluid looked OK in the diff.



Now the bad part - as I was torquing the last bolt I noticed that something seems different. It looks like I got one that has the drain plug a little lower - about 3/4 inch - then the other one. I'll tilt the truck back and don't think I'll have any trouble getting the correct amount of fluid in, but I'm a little suspicious of having the fill plug below the fluid level. It just looks like it will leak.



Anyone see any problem with RTV'ing the threads of the drain plug?



By the way, Mopar Performance must have gotten a new supplier. This cover was a little thinner then the one that came off and didn't have a magnet either. I got it directly from the parts counter at my local dodge dealer. It was P3690755



Oh yeah the other bad part - now the rest of the underside of the truck looks especially dirty and grimey with that big shiny chrome cover!



-Vic

 

[y-knot]

I don't think the parts guy gave you the right one? I installed mine several years ago, but it had the drain plug in the same location as the old, and it was if anything thicker then the OEM cover. Also it did have a large donut magnet in the lower, inside area. I would just use for pipe dope on the plug threads.

 

[VicR]

does yours look like this?

Namely, does it have the Dana logo, female-head drain plug, and flat outer edge? Mine has a bumpout in the outer edge between the holes and it doesn't say Dana or even Mopar anywhere on it - but it did come with a sticker inside that said made in Taiwan. Also it has a drain plug you would need to use a socket with.



The box is right and the part number is right, but I'm wondering if someone switched a cheap one with what should have been in the box?



Now I do think this one will work, just as long as I can get enough fluid into it and get the bolt to seal.



-Vic



Edit: you can't really see the Dana logo in the center of this one, but there is a larger picture here: http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=2647&prmenbr=361

 

[Blue2002]

I ordered both front and rear PML differential covers for my 2002. These were their aluminum covers. Both look like quality products.

1) The rear PML diff cover fit nicely with no problems. I kept the rear diff cover and am satisfied with it. I can recommend their rear diff cover.

2) The front PML diff cover would have only had 1. 75 inch clearance between the top of the PML cover and the grease fitting on the track bar. There is about 3" clearance between the axle and the bumper stop. I measured 2. 75" compression in Normal driving (okay some rough roads). I felt there would have been definite interference with the track bar and the top of the front PML cover (on the drivers side) so I sent the front cover back. I was very tempted to cut it and modify it, but held off. You may want to check to see if they have modifed the top of the front differential cover to avoid the track bar interference.

3) I was happy with the customer service from PML. They do use these cover for other vehicles which may not have the interference thatr our dodges have...