I had just bolted a small bearing 9" housing and pumpkin onto the new parallel leaf springs in my '46 Ford coupe. I was in the process of adding a hose to the short (1" long) vent pipe sticking out of the top of the right side of the axle housing. I had ***umed it was an open air p***age to vent/equalize pressure in the housing caused by changes in temperature. When I felt of the end of the pipe, I felt no opening in the pipe. I used a mirror to look at the end of it and sure enough it is closed. I tried using a piece of wire to make sure it wasn't just clogged, but it feels like a solid pipe. I tried unscrewing it out of the housing, but it must have been cross-threaded in the housing as I could only get it to come out about 3/16" and then it began to turn without coming out any further as though it no longer is engaging any threads. Since I have yet to install the axles, I am thinking of using my cutoff tool to cut the pipe threads and then turn the remaining part back into the housing with a tap until it drops in on a cloth I have stuffed up in the housing to catch any debris as well as the threaded stub. Anyone had any similar experience that you were able to solve?
Just had mine out last week. It has a small, maybe .030" hole in it. Threaded into the housing with a 1/8 NPT thread. Check yours again.
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