I Recently bought a 1994 pontiac firebird formula Auto with 102000 miles. The person who had it before me had never changed the transmission fluid or differential fluid. I am now changing the differential fluid. I wanted to know if there is a torque spec for tightning the 10 bolts on the rear differential cover or if i have just close them handtight


Thanks

 

It appears to be 22 lbs/ft on this chart.

http://www.bfranker.badz28.com/fbody/torquespecs.htm

 

but can i get away with just closing the bolts without the torque specs and not have to worry about leaks or damaging the casing?

 

Sure, you can tighten them down without a torque wrench. Snug them down using a crisscross pattern, then go back and tighten them.
Beforehand clean the gasket surfaces good, and apply some sticky gasket sealer on the cover and and put the gasket on it. Let it dry for a few minutes, then put some motor oil on the gasket and let it soak in. I've found that this way prevents leaks and when taken off again the gasket doesn't rip and is reuseable.

 

cool thxs alot for the information
made this small project a lot easier.