C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

how much power will a D36 handle?

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Old May 4, 2009 | 06:22 PM
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Default how much power will a D36 handle?

well, the title says it all. i have a 383 that supposedly is going to make around 500 - 530 hp and want to know how much the D36 will take. or will it just detonate the second i stand on the loud pedal. thanks people!
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Old May 4, 2009 | 06:28 PM
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I am making 410 at the wheels and and my D36 is broke. Does that tell you anything? Auto not stick too.
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Old May 4, 2009 | 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by aklim
I am making 410 at the wheels and and my D36 is broke. Does that tell you anything? Auto not stick too.
that's what i was afraid of. i'm hoping to make that kind of power too... do you think cryo-treating the diff would help any?
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Old May 4, 2009 | 06:35 PM
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There is no concrete limit to the torque that a D36 can take.

It may withstand 500rwtq for years, or not last 20 minutes.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/vader86/rearaxle.html
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Old May 4, 2009 | 06:49 PM
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Originally Posted by farscape1a
that's what i was afraid of. i'm hoping to make that kind of power too... do you think cryo-treating the diff would help any?
Why bother? Why not get a D44 and install it and be done.
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Old May 4, 2009 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by aklim
Why bother? Why not get a D44 and install it and be done.
it's all a matter of cash and how much i don't have...

i was looking for the easy way out, but i guess i have to wait until i can get a D44 before the engine goes in...
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Old May 5, 2009 | 02:59 AM
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D44 will handle a bit more but that s it.
Get some good balanced quality titanium or carbon steel gears, bearings , ujoints and your d36 Will last. Cost more than a d 44 .
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Old May 5, 2009 | 03:03 AM
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Once I get all of the kinks worked out of the car....


I fully expect to destroy mine by the end of this season.

...but im hoping for the best!

Last edited by Firevette; May 5, 2009 at 03:05 AM.
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Old May 5, 2009 | 03:12 AM
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Originally Posted by farscape1a
it's all a matter of cash and how much i don't have...

i was looking for the easy way out, but i guess i have to wait until i can get a D44 before the engine goes in...
Ok, let's see if I understand this. You've got the budget for an engine that puts 500+ hp to the ground but not enough for the axle to handle it? I would think the D44 would be much less expensive than an engine with that kinda power. Maybe the engine was a freebie or came out of something else I guess. It just seems a little like going to the fanciest restaurant in town and then trying to save money by getting water to drink.
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Old May 5, 2009 | 03:20 AM
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http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...ic-limits.html
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Old May 5, 2009 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by reoch999
Ok, let's see if I understand this. You've got the budget for an engine that puts 500+ hp to the ground but not enough for the axle to handle it? I would think the D44 would be much less expensive than an engine with that kinda power. Maybe the engine was a freebie or came out of something else I guess. It just seems a little like going to the fanciest restaurant in town and then trying to save money by getting water to drink.
my funds dried up because of other obligations. believe me, i want this project to be done already. it's just a matter of time right now... i don't know how long it will be though...

and it's about 500 at the crank... so i'm hoping for 425 hp to the ground...
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Old May 5, 2009 | 10:19 PM
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Originally Posted by farscape1a
my funds dried up because of other obligations. believe me, i want this project to be done already. it's just a matter of time right now... i don't know how long it will be though...

and it's about 500 at the crank... so i'm hoping for 425 hp to the ground...
Wow, I just read my own post and it sounded very mean. Sorry about that, I didn't intend it that way. It was supposed to be more like gentle prodding.

500 crank is a little more down to earth, and I can certainly relate to running low on funds halfway through a project.

I'll be about 100 hp less than you but considering a 100 shot if I get bored with it, and I'm hoping my cryo treated D36 will hold up. I've seen guys hitting 1.6 60 foot times consistantly without problems.

One piece of advice I've been given is when you're shopping for a ring and pinion set, check how many teeth are engaged at any one time. For example, if one set has a 36 tooth ring and 9 tooth pinion and another set has a 44 tooth ring and an 11 tooth pinion, they're both the same ratio, 4:1, but the one with more teeth will usually have more contact area. Could be a bunch of B.S., but it seems to make sense at least.
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Old May 5, 2009 | 10:26 PM
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Originally Posted by reoch999
Ok, let's see if I understand this. You've got the budget for an engine that puts 500+ hp to the ground but not enough for the axle to handle it? I would think the D44 would be much less expensive than an engine with that kinda power. Maybe the engine was a freebie or came out of something else I guess. It just seems a little like going to the fanciest restaurant in town and then trying to save money by getting water to drink.
Hey, do you know how much drinks are at fancy restaurants? Better to go with water and save for the D44.
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Old May 6, 2009 | 10:13 AM
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400-450 ft lbs and your risking it. Anything more than that and you should just throw a stronger rear in there. Of course if you drive it gently your not likely to break it. Launching it hard from a stop is whats going to kill it.
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Old May 6, 2009 | 10:32 AM
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No one call answer the question. I had a D36 in my vette run in the ECCC and had problems. The I decided I wanted to go to a solid rear because, I saw guys breaking their rears. Well I put a 9'' in the car and wand up breaking the spider gear (stock posi unit)and that destoyed the whole 3rd member. I put the IRS back in to finish the season.
And that was done on a Sumito tire. So the real answer , when it feel like it breaking. My car was dynoed at 320 rwhp and ran 11.77 @ 115 with 1.64 60ft.
Randy
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Old May 6, 2009 | 11:03 AM
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If the budget is tight, just don't hard launch until you can afford a replacement.
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Old May 6, 2009 | 12:58 PM
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As long as you dont put drag radials or slicks on you should be ok. Pre loading and spinning the tires will save you. I have a friend, who rebuilt 3 36s before going to the 44. He was fine until the DOT's, then boom. I still have a 36 in mine and hopefully until I get enough money for a 44, no slicks. I have at least 300 launches on my 36, all with 315 street tires. I am making 450 horsepower at the flywheel, and 350 at the rear wheels....
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To how much power will a D36 handle?

Old May 7, 2009 | 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by T. Wayne Nelson
As long as you dont put drag radials or slicks on you should be ok. Pre loading and spinning the tires will save you. I have a friend, who rebuilt 3 36s before going to the 44. He was fine until the DOT's, then boom. I still have a 36 in mine and hopefully until I get enough money for a 44, no slicks. I have at least 300 launches on my 36, all with 315 street tires. I am making 450 horsepower at the flywheel, and 350 at the rear wheels....
Thanks to everyone that has replied! all of this sounds very promising. if the D36 stays in there, then i don't plan on hard launching it because i definitely understand that the D36 is more fragile than the D44.

reoch999, what you said does make sense because it sounds like if there are more teeth engaged at once, then it'll be tougher to break. and as far as your first post, don't worry about it. i had an idea what you were saying...

thanks again everyone!
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Old Jun 6, 2009 | 10:40 AM
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Is that 350 to the wheels corrected for your altitude up here in Utah, because if it's corrected, then by my estimates you're probably only actually putting about 286 rear wheel HP to the tires. And that will make a big difference as to how long the D36 will last.
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Old Jun 6, 2009 | 11:38 AM
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What about just taking a little easy on it until you can spring for the 44? It would give you a real-time chance
to iron-out the rest of the bugs that usually pop-up with a new motor.
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