Swapping out '81 diff...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,351
Likes: 75
From: Tampa Bay FL
What's driving your need to swap out the '81 diff? I had a shop in Clearwater, FL, blueprint/rebuild an '80 Dana 44 'Service unit' (purchased new,never used off eBay), adding 3.54 spicer gears in the process. This unit has performed flawlessly behind my warmed over L48 and 700R4 conversion. In the process, I had the driveshaft shortened, new u-joints, rebuilt halfshafts and trailing arms so the whole assembly is pretty fresh from engine to the rear wheels. A properly set up Dana 44 should be fine behind engines up to around 400hp (or a bit more).
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Why do you want to do this? Are you going racing?
I know most guys tell you earlier C3 rear ends are stronger but what I've seen you can put 400 - 450 HP to the rear end and you will be fine.
I know most guys tell you earlier C3 rear ends are stronger but what I've seen you can put 400 - 450 HP to the rear end and you will be fine.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
Hi,
It's because I've got a 200-4r OD trans & would like a lower rear ratio than the 2.87 in there. The obvious thing to do is to swap the existing gears out but that would cost money, something that's a bit of a problem at the moment. I've kindly been offered a diff from an earlier C3 by a forum member and, while the offer is very much appreciated, if much has to be spent to do the swap then it'd be better if he was to give it to somebody else who could use it. So, I'm wondering what the swap would entail in parts (labor is no problem) before having a diff shipped the length of the country.
It's because I've got a 200-4r OD trans & would like a lower rear ratio than the 2.87 in there. The obvious thing to do is to swap the existing gears out but that would cost money, something that's a bit of a problem at the moment. I've kindly been offered a diff from an earlier C3 by a forum member and, while the offer is very much appreciated, if much has to be spent to do the swap then it'd be better if he was to give it to somebody else who could use it. So, I'm wondering what the swap would entail in parts (labor is no problem) before having a diff shipped the length of the country.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
