Drifting .........Diff Welding / suspension

Post by **Sam340** » 19 Sep 2006 10:50 am

Now that the car has safely made it back from its european adventure it is time to put into practice phase 2 of the grand plan.....go drifting in it.

In the near future i am looking to put a new engine in the car , preferably the 1.7 turbo lump from a 440/480.

Untill then i want to have a go with the standard 1.7
First thing i guess i need to do is weld the diff... unfortunately I cannot weld or have access to a welder.

Where have people had theirs done.... i would be willing to travel / pay for someone to do it for me.....

Am looking into suspension as well to try and eliminate the horrendous body roll.

I see that classic swede does a kit for about 200 quid for front and rears........ im unsure what height to go for though, am intending to run small ( 13") wheels as i have been told they are they way forward for drifting ... any advice welcomed!!

Thanks!
Sam

Post by **classicswede** » 19 Sep 2006 08:09 pm

You want to speak to nev PIMP or bennet both have welded up the diffs for drifting and using the lowering springs etc.

The normal front springs to go for when running the 13" is the extra short and use 2" rear lowering blocks.

Post by **Sam340** » 20 Sep 2006 08:43 am

Right will do!!

Post by **bennett** » 20 Sep 2006 04:36 pm

if you fancy the drive i'll weld your diff up for you if you like? and you can come see my 16v drift car?

Post by **Sam340** » 20 Sep 2006 04:50 pm

Thanks for the offer, would definately like to see your car / progress....
Need to work out when ive got a spare Saturday.
Will PM if thats cool.

Post by **bennett** » 20 Sep 2006 05:52 pm

not a problem just pm me when your ready.

Post by **filthyjohn** » 21 Sep 2006 02:50 am

Does anyone have detailed pictures to show me how to weld my diff? I'm a qualified welder, and can borrow a 3 phase mig-o-tron, but i just wouldn't know where to point my torch.

Post by **Sam340** » 21 Sep 2006 11:20 am

There is a guide over on Trampdrift:-

http://www.trampdrift.com/html/modules. ... age&pid=11

Dont know how good it is though!

This is a sierra diff i think....

Post by **filthyjohn** » 23 Sep 2006 12:23 am

Looks quite easy. when i don't need the car for a few days i might open the diff up and have a peek.

Post by **Ali** » 23 Sep 2006 01:30 pm

Yeah it is fairly easy, its not quite as open to get to as the diff pictured above but theres two fairly large holes which you can see the gears through so you can weld in there alright with a MIG. Hardest bits are actually getting the filler plug and drain plug lose! Just leave it to drain and then the welder burns off any left over oil anyway, clean it out as well as you can (make sure theres no splatter on the main crown wheel!) slap the cover plate back on and fill it up!

Post by MJ » 23 Sep 2006 02:37 pm

And check the torque on the bolts after you've driven for a bit afterwards, Steve found his were a bit loose, possibly from the gasket compressing

Post by **filthyjohn** » 24 Sep 2006 11:16 am

I'm definitely going to give it a try as soon as i have alternative transport to work (in case i wreck the diff completely). Cheers for the tips guys, would i be better off welding stick owing to the small size of the gap?

Post by **Ali** » 24 Sep 2006 11:59 am

Errrm it shouldn't matter really, the reason I went for mig install of arc was that it'd be fairly easy to spark across onto the main outer section whereas with a MIG you've got the protective sheath and you know your only going to strike an arc when you push the button, its the safer option really!

Post by **jtbo** » 24 Sep 2006 01:39 pm

Arc welding is also much more difficult than mig, annoying when that stick sticks

Also I think that with mig you are not getting so bad powder coating as with arc welder it is quite amount of powder that you need to clean afterwards.

One thing to remember is that differential is precision machinery and it requires absolutely clean environment, if there is some loose material, dirt what ever in diff it will not live so long.

It is same with gearbox and engine, when you do work where is possibility to some outside dirt get inside of engine or gearbox, you need to take extra care of cleaning and operating like you were doctor doing surgery.

I know many stories which would not exists if operation has been made with clean methods, for example intake manifold has not been blocked with rag and in first start of rebuilt expensive engine washer goes with air to between valve, causing great damage etc.

I have destroyed at least one engine, from moped because of not being enough careful with this, but still I tend to take a shortcuts, just waiting when I destroy another engine

Post by **filthyjohn** » 24 Sep 2006 01:59 pm

yeah i was thinking of taking the diff off the car so i could clean it thoroughly and put new diff oil in it afterwards. I wouldn't want to wreck it. Maybe i'll try to get hold of a spare diff to try it with. Does anyone know where i can get one, or if anyone on here is selling one?