Made a Differential Dolly

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Bobacuda

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Got tired of creating new ways to move the diff while it is out of the car and I wanted to start working on it. So, I used some of the leftover tubing from the k-frame/engine/trans dolly project along with some scrap angle iron, 1" tubing, and three old U-bolts to make a diff dolly. The bottom of the brake drum is 15" above the floor. Rolls around easy and I was not able to tip it. Tried to make it adjustable enough for other diffs, as well.
Diff Dolly components.JPG
Diff Dolly 1.JPG
Diff Dolly 2.JPG
Diff Dolly 3.JPG
 
setting the bar pretty high for the cool tool of the year award :thumbsup:
 
Glad you guys like it - turned out quite well for a concept that was just rattling around inside my head.

This was made possible by the welder I got as a retirement gift damn near 2 years ago. Finally broke down and bought the chop saw, welding helmet and gas so I could use the welder to make my life (and bending) just a little bit easier. I spent about $200 for the tubing and bolts used in both projects (this one and the k-frame/engine/trans cradle), and I still have about 8' of 2 1/4" and 6' of 1 1/4" tubing left over. I'm sure I'll think of something for it...
 
If I made one it would be dual purpose, closer to the ground with the supports inside of the spring perches.

That way with the leaf spring front mounts bolted in, the dolly could be rolled in from the back & the leaf springs centered on the perches & bolted up to the differential.
 
I need one that can hold 2 or 3 rears!! Have a roll around table with V blocks on it for working on them though....but it doesn't have clamps.
 
If I made one it would be dual purpose, closer to the ground with the supports inside of the spring perches.

That way with the leaf spring front mounts bolted in, the dolly could be rolled in from the back & the leaf springs centered on the perches & bolted up to the differential.
I can take a couple of 5” pieces of scrap tubing and drill a hole in each to cover the studs on the mounting brackets, loosen the uprights and move them inward, then clamp the diff back down. Finally, to do what you want, I would replace the two “one way” casters (the red ones - I already had the casters) with swivel casters. Minor mods to do what you want.
 
Nice axle dolly, but I beat ya to it about 3 years ago. Mine allows one person operation to install or remove a leaf spring axle with springs and all. The ball bearings saddles were designed by me to handle an axle tube from 2.50" diameter to 3.25" diameter. These will allow you to rotate the springs up in the front to hook them up, then use a jack under the center pumpkin from the open area at the back to lift the rear, springs and all up high enough to hook up the shackles.

Remove the opposite of installation. It can also be used as a buildup or teardown stand for taking a rear apart away from the car. Having an 8.75 axle rotated pointing pinion up makes it easy to lift out or install the 3rd member. It's simple and works. The tiedown strap was only on there to hold the bare housing forward for pix and proof of concept.

With the 3rd member installed even with leaf springs it sits nose heavy on the removable pinion support. The pinion support is not pinned in place. Doesnt need to be. When theres weight on it, it pushes against the square tubing its slipped over and wont move. It sits low enough to scoot it with leaf springs attached under a car or truck.

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Great minds think alike! Maybe you two should start a company with all your ideas and ability to transform them in reality.
 
I agree with making stuff to make your life easier. When ya get older you want to think of ways to make it easier because your body starts hurting in places you never thought about with pain before lol. That's why I dreamed up the dolley I made. Wanted something I could do rear axle installation and removal as an easy 1 man job. Plus use it as a buildup and teardown stand since room in my shop is at a premium. "Yours is beautiful Bob. Looks like you got a lot more room in your shop than I do.
 
I agree with making stuff to make your life easier. When ya get older you want to think of ways to make it easier because your body starts hurting in places you never thought about with pain before lol. That's why I dreamed up the dolley I made. Wanted something I could do rear axle installation and removal as an easy 1 man job. Plus use it as a buildup and teardown stand since room in my shop is at a premium. "Yours is beautiful Bob. Looks like you got a lot more room in your shop than I do.
I don't have the tools to make a support like yours and I wanted to get my diff high enough that I could sit on my swivel stool and work on it. I might make the blocks so I can move the supports inward and buy/install two new swivel casters. Other than that, I am fortunate to have a new shop and lift (my retirement gifts to me) and a 32 yr old son I can get to help :)

And your welds are way prettier than mine.
 
I am 51, my son is 7. Had him kinda late in life, but at least I got a lot a lot of expertise to give him. We are working on a 69 notchback for him.
 
I am 51, my son is 7. Had him kinda late in life, but at least I got a lot a lot of expertise to give him. We are working on a 69 notchback for him.
I am 67 (where does the time go) and my son that was only interested in driving vehicles is finally interested in working on them. As far my shop, we bought 25 acres from my folks about 35 yrs ago (NOT at a bargain price back then), got it paid off, and saved. We paid for our house and two of my sheds (shops) and none were tall enough for a lift. So, the larger shop with the lift was my retirement gift to me. Maybe having the better and tools is why my son is now interested in working on the vehicles...oh, and he still likes to drive them.

We have a '53 Dodge truck (since 1975), my late father-in-law's '54 Chevy wagon (up next), working on the '67 B'cuda convertible, then on to a '74 Cuda (318 automatic), followed by a '70 B'cuda convertible (318 3 spd). I also have a rolling shell of a '72 Cuda. Before you gasp, consider I bought the E-bodies 20-40 yrs ago - they were relatively cheap then because none on them run and they all need everything :)
 
I don't have the tools to make a support like yours and I wanted to get my diff high enough that I could sit on my swivel stool and work on it. I might make the blocks so I can move the supports inward and buy/install two new swivel casters. Other than that, I am fortunate to have a new shop and lift (my retirement gifts to me) and a 32 yr old son I can get to help :)

And your welds are way prettier than mine.

We are exact opposites. I have the tools but no metal. LOL
 
Weeell, one problem with making tools like that for helping out in the shop is they take up space when not in use. When I built my shop it was quickly apparent that it wasn't going to be big enough for everything I wanted to do and the building was nearly 1500 sq ft. After sticking in a 15" lathe, a 10x50 milling machine, 48" brake, shear and slip roll, couple of welding machines, 4 cars and a 'clean' room.....there ended up not being much space to do much work.
 
Cranky, I see the problem. You put too many shops in one building. Machine shop and possibly sheet metal could get along in one building. Storage is another and don't put anything that has to do with house/lawn in there. The assembly room is a place all unto it's self.:)
 
Cranky, I see the problem. You put too many shops in one building. Machine shop and possibly sheet metal could get along in one building. Storage is another and don't put anything that has to do with house/lawn in there. The assembly room is a place all unto it's self.:)
Had a storage building for awhile but the rent got too high to be worthwhile and once I sold off 75% of the stuff that was in it and brought the rest home. It still took me nearly a year to get rid of the rest of the unneeded stuff....and the shop was still over full lol. Got a box trailer and it didn't take long for it to pay for itself with the money I would have used for the storage building. Right now, it's holding most of the yard equipment plus some other stuff.
 
Weeell, one problem with making tools like that for helping out in the shop is they take up space when not in use. When I built my shop it was quickly apparent that it wasn't going to be big enough for everything I wanted to do and the building was nearly 1500 sq ft. After sticking in a 15" lathe, a 10x50 milling machine, 48" brake, shear and slip roll, couple of welding machines, 4 cars and a 'clean' room.....there ended up not being much space to do much work.
That's why this stuff has a good coat of primer and paint on it. I store unused homemade shop tools like this behind my shop under a tarp.
 
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