Watch your maintenance and not just your cars

[ScotI]

I've always had that pesky 100K+ sbc oil puddle under my 74 short fleet daily driver. I need to yank the drivetrain for freshening but that always dominos into something way more for me (I'm sure some of you can relate). Since I have enough current projects, I just keep the fluids topped off weekly (I call it 'changing oil as I go') until I have opportunity (@ least 1 other project finished). I neglected to focus on the other little spot forming in the driveway about 7' behind the engines spot. I remember thinking "you really should look into that".

Fastforward.... We were driving home from a Weatherford TX GM truck/swap meet & greet (about 1:20 drive from my house). I had just started heading home & was tooling along I-20 @ about 70mph when a howl started that over-whelmed the typical 70mph road noise from a 35yr old truck. I quickly exited the highway & pulled into a Walmart. I pulled the fill plug on the rear differential & couldn't touch any fluid. It was dry.... damage done.

I filled it & went for bust. It made it home & it's been howling ever since (I live <10miles from work). Last week, the howl became a growl & the truck had to be parked. I'm now servicing the 'new' 12-bolt that will be replacing the current unit.

I'm ashamed to call myself a gearhead.