DirtyBacon's front diff swap (pic heavy)

[Trail X]

Yeah Matt, I'm sorry I doubted you at first. I was about to go the oil pan way, and Moots texted me urging me to go through the top. It sounds like a lot of work, but I can definitely see it being easier than through the bottom, especially once I did it. The hardest part I had was getting to the bolt at the top back of the alternator. Not really enough room to swing a wrench. Maybe there's a secret to getting that bolt out.

[Regulator1175]

Yeah Matt, I'm sorry I doubted you at first. I was about to go the oil pan way, and Moots texted me urging me to go through the top. It sounds like a lot of work, but I can definitely see it being easier than through the bottom, especially once I did it. The hardest part I had was getting to the bolt at the top back of the alternator. Not really enough room to swing a wrench. Maybe there's a secret to getting that bolt out.

Go through the wheel well with two feet of extensions and a universal adapter.

[Moots1288]

Once the fan and shroud are out of the way working on those accessories are cake work

[Trail X]

I don't have a BL, I'm not sure I'd have the right angle on the rear-most top alt bolt. I'll have to give it a shot next time.

The 2' extensions were perfect, however, on the compressor bolts and the idler pulley assembly bolts.

[Shdwdrgn]

Oh god, the flashbacks! I think I'm still traumatized from doing mine...

I went out the bottom, pulling the whole diff intact. We spent three hours trying to figure out how to get the diff out around the engine, and then suddenly it practically fell out. Once we saw the angle, we could put it in and pull it out with no problem, it was just a matter of finding the right angle and twist.

@Bacon: Not sure if you've been following, but I have an HPT file with factory settings for 4.10's and 30.5" tires. Solved all my problems with speedo, odo, and abs system. Since we were both having the ABS problems last Fall, I thought I'd mention I finally found an answer.

@Eredin: I have to ask why you would go through all this trouble, and only go to 3.73's? Although obviously the 4.10's are getting harder to find, but a swap is a huge amount of work and expense that you don't want to have to repeat. If you run anything larger than stock tires and don't do a lot of interstate driving, the 4.10's handle great for normal driving. (Oh and they also do just fine @95mph on the interstate across three states, but you can't prove I did that!)

[Eredin]

@Eredin: I have to ask why you would go through all this trouble, and only go to 3.73's? Although obviously the 4.10's are getting harder to find, but a swap is a huge amount of work and expense that you don't want to have to repeat. If you run anything larger than stock tires and don't do a lot of interstate driving, the 4.10's handle great for normal driving. (Oh and they also do just fine @95mph on the interstate across three states, but you can't prove I did that!)

I actually discussed this with a friend not longer after posting that and came to the same question. I do some moderate interstate driving, but not enough to matter in this case. I'll be keeping my eyes out for a set, I'm sure my trans would very much appreciate it.

[v7guy]

To be honest the 4.56s are fine on the highway with 33s, Moots said his mpg improved.