Front Differential

On the front diff, make sure you can remove the fill plug BEFORE you try removing the drain plug.

 

If you are able to remove the bolts I would replace them … looks like they are rusted . Guaranteed to break on next removal . Can also try using a soft hammer and hit the skid plate around it might be seized to it .

 

Yep. OP, just the shock of the hammer should help fracture the bonded rust material to some degree, making it easier to bust loose.

Foot on a breaker bar can help too. The number of ways I have braced my body under a truck to get force on a right angle to tools...well, have you ever seen those Chinese acrobats?

 

If you end up having to drill some of those bolts, get a cheap set of HF left hand drill bits. You need a reversible drill to spin them counter-clockwise. They relieve the pressure on the threads and in the process sometimes unscrew the bolt from the CCW motion.

 

And get some anti seize on the new bolts.

 

Map gas and the torch is a small purchase, you can get one of the small cans of map gas and a torch head for it.

 

Also I used to be a PB Blast guy until I saw one of the “Project Farm” videos on penetrating sprays, since switched to Liquid Wrench:

$13 Liquid Wrench Gunk L112/6 Super Penetrant Spray - 11 oz, Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ZZWNYG

 

Do yourself a favor. Once you do get them out, get some grade 8 bolts to replace the stock, soft ones. And yes, put a little anti-seize or grease on them before your reinstall.
Keep us posted!

 

My two cents- stop

Go find someone who has dealt with rusty cars and they can help/give you pointers and the correct tools

Where are you located, someone here might even be able to help

 

I agree with above,

if Penetrating fluid, heat, oil, KY, a breaker bar, sawzall, or even brute force while you cry tears, regret while begging this bolt won’t fkin come out.

Give it to a trust friend or someone who is used to dealing with this shit. It’s not worth the emotional trauma.

 

Oh my, THIS. If you need help now, you're in for an even bigger surprise when you finally get the cover off - this is the easy part.

My drain plug was seized (and then stripped) on a well/regularly maintained, spotless undercarriage truck; I was half expecting it, but one look at your skid plate, and that it hasn't been off in what appears to have been several ocean voyages I don't think, I can virtually guarantee yous are going to be a challenge.

 

Watching.