I'm still trying to find someone whos swapped out a working 3.42 G80 for something else so I can bolt it right in without having to shim, adjust, do anything, just plug n play.

 

Although I am one of those 'leafspring guys', my Hotchkis rear swaybar is fairly close to the bottom of mine. It would not fit if it were any higher and went across the center of the cover so I can see how a close panhard would pose a problem.

btw.. I got mine at Thunder as well.

 

Let us know if you find someone who makes a custom panhard bar. An adjustable one would be even better, to compensate for those with dropped suspensions.

 

Has anyone come up with a solution to this problem? I just looked at the rearend of my truck and the hardpan is right on top of my diff cover (1/2"). I just ordered a TA diff cover too.

Is there an aftermarket hardpan that will give more clearance? Can you alter the stock hardpan?

thanks

 

I have yet to find a solution for this problem.

I've talked with a couple of fab shops that specialize in aftermarket panhard bars, and it doesn't look good, at least for me. The most viable solution entails welding on the frame or the axle, which I will not do.

The problem is:
(1) The stock diff cover is 2.75" deep
(2) The T/A diff cover is 4.25" deep
(3) There is only 3.5" of available space

Pics illustrating the issue are attached.

The nature of a panhard bar is such that it cannot be bent, like a sway bar can. So the mounts cannot be further forward than the bar itself. The best solution is to weld on mounts further back, which like I said, I will not do.

One of the guys I am talking to is suggesting mounting his custom, rod-ended panhard bar as far back into the mounts as possible, but I don't think there is 1" of room to play with behind where the stock bar is mounted now.

So I still have my brand-new T/A cover sitting in the box.

 

Try this cover it's made by PML and it is 2.87" and it holds an extra 1/2 quart.

 

One of the huge plusses of the T/A cover is the two studs which clamp down and preload the carrier. Without this feature, one of the main reasons for me getting the cover is gone.