How to reinstall the diff pumpkin?

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
Just installed an FRPP diff cover on my 03 Cobras differential pumpkin.

I’m now trying to get the pumpkin back up into the IRS but i can’t get it snaked back up in there.

No matter where I wheel it or angle it the pumpkin either hits the subframe on the rear or the exhaust hangers.

Am I stupid? Is there a trick?
 

Canuck03SVT

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
1,052
Location
NB
No trick from what I remember, but the FRPP Diff cover is bigger. Just be patient, it will go back in.
 

jwcobra03

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
580
Location
Chalmette, LA
Extra pair of hands will help a ton. It is a sob to get back in by yourself. You need to tilt the rear up and nose dose down, let someone else slip the lowest diff cover mount to subframe bolt in. Easy once that part is done. Good luck, someone may reply with a better method.
 

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
Extra pair of hands will help a ton. It is a sob to get back in by yourself. You need to tilt the rear up and nose dose down, let someone else slip the lowest diff cover mount to subframe bolt in. Easy once that part is done. Good luck, someone may reply with a better method.

That’s sort of how I was envisioning it. But it doesn’t look like it would even fit in like that.

I’m using a scissor transmission jack which lifts it straight up. And it isn’t working. The diff is heavy enough to where I really prefer not to get underneath of it, lift it and angle it. If I crush myself I’m not sure I’ll make it past the people with corona in the ER.
 

01yellercobra

AKA slo984now
Established Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
21,126
Location
Cali
It's just a matter of having the right angle. I found I had to slide it in by hand and have the jack on standby. Then when it was in place slide the jack under it. You'll fight it then suddenly everything will line up.
 

OldYeller

Active Member
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2014
Messages
187
Location
Idaho
Is the diff mount attached? I originally attached it to my cover a few weeks ago and then realiZed that due to the size I needed to have the mount off the diff to get it in place.
 
Last edited:

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
Yes the rear mount was on the subframe, not the cover. Towards the end of my futile efforts I started trying to attach it first to the diff. Because that i how some instructions show it done. But I didn't get much sunlight to try it. I don't think its going to be a help one way or the other. Because that isn't where it keeps hitting.
 

2001Cobrabuddy

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
183
Location
Virginia
Going straight up will hit the hangers and the thicker differential cover casing materials around the rear attachment points. Move the differential forward enough(towards front of car) that it clears the hangers and casing material and jack it up beyond the mounting points. While the differential is above the mounting points; move it back into position and it will clear the subframe and exhaust hangers.
 

hotcobra03

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
7,461
Location
poteet,texas
Is the front mount off.

I use a basic floor jack to hold up rear

I also leave 1 side together. Where you slide rear onto axle than lift up
 

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
Going straight up will hit the hangers and the thicker differential cover casing materials around the rear attachment points. Move the differential forward enough(towards front of car) that it clears the hangers and casing material and jack it up beyond the mounting points. While the differential is above the mounting points; move it back into position and it will clear the subframe and exhaust hangers.

I'll try that again. But when I toyed with that method yesterday it seemed that it then hit the front of the subframe.
 

hotcobra03

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
7,461
Location
poteet,texas
I'm not sure what you mean by "I also leave 1 side together. Where you slide the rear onto axle..."

Like how much did you remove to drop rear.

I only pull 1 side apart and remove axle. Lower rear and slide off of the other side.

When going back together it centers the rear for a straight shot up
 

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
Like how much did you remove to drop rear.

I only pull 1 side apart and remove axle. Lower rear and slide off of the other side.

When going back together it centers the rear for a straight shot up

Both axles are out of the car. My problem isn't alignment. It is getting the pumpkin back up past the tierod mounts and the exhaust hangers to even begin attachment/alignment.
 

hotcobra03

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
7,461
Location
poteet,texas
I would suggest a floor jack

It may give more room to see where it needs to move to get past hanger and up.

As others said wiggle twist tilt
 

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
I was able to get it in. And do so with it flat on a scissor transmission jack. Just had to turn it a little to get it to pass everything.

Thanks for all the help!
 

P49Y-CY

fomocomofo
Established Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
11,217
Location
southwest
not sure if has been mentioned already but i do remember having to remove the 03/04 cross brace each time after i added the aftermarket covers. that is the brace bolted between the two big front lca nuts (brace was not on pre-03 cobras, except for the r). for me i couldn't figure a way around it. but i always had the rear mount attached to the pumpkin before lifting it.

what i do know is i have many bad memories of laying on my back trying to wrestle that heavy bitch in
 

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
Were you able to get it in with the mount on the pumpkin? I’m about to tackle this myself with the same type of trans lift.

I ended up installing the rear mount onto the subframe. You may be able to mount it first to the pumpkin. But that seemed like it might be more difficult.
 

AnarchyVA

Member
Established Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Messages
155
Location
Chesterfield,VA
not sure if has been mentioned already but i do remember having to remove the 03/04 cross brace each time after i added the aftermarket covers. that is the brace bolted between the two big front lca nuts (brace was not on pre-03 cobras, except for the r). for me i couldn't figure a way around it. but i always had the rear mount attached to the pumpkin before lifting it.

what i do know is i have many bad memories of laying on my back trying to wrestle that heavy bitch in

Yeah you definitely have to remove the cross brace. I ended up mounting the rear bracket to the subframe. It just seemed like it provide the largest angle of entry.

It was a pain. Especially up until I sort of figured out how to manage the angle of the pumpkin to get it past everything that was in its way.

I did use a scissor style transmission jack that I borrowed from my dad. It came from Harbor Freight. It certainly did make it a little easier I think.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top