Differential oil capacity

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   Hey guys, have a question regarding differential oil capacity. I am in the process of converting my ranchero to rear disc. I am putting a rear end off of a 79 continental back there. The 3rd member I have in a nodular one with no fill plug. 

Sooooo, I wanted to put a fill and drain plug in the actual differential housing. 
Paul at Cook's machine shop out in East LA, did the drain plug for me. Tried to sub out the fill plug work and recommend a place in garden Grove that had the capability to put a fill plug in the actual 3rd member, like most of them are. I've read it's 2-1/2 quarts depending on the type of housing

So I was thinking if anyone knew how much oil a big bearing differential housing used then I could have my friend place the fill plug on the housing for me so I could get it re assembled and put into my ride. 

Any help would be great guys, thanks a lot. 

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
Dmarc28 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 17-March-2018 Location: Garden Grove Status: Offline Points: 110	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dmarc28 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Differential oil capacity Posted: 20-May-2021 at 12:50PM
	Hey guys, have a question regarding differential oil capacity. I am in the process of converting my ranchero to rear disc. I am putting a rear end off of a 79 continental back there. The 3rd member I have in a nodular one with no fill plug. Sooooo, I wanted to put a fill and drain plug in the actual differential housing. Paul at Cook's machine shop out in East LA, did the drain plug for me. Tried to sub out the fill plug work and recommend a place in garden Grove that had the capability to put a fill plug in the actual 3rd member, like most of them are. I've read it's 2-1/2 quarts depending on the type of housing So I was thinking if anyone knew how much oil a big bearing differential housing used then I could have my friend place the fill plug on the housing for me so I could get it re assembled and put into my ride. Any help would be great guys, thanks a lot.

pete rad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 29-November-2014 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 305	Post Options Post Reply Quote pete rad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20-May-2021 at 3:12PM
	The oil capacity for the lincoln mark 4 rear end differential is two and a half quarts. I do not know if the lincoln continental rear end differential is larger than the lincoln mark 4 or lincoln mark 5 rear end differential. And i do not know if the lincoln mark 5 rear differential had a larger oil capacity than the mark 4 rear differential. The oil fill plug is usually installed half an inch above the oil full line. The ford 9 inch rear end differential also uses two and a half quarts of oil. Edited by pete rad - 20-May-2021 at 4:14PM

Dmarc28 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 17-March-2018 Location: Garden Grove Status: Offline Points: 110	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dmarc28 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20-May-2021 at 3:36PM
	Thanks Pete, I appreciate you and your reply.

pete rad Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 29-November-2014 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 305	Post Options Post Reply Quote pete rad Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 20-May-2021 at 4:11PM
	Your welcome. I meant to say that the oil fill plug is usually installed half an inch above the oil full line with two and a half quarts of oil in the differential. Even the full sized fords such as the Galaxies, LTD's and Marquis's from 1972 through 1976 that came with the 400 and 460 engines and the larger rear end differentials, used two and a half quarts of oil in the differentials. Edited by pete rad - 20-May-2021 at 6:19PM

Big Bird Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 4194	Post Options Post Reply Quote Big Bird Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 21-May-2021 at 12:48PM
	Get a picture of the correct location and match it. do not obsess about amount of lube, as the axle housing cavities are different from year to year or chassis to chassis. Lube needs to be deep enough to do it's job.
	"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds?

californiajohnny Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14512	Post Options Post Reply Quote californiajohnny Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21-May-2021 at 6:03PM
	what randy said! here's the location of the fill plug...
	JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION

handsofstone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13-April-2018 Location: Northeast Status: Offline Points: 3827	Post Options Post Reply Quote handsofstone Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22-November-2021 at 12:18PM
	I will say that when I did a reseal on the 2.75 in my car shortly after I bought it, I only had about a quarter in there. When it started to leak out I stopped. Mistake on my part for sure but never had any problems with it. When the center was pulled to put the trac-lok in, no oil spilled out of the housing. I would never make that mistake again.

Eliteman76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 4870	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eliteman76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06-January-2022 at 4:32PM
	Side note: it also depends if you are running the ball bearing axle wheel bearings, or a Type 20 Timken roller bearing. The reason that changes is if you are using the OEM factory roller bearings, they need axle tube seals put in the ends of the tubes before the axles get installed. Now in the case of the heavy duty Type 20 tapered roller bearings, you actually want to run more gear oil to ensure the axle wheel bearings are getting lubed. Typically I've done 2.5 or 2.75 quarts on my 1972 small bearing 9" housing. I will be installing my 1976 housing in the spring, with my '72 N case carrier and I will be filling to the fill port on the carrier. Because I am planning up upgrading axle shafts from stock and going to Type 20 bearings, I've seen 3-4 quarts of oil at times. Clear as mud? ;)
	Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod Pondering: #99Problems