Van Steel axles, t-arm modify?
10-10-2018, 03:37 PM
#2
unless someone answers, call Vansteel and ask them.
10-10-2018, 05:15 PM
#3
Tech Contributor
That is Tom's 12 bolt 1480 kit. You are going to need 30 spline spiders and good ones at that. The outer axles are set up with a preload and the inners should be set to 005" endplay, you should polish and tune the posi. If I recall you asked about this in the past.
10-11-2018, 12:07 PM
#4
why are you requiring a 12 bolt? GTR1999 does an incredible job on the stock set up.
10-14-2018, 12:18 AM
#5
We are making our own driveshafts, thats why I have some questions 
sorry if I asked same question before, my memory isnt so good....haha
But, how about the inner axles, does they have the same diameter as sock axles to fit the bearings and seal in the case? And modified for 30 splines only?
Does 30 splines spydergears fit inside a stock Corvette differential?
Thank you
sorry if I asked same question before, my memory isnt so good....haha
But, how about the inner axles, does they have the same diameter as sock axles to fit the bearings and seal in the case? And modified for 30 splines only?
Does 30 splines spydergears fit inside a stock Corvette differential?
Thank you
10-14-2018, 06:39 AM
#6
Burning Brakes
The housing needs machined for 30 spline axles and custom bearings are included with the Tom's kit.
The 12 bolt kit uses a modified 12 bolt carrier and specially machined gears to fit in the corvette housing.
The housing also needs machined in spots to clear the larger ring and pinion. Most upgrade the left cap with
a aftermarket one on the left side as a minimum which will need to be custom fit to the housing.
I do not believe there are issues with the trailing arms but you will have to trim the battery box/storage compartment
with the 1480 kit.There are threads on the forum if you want more specific details and pictures to help with your decision.
Good luck,
Dave
The 12 bolt kit uses a modified 12 bolt carrier and specially machined gears to fit in the corvette housing.
The housing also needs machined in spots to clear the larger ring and pinion. Most upgrade the left cap with
a aftermarket one on the left side as a minimum which will need to be custom fit to the housing.
I do not believe there are issues with the trailing arms but you will have to trim the battery box/storage compartment
with the 1480 kit.There are threads on the forum if you want more specific details and pictures to help with your decision.
Good luck,
Dave
Last edited by 76strokervette; 10-14-2018 at 07:17 AM.
10-14-2018, 10:33 AM
#7
The housing needs machined for 30 spline axles and custom bearings are included with the Tom's kit.
The 12 bolt kit uses a modified 12 bolt carrier and specially machined gears to fit in the corvette housing.
The housing also needs machined in spots to clear the larger ring and pinion. Most upgrade the left cap with
a aftermarket one on the left side as a minimum which will need to be custom fit to the housing.
I do not believe there are issues with the trailing arms but you will have to trim the battery box/storage compartment
with the 1480 kit.There are threads on the forum if you want more specific details and pictures to help with your decision.
Good luck,
Dave
The 12 bolt kit uses a modified 12 bolt carrier and specially machined gears to fit in the corvette housing.
The housing also needs machined in spots to clear the larger ring and pinion. Most upgrade the left cap with
a aftermarket one on the left side as a minimum which will need to be custom fit to the housing.
I do not believe there are issues with the trailing arms but you will have to trim the battery box/storage compartment
with the 1480 kit.There are threads on the forum if you want more specific details and pictures to help with your decision.
Good luck,
Dave
10-14-2018, 11:16 AM
#8
Tech Contributor
Some points to consider
Terminology = the name of the housing is Carrier, the posi is the Case. To avoid confusion I call the carrier a housing and the posi the case
The 1350 & 1480 axles use the same shaft size, the difference is the flange end where the different size u-joints bolt on. C3's require some 'glass work to the compartments to clear the large 1480 axle flange.
The spiders Tom used for years are very hard to get now, there are plenty of the new Eaton spiders available but I personally like the Tom's spiders, which I stocked up on at the time. The spiders are 10-17 x 30 spline, Tom heat treated them as an option. They fit the vette posi case and the 12 bolt case- same spider just the spline count is different.
To use the 1350 or 1480 axle in the vette 10/12 bolt you will have to bore the case axle bores to accept the axle and to allow the axle to be pushed inward to allow c-clip removal..
Bearings = There is no difference in the bearings used for a 10 or 12 bolt Differential, they are the same. The Tom's 31 spline outer axle kit comes with a different bearing set, they use the same cone bearing both inner and outer but the inner race is different and a steel bushing is required for the seal size difference. They are included in Tom's kit.
As mentioned if you need a 12 bolt you have enough power to stretch/break a stock bearing cap, the 12 bolt Tom's kit comes with a steel cap to be fit on the LH side. The LH side of the posi wants to push out, the steel cap will hold it in place. The RH side of the posi want to push forward into the housing, no steel cap is needed on the RH side. The LH holes are tapped for 1/2-13 bolts to torque them to 100 ft/lb.
Since you are making parts, make a solid sleeve in place of the stock crush sleeve. Under enough load a stock sleeve can compress, Tom never used any sleeve, he Loctited the bearings in place. I prefer to machine fit a solid sleeve and use a billet pinion yoke.
Good luck, there is a lot of work to build these right- don't cut corners. You can add Cryo or REM if you want but many times they are not required. I would select Cryo over REM if you have to pick- not that REM is bad by any means, just the cryo would have more of an affect in a non road race application. If you are going to run high RPM for hours then REM will help cut the temps in the diff. For street or drag use it won't have much affect.
Terminology = the name of the housing is Carrier, the posi is the Case. To avoid confusion I call the carrier a housing and the posi the case
The 1350 & 1480 axles use the same shaft size, the difference is the flange end where the different size u-joints bolt on. C3's require some 'glass work to the compartments to clear the large 1480 axle flange.
The spiders Tom used for years are very hard to get now, there are plenty of the new Eaton spiders available but I personally like the Tom's spiders, which I stocked up on at the time. The spiders are 10-17 x 30 spline, Tom heat treated them as an option. They fit the vette posi case and the 12 bolt case- same spider just the spline count is different.
To use the 1350 or 1480 axle in the vette 10/12 bolt you will have to bore the case axle bores to accept the axle and to allow the axle to be pushed inward to allow c-clip removal..
Bearings = There is no difference in the bearings used for a 10 or 12 bolt Differential, they are the same. The Tom's 31 spline outer axle kit comes with a different bearing set, they use the same cone bearing both inner and outer but the inner race is different and a steel bushing is required for the seal size difference. They are included in Tom's kit.
As mentioned if you need a 12 bolt you have enough power to stretch/break a stock bearing cap, the 12 bolt Tom's kit comes with a steel cap to be fit on the LH side. The LH side of the posi wants to push out, the steel cap will hold it in place. The RH side of the posi want to push forward into the housing, no steel cap is needed on the RH side. The LH holes are tapped for 1/2-13 bolts to torque them to 100 ft/lb.
Since you are making parts, make a solid sleeve in place of the stock crush sleeve. Under enough load a stock sleeve can compress, Tom never used any sleeve, he Loctited the bearings in place. I prefer to machine fit a solid sleeve and use a billet pinion yoke.
Good luck, there is a lot of work to build these right- don't cut corners. You can add Cryo or REM if you want but many times they are not required. I would select Cryo over REM if you have to pick- not that REM is bad by any means, just the cryo would have more of an affect in a non road race application. If you are going to run high RPM for hours then REM will help cut the temps in the diff. For street or drag use it won't have much affect.
The following 2 users liked this post by GTR1999:
bmans vette (11-22-2018),
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