Tom400CFI

Anyone know how much the two diffs (with batwings attached) vary in weight?

corvettenorway

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rs-weight.html post 13

Tom400CFI

Awesome! Thanks for the link! 6-7 lbs is nothing. Definitely worth the weight for the extra strength, I'd say.

Thanks!

Wheel Stander

Swapped my D36 for a D44 last year ... maybe 10 pounds at most, if that. It's all about strength, not weight.

Tom400CFI

Copy that. I was considering trading my D44 for a D36, in my Kart project. The thing is so light, there is no way I'd ever break a 36. If there were weight savings (that were meaningful), I could make the swap, come out money ahead and save some weight. But for 7-10 lbs....I'll skip that trade.

My next thought is swapping the ZF-6 for a T5. That offers something like a 50-60 lb weight reduction.

Wheel Stander

And this has what to do with the question asked in the original post?

Tom400CFI

I was confused too. Not sure what useful info was shared. You're son has a lightish car that hauls azz. That is great, but...what would I do with that info?

69427

Any additional details about that project?

Tom400CFI

The details have been compiled slowly, HERE.

69427

I checked out your thread. Very interesting! I always enjoy seeing some custom fabrication and thinking outside the box.

Tom400CFI

Thanks! I wish I had more time to keep it moving forward, faster. I probably won't work on it again much until after Christmas.

ghoastrider1

love the way that thing sounds. I saw a car like that at the drags this year in Indy. It was a special event, fastest street car or something like that. They attract corvette owners like a magnet. they are cool. Best of luck Tom, I will check in to this tread as you progress.

WVZR-1

The weight of the ZF is sorta right where you might like it isn't it? Then there's the fabrication required for the fitment of anything 'other than'.

If you had a buyer for the ZF with housing/clutch/flywheel, the D44 and associated parts as a package then the fabrication and $$ could maybe justify it.

Tom400CFI

You're totally right. From a cost/benefit perspective, not worth it. But...this project is all about the project. I don't mind doing the fabrication at all...I rather enjoy it. So doing a little fab, dropping 60 lbs or so, and selling the ZF package wouldn't be a bad deal at all, IMO. Not a priority for now, but maybe later.

I owe you an email back BTW. Haven't forgotten...just busy time of year for me.

383tpimachine

FWIW my 12bolt IRS was 74lbs BEFORE adding the batwing.

Gibbles

​​​​​​​Your welcome to my D36 for your D44, I'll even deliver!

69427

If the transmission swap would take off 60 pounds, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Sixty pounds off your project is going to be an easy 2-3% improvement in the power to weight ratio, along with a similar corresponding reduction in mass that has to be decelerated and dragged through a corner.

A light vehicle also doesn't need all that extra gear multiplication to accelerate off the corners.

I pulled my 5 speed out of my '69 and put the lighter weight original four speed back in the car, strictly for the weight savings (and I didn't need the extra gearing after I had taken a bunch of weight off the car).

Tom400CFI

Yep, the T5 weighs about 75 lbs....the ZF-6 weighs ~145, from what I've read.

With the T5, I can run a 11-15 flywheel...the Dual mass flywheel for the ZF weighs in around 35 lbs, IIRC.

So I agree with you; it's a significant difference that would matter. Since the Kart only weighs about 2000 lbs, the weigh savings is actually more like 9%, I think .