I saw this diff in the projects section, I've never seen one before, has anyone got any experience with these?
Interested in strength, price, who builds them, etc
Sheetmetal 9 inch ???
Started by
micklx
, Jan 01 2008 11:46 AM
20 replies to this topic
#1
micklx
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 11:46 AM
I saw this diff in the projects section, I've never seen one before, has anyone got any experience with these?
Interested in strength, price, who builds them, etc
#2
_lcv871_
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 12:06 PM
give redcliffe dyno in qld a call (Phone: 3284 1925) and ask who did the diff in the lj it looks the same as his i spoke to the guy who builds them when i was looking at getting my diff i just cant remember his name.
#3
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 01:18 PM
Just about anyone who is building 9" diffs is also building sheet metal diffs. Quality and strength will depend on the design, builder and the materials used.
You should be able to build a sheet metal diff lighter and stronger than a diff using a standard centre.
You should be able to build a sheet metal diff lighter and stronger than a diff using a standard centre.
#4
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Posted 01 January 2008 - 01:25 PM
Mick, speak to STEVO, he has just put a sheet metal diff in his car and he is in melbourne too
#5
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Posted 03 January 2008 - 12:16 PM
Micklx. I had this diff made locally up here in brisbane and it took about 3 weeks in total to build. The diff in redcliffe dynos torana was made by the same bloke. I have viewed other sheet metal diffs prior to getting this one fabricated. HE jigs the diff up in 6-8 different places along the housing so it remains straight. The center section is bent up in 3 sections, the axles tubes are 3inch seamless . If you are interested give him a call ( Darren 0431382789 ) . The face plate is a couple mills thicker than others and is penatration welded to the center section both inside and out. The tubes go into the center and have 2 plates locating them for strength and straightness, 1 is visible in the attached photos and the other is just inside the center where the tube enters. After having this built, i took it down to my engine builder who then took it and put it on the boring bar and it turned out bang on straight. The photo of the complete housing attached is how it comes, drain plug(jacking point), filler plug,tube ends(with retainer plates if you require them) all torana brackets, he makes the upper trailing arm brackets.
#6
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Posted 03 January 2008 - 12:19 PM
forgot to mention that face plate and tube ends are blanked of then pressure tested for pin holes in all the welds. Hope all the info helps
#7
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Posted 03 January 2008 - 02:21 PM
Nice housing. Very good fabrication.
But how are those tubes 3" seamless when there is a dirty great seam running down the inside of the tube?
What is a housing like this worth?
Cheers Greg..
But how are those tubes 3" seamless when there is a dirty great seam running down the inside of the tube?
What is a housing like this worth?
Cheers Greg..
#8
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Posted 03 January 2008 - 02:34 PM
its not a welded seam wich apparently under load(torque) you can split the weld open. I ask the same question as was gauranteed it was not a seam. $ 1500.00 less paint
#9
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Posted 04 January 2008 - 08:12 AM
the center and the tubes are available from a place in melb...i cant think of the name a fraction of the cost...
they are making good $$$ on putting these diff together..yes i no it takes skill and a jig to put together
i did a bit of research a while back, if i buy the part and get it put together i would save a bucket load
I will try and find that website..for the tubes and center
they are making good $$$ on putting these diff together..yes i no it takes skill and a jig to put together
i did a bit of research a while back, if i buy the part and get it put together i would save a bucket load
I will try and find that website..for the tubes and center
#10
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 04 January 2008 - 02:09 PM
It would be interesting to weigh the housing without axles and brakes to see how it compares with a standard 9" housing. I will weigh my 9" housing next time I have it apart. A measurement from bearing to bearing would also be needed to make the weight comparison worthwhile.
#11
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Posted 04 January 2008 - 04:05 PM
just quick note with regards to my sheet metal diff pictured in this thread. I just weighed it on some digital scales and it came up at 23.4 kg(weighed it 3 times)
#12
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Posted 05 January 2008 - 08:31 AM
Mcdonald Bros in vic have the parts to build these diffs,
if i have time later i will weight the 2 9inch housings i have...
1 housing is cut down to suit tubs..the other is standard
if i have time later i will weight the 2 9inch housings i have...
1 housing is cut down to suit tubs..the other is standard
#13
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Posted 05 January 2008 - 10:43 AM
really, what a diff weighs is mostly irrelevant, when we talk tuff street car. If your chasing 1/4 mile times(ET's), well yeah weight then becomes an issue. From memory 1/10th of a second off you Et equates to about 50kg weight reduction from your car. So thats alot of crap to pull out off your car to gain 1/2 a second i think. I dont profess to be any sort of engineer, but wouldnt mild steel diff housings be alot more suited to the majority of tuff street cars than thin wall chrome moly ?
At the moment, there are a few places that can supply sheet metal diffs in kit form that you can get welded up and save yourself a shit load of money, but then who garauntees the diff when something is wrong with it. Is it the bloke who welded it for you ? , or is it the place you bought it from ?, is it going to be straight ? It's possible it could end up costing you abit more in the end.
At the moment, there are a few places that can supply sheet metal diffs in kit form that you can get welded up and save yourself a shit load of money, but then who garauntees the diff when something is wrong with it. Is it the bloke who welded it for you ? , or is it the place you bought it from ?, is it going to be straight ? It's possible it could end up costing you abit more in the end.
#14
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 05 January 2008 - 11:08 AM
Racers are concerned with the weight of the diff as the less unsprung weight the better the suspension performs.
#15
boomfunk
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Posted 05 January 2008 - 11:19 AM
ive honeslty never seen a diff fall part the the extent that you are saying...not saying it doesnt happen just saying i have never seen it
FOR my application its good, im not talking 9second street car, im talking alot slower ..less strain, so for me in my application i could get a diff done far cheaper
If that doesnt suit alot of people then for sure the best is to get it done by 1 person not buy the part and get it build
i do no of diffs that have been put together at home and in cars that have run 9's, without issue...
so yeah its an awsome looking diff, which is why im looking that type of housing..not for strength or weight or anything just for the looks
FOR my application its good, im not talking 9second street car, im talking alot slower ..less strain, so for me in my application i could get a diff done far cheaper
If that doesnt suit alot of people then for sure the best is to get it done by 1 person not buy the part and get it build
i do no of diffs that have been put together at home and in cars that have run 9's, without issue...
so yeah its an awsome looking diff, which is why im looking that type of housing..not for strength or weight or anything just for the looks
#16
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Posted 05 January 2008 - 02:12 PM
What sort of racers we talking about ? Roundy roundy racers or 1/4 mile.
2 different suspension set ups. The whole geometry of weight transfer and the way the suspension performs is totally different between the two type racers.
My type of application is street car/ limited strip, weight not an issue. Just trying to compromise suspension set up to suit both. So far it looks like Koni adjustables all round with custom made king springs to compensate the weight transfer from front to back while drag racing.
2 different suspension set ups. The whole geometry of weight transfer and the way the suspension performs is totally different between the two type racers.
My type of application is street car/ limited strip, weight not an issue. Just trying to compromise suspension set up to suit both. So far it looks like Koni adjustables all round with custom made king springs to compensate the weight transfer from front to back while drag racing.
#17
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Posted 05 January 2008 - 02:42 PM
the slightly shorter diff housing i have is just on 21kg..using new non digital scales
this housing is you factory style ford 9" housing cut down to suit torana
So that being the case i think a standard width housing would be just slightly heavier than the 1 scottya has
i beleive now the weight probably wouldnt be a factor to try using a sheetmetal diff
this housing is you factory style ford 9" housing cut down to suit torana
So that being the case i think a standard width housing would be just slightly heavier than the 1 scottya has
i beleive now the weight probably wouldnt be a factor to try using a sheetmetal diff
#18
ls2lxhatch
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Posted 06 January 2008 - 12:33 AM
I meant circuit and rally, as you had already pointed out the the weight is not really an issue for most drag racers.What sort of racers we talking about ? Roundy roundy racers or 1/4 mile.
2 different suspension set ups. The whole geometry of weight transfer and the way the suspension performs is totally different between the two type racers.
My type of application is street car/ limited strip, weight not an issue. Just trying to compromise suspension set up to suit both. So far it looks like Koni adjustables all round with custom made king springs to compensate the weight transfer from front to back while drag racing.
#19
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Posted 06 January 2008 - 01:05 PM
ls2lxhatch, I thought thats what you may have meant. I can only vouch for drag racing. Cheers scott.
Anyhow just for comparisons sake, my sheet metal housing total lenght from tube end flange to tube end flange measures 1175mm, with 35 spline moser billet axels VN disc brake set up and DBA rotors, total weight minus diff centre = 61.4kg.
Once fully assembled diff length will be 1300mm.
Anyhow just for comparisons sake, my sheet metal housing total lenght from tube end flange to tube end flange measures 1175mm, with 35 spline moser billet axels VN disc brake set up and DBA rotors, total weight minus diff centre = 61.4kg.
Once fully assembled diff length will be 1300mm.
#20
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Posted 11 January 2008 - 07:55 PM
G'day Mick, I was just curious, which project out of the project section did you get that picture from? That's an awesome diff, I want to read that project to find out more about what goodies have been used on it. Cheers 
#21
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