Alright,...was always told two heads are better then one....etc etc. Well... i'm trying to get some other ideas,..on my current situation,...of what I can do to get myself out of a jam. Think I know the answer but,..maybe some of you can think outside the box that my mind is currently stuck in.


Car: 00 FRC manual, twin turbo, 787rwhp 696 ft-lbs on 11psi and stock block internals. Various mods.

Coilover suspension and 335's with mini tubs.

Here's the story. We(i'm a gm technician) just installed a hardened output shaft in my stock 120,000 mile diff. Some metal came out on the magnet. Also found my clutch pack cone washer, had snapped in half, and clutch packs were all worn on left side.

We cleaned everything, installed NEW clutch packs, and hardened shaft,..with new fluid and GM additive. Went together easy. I drove it under mild load here and there but, it's been wet out so, I couldn't really romp on it. Then, last week, it was dry out so I ..in 1st gear, got on it.....everything is fine,...tires spinning.....go to hit second gear, quickly...and BANNNNGGGGGCLANK. Done.

I happened to be right by my dealership, and nursed it inside.

Dissasembled it. Found the right side bearing is toast....as a result, the debree, took out my ring and pinnion gears, as well as my right side cover.

Here is the good news.

My old gm teacher, had a spare 2,73 diff, that was given to him by a former student. It was taken apart, and nobody knew anything about the history of THAT diff.

So, he gave it to me. I have decided to try and use the 2.72 diff, with my output shaft. It SEEMS, although it could just be dry, that the PINION bearing COULD be damaged or worn in the 2.73. So, I priced out new 2000 clutch packs, new carrier bolts,...and the new pinion bearing setup, which is part #88984478...which is actually called the cage, and is MINUS the gear,...which I don't need.

The price i'm looking for everything is between 580.00 and 650.00 bucks to replace the:

cage(list price 720)(pinion BEARING KIT) but I can get for like 360ish
clutch pack kit
and bolts

all for $580-$650. Thats with me doing all the labor(which sucks).

That'll give me a 2.73 rear gear on my manual setup.

Is there a better Idea that you guys have,...a better way to spend the money? My car is sitting on a rack behind me...waiting.

I appreciate any logical insight.

Thanks again.

 

Well, you have a luxury that most don't have when it comes to full access to a lift, and all the proper GM tools to perform maintenance.....so I guess if you have to pull apart your driveline every week, it won't impact you as much as the average guy. Trying to do a rear end on the cheap is a gamble, especially with a high HP car. I would just change out the differential with a DTE or RPM unit, and call it a day. I don't know what your cost would be on a new Z06 differential, but if you can save some $$ there, you could do the output shafts yourself, and call it a day. In any case, I think a fresh differential is in order.

 

Thanks for the reply.

DOes the "new Z06" diff bolt right up? things have to be changed for that, "I" thought. I thought the cradle, lower control arms, and torque tubes have tyo be changed....or is that if you want to change the trans as well? I dunno.

It is nice to be able to take apart the car with all of my tools and stuff but,...I guess in my shoes it kinda sucks cause I still have to invest alot of time into doing the job. It's a realative easy job dropping and swapping the diff but, once you get into rebuilding THIS diff, it sucks. I have two racks at work......the cars been on one of them for a week, soo.....it ends up costing me just as much to probably pay someone to do it.

 

What I am suggesting is a new C5 Z06 differential, so it bolts in. You'll still have to do the output shafts, so it all depends on what you can get the differential for to make it worth your while. I assume if you work for the dealership, you get a parts discount, no? I believe a stage 2 DTE is $1699.

 

Dude, i'm on a budget. If I was willing or wanting to spend, or even could spend,...i'd call any of the diff companies and buy one. Thats just NOT possible. So again, i'm looking for some suggestions on how to fix my current situation,....with my current setup.

I appreciate your idea but,...it's simply not what i'm asking or wanting to do. Just buying a new part(diff) defeats the purpose of the post..unless where talking about a used one someone has laying around. Now were talking.

Meanwhile, i've been calling the locals,...so far found a 2.73 and a 3.15 gear. which they're checking on to see if they're good.

 

Do the 2.73 and 3.42 carriers use the same clutch packs? If so, don't get the 2000 clutch packs. Use the c6z clutch packs and preload springs or the DTE clutch packs. Either way will cost about $250.

I have the 3.42 rear (now 4.10) in mine. The C6Z clutch packs fit right in. Careful when you order from GM. The clutch packs for left and right are sold separately - same part number. I had to make 2 trips because I bought clutch packs and there was only enough for 1 side.

I bought a bearing kit from DTE. Was like $175 or $200 for all the bearing in the diff IIRC.

 

Good information right there. I'm gonna look into the bearing setup right now(dte) and see whats what. Someone JACKED our C5/XLR gear J tool kit so i'm gonna have to borrow one from another dealer.

 

bummer about the tools. Check eBay. I don't see any now but the tool kits are for sale there sometimes.

J42168 = Kent-More Getrag axle shim selector
J44616 = Kent-Moore Corvette Getrag axle tool kit

 

I read some of your posts over on ls1tech Good stuff man!!!
If it were me, And it somewhat is in the budget sence.. I would shop around for a 3.15 diff.. Can be had very cheap... I think it would be a good gear for all that power and torque

 

Cool deal. At some point, our dealer will need to buy them again. Good thing is, I also work right around the corner from another gm dealership, that should have the tool, if not, I can borrow it from my old school. Or I should just bring it there and build it with my teacher who teaches the class(diff).

Thanks again for the info obi-1,...I appreciate your insight.

 

Cool deal man,..glad you dig the post(s). I need to get this thing together so I can start back in the racing section again......it's been a while

... I am waiting on the call back about the 3.15 gear....if it is available,..for cheap(these guys are friends)...then i'll either trade someting for it, or i'll buy it off of them. If not,....2.73 it is.

I think the taller gear,...should be pretty wild as well.

 

May have a C6 Z06 diff..... will that bolt to the C5 setup? just the diff alone?

 

Jamie,

Hit up the classifieds man...I see rears in there CHEAP all the time.

 

Read post #6 in the attached thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ifferential+c6

 

Alright I will but,..at what costs?


dammit. Thanks though man. Saves me time

 

You can find 2.73 diffs for $250-300, and Z06 diffs for around $500-700. Takes some patience to find a good deal though, and I'd imagine you want to get this thing back on the road ASAP. I'll keep an eye out for ya, though.

 

Thanks man. It's just sucks cause my car is on one of my racks at work...so the rack is useless...the car sits useless...ya know what I mean?....not only am I gonna have to spend some cash to fix it...it's costing me money by the hour to have it here at work.

Sucks donkey *****. I have another new phone...same number, just new phone. Give me a text sometime so I have your number again.

 

See my post at LS1tech, I will sell you a 3.15 for super cheap, or hell if you have anything I need I would be willing to trade too. Just don't put that high gear in that car...

 

I'll be able to hit TECH later on this evening(no access at work). So i'll check out your post at that time. Thanks for the offer.

 

Can you let me know the price of your setup, I need to have a conclusion today man. My bosses are on my case about the car tieing up a lift all week.

Thanks.