Installing my hardtopguy cryo'd 4.77 diff tomorrow into my AP1. Looks very easy. Is there anything I should be aware of? Does anything seem to break frequently? Bolts break?
Just don't want to get halfway done and then need something. Nothing else is needed to install it right? I have the speedo calibrator which I will install afterwards.
Any tips? Any pointers? Any useful info?

 

the biggest PITA was the 6mm allen head bolts, i'd go and order them from the dealer ahead of time. i had a long ratchet with a hammer, a chisel and a hammer, and finally i just cut 'em off. don't be shy about cutting them off because they do indeed thread out by your fingers once the head is cut.

i'm sure puddy dad has told you to put a cocktail of lucas oil stabilizer and regular differential fluid. i squirt the mobile 75w90 in with a tube really easy but the lucas thick stuff took forever to squeeze in. i'd say put the lucas portion in first and then top off after it's installed.

 

iagree: be sure to heat cycle the gears as well, proper break in is essential to the differentials longevity.

They are 8 mm socket head screws on the drive shaft of the AP1 car not 6 mm
Use a GOOD 6" long 8 mm Alen wrench, then snap the screw do not go in a slow turn a snap will break them loose

Good luck

 

Cool post back once youve driven with them some. Tell us what you think

 

I just installed my 4.57R's last night.

I didn't have an issue with the 8mm allen head bolts like they said. Taking everything out is easy, the fun part is putting it all back together. Make sure you have an extra friend with you as it will help you out. It will make it a lot easier.

Also, put about 4 hrs of time aside to do this, especially if it's not something you've done before. It's relatively straight forward though.

PM if you want my # so if you have any questions during the install, I'll help you through it.

 

So what is difficult about putting it back together? Any of the other bolts break easily? Can they all be gotten from Home Depot if they do?
So with the allen screws a quick jerk is better than a slow turn?

How many heat cycles should be done?
So for breaking it in, how carefully should I be on the gas? No vtec I am assuming? How many miles and heat cycles would be a safe bet. I commute so do 75 miles a day so the mile part won't take long.

 

if it did come with 8mm hex head bolts you could probably snap 'em off with a clean jerk but your ap1 does indeed have 6mm bolts.

8mm is huge next to 6mm (almost as big as the head). the guy that installed the 4.57r has a 2004 and puddydad has an ap2 tranny, so, i'm guessing the revised bolts are 8mm (hence easier to snap).

i'd go ahead and order those bolts now 'cause your bolts have been galvanized corroded for some seven years not to mention salt up north during the winter. i tried an allen head socket on a ratchet with a hammer, then i tried to spin it via a cold chisel, and finally it took a dremel (had to saw it in half before it'd turn).

 

Can these bolts be gotten from home depot or need to get them from a dealership or something? I am planning on doing it today but I don't have extras for the bolts in case something does happen like that.

 

Best to get them from the dealer. You never know the quality of the bolt you get from Home Depot.

 

So it is the Driveshaft bolts I need? Those are the allen screw types? Maybe carquest or some place like that will have them.