Today's project was to allow my wife to park back in her normal garage slot. That required getting the frame pushed back outside and buttoned up, and also allows me to work on the rear drive train. You need some space to do this, and it's a messy job.
I proceeded to get as much as the differential fluid out as I could first (it stinks due to the high sulfur content), and then pulled up the "Rear Axle Service Guide" and started disassembly. Had to use MAPP gas, impact wrench and lots of persuasion to get the stubborn nuts and bolts off.  Pulling out the drain plug, using my Pella pump to suck out the stinky gear oil.
Rear links and brake lines removed. Torque tube is next.
With the 6 torque tube bolts removed, you can then gently persuade the torque tube away from the pinion housing.
The driveline was replaced on the car back in 1984 or so -- and our local mechanic apparently liked using blue silicon gasket caulk instead of real gaskets. Sheesh. My seals must be shot, because there is diff fluid here where it doesn't belong in the torque tube. Did I mention this is a messy job?
Female splined drive shaft pulls straight back from the male splined pinion shaft. That silver cup on the end of the driveline is a packing seal.
Driveline and torque tube removed. The driveline is surprisingly lightweight.
Looking at the rear pinion oil seal and retaining nut.
The differential carrier and pinion gear is quite heavy. This is the manner shown in the manual on how to remove it from the rear axle housing.
It is a snug fit, so after you break the gasket free around the seam, you have to gently tap on the bolts and it releases the rear axle housing.
 Here the differential carrier and pinion gears are released from the rear axle housing. The rear axle housing is relatively light.
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