Starting a new project...Subaru STI Differential swap into my Z

I have replaced everything in the drivetrain except the Diff in my Z. I am going to do this in stages.

First I am going to buy an R180 STI LSD differential. Already bidding on one on Ebay.
Next up is the Wolf Creek output shafts so I can bolt up my half half shafts
Finally after I save up a few more dollars, I will get the CV shafts form Wolf Creek to complete the conversion.

I plan to take as many photos as possible. I may drop the rear suspension to replace the spring top hats.

But we will see how bad the 'while I am at its get'

I had heard that this was possible, and I believe that Madkaw may have a Subaru R180 in his car. I know that they look identical to the Nissan unit.

I wonder who really makes them...

Yes, easily done. We have the STi LSD in our 240 using the Beta Motorsport (now sold by Wolf Creek) output shafts. I think the R180 is (and was) made by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Nope - the same guys that have been making these diffs for years- Fuji

Stephen, you might check the Subby forums too for guys selling there diffs. I got mine from someone who was parting out an STI.
I wish I could afford the driveshafts myself to finish the transition.
So far, nothing bad to report from doing this swap

Small size and low weight plus LS is a great racing combo.

Exactly, I am not really sure I need a LSD, but the going rate for STI LSD's is about 450-550 bucks
Throw in the WCR out put shafts and you are looking at 900 dollars for a pretty bulletproof rear end.

I have a $700 R190 that can't be resuscitated.... trade ya :) LOL that says it all. Your path is the right way to go. Keep us posted with pics. btw what Subie's can we raid in the J.Y.?

It must be an STI rear diff, which is the R180 just like ours, the WRX diff is the R160, and it will not work in 240Z's.

My bid for an STI diff fell through... back on the hunt.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/04-05-SUBARU-...yBw~~60_57.JPG

Huzzah!

499 shipped to my door!

2004 STI rear diff, 3.90 ratio, LSD, with 45000 miles on it.

Next up is wolf creek racing out put shafts.

Zeddyone - what is the axle ratio you are planing on getting? Why such worry about a strong rear gear and set-up? Is a v8 swap in the future?

FWIW,
Carl Bl

actually no it is not sir. The real reason is that my diff has leaky seals, and has always had a bit whine. I figured if I had a choice, I would love a LSD and a bit higher gear ratio (like an auto 240Z rear end). The STI rear diff and wolf creek half shafts sort of gives me a newer diff, with an LSD, and a higher gear ratio for a pretty decent price. Rebuilt Z diffs seem to go for about 900 bucks. I figured this is a viable alternative.

I would NEVER put a V8 into my car. I love my datsun spirit L28. :)

The STI rear diff is a 3.90, so it is not a huge step from my OEM diff. Plus if I ever get a 5 speed in there, it will work beautifully.

Not huge- but a big step from 354 to 390's
You will like the additional Getty up

I've got a 280ZXR. I took an R200 and installed a Phantom Grip unit for LSD. Seems to work fairly decently.

Wonder if the Wolf Creek CV's will work on a ZX....Gotta drop 'em a line and find out!!

Zedyone

What's your gas milage with the 3.90 on the highway. Mine gets around 27 mpg.

Drove to Nebraska in August for the Sand Hills Open Road Challenge, 2600 miles round trip...got between 22 to 24 at highway speeds (80+). Sure wish I had cruise control!!!

And I was towing a trailer!!

Zedyone

I have 4 speed trans and 3.36 diff.

I am not sure buddy.
I have not finished this mod yet. I have just ordered parts.

UPDATE:

Wolf creek half shafts are ordered and on the way.

All parts should be here in about a week!

When I get them installed I will see what kind of mileage I get Ray.

But I bought this ratio with the intent on one day maybe putting in a Datsun 5 speed.

Keep us updated - the 5 speed is the way to go if you do any traveling at all. Slipping in 5th gear a 60MPH is a beautiful thing.........and still have plenty of get up and go! My 3.90 diff is great through all the gear changes with the 5 speed. Putting in a 4 speed with the 3.90 may be a little over the top........fyi.

Well I can start out with the 3.90 as it is, and then if it gets too bad, I can install a 5 speed. I already have the tunnel cut, and the console modified to accept the Type B. So it should be a breeze. Still I mostly just put around doing car shows locally within 20 miles. So it may not be too bad. The occasional track day as well.

Still the new diff may make my dieing tachometer a bit more of an annoyance. Time will tell. I can see mostly good coming from this.

I thought someone came up with a modified shift lever that would save a lot headaches.They even had a picture,looked pretty neat.

It exists, but I am actually using a stock B type shifter in my car. I had to trim the OEM 71 console a bit, but it works wonderfully and you cannot tell I made the cuts.

That's great,The older I get I find my memory failing me. By the way, what motor did you get from Datsun Spirit. STR2.8a or STR2.8b

I like the upgrade and I understand that you are getting a modern, good condition diff, but wouldn't finding a low mileage R180 or R200 and installing an OBX LSD be a cheaper option? It's not a shot at you, I'm really asking which is better/cheaper. Here in the east, there are countless rotted out S130's with low mileage 3.90 R200 diffs. The OBX sells for about $400 and the S130 R200 can be had for nearly nothing. I paid $500 for an F54 engine, 5 speed trans, 3.90 R200, driveshaft and halfshafts all with low miles.

With the OBX you'll have to get deep in to the guts of the differential, and the odds are high that there will be clunking or howling or the Belleville washers will fail if you don't replace them. With the STI you could not even remove the cover and probably end up okay. Kind of comes down to how much risk you want to take and how much wrench work you want to do. The OBX seems simple in concept but the details are difficult.

On the 5 speed - don't forget that the early ones have a 3.321 1st gear and .864 5th, while the later ones have a 3.062 1st, and .745 5th. The later ones, 80-83 ZX, typically came with the 3.9 rear gear, so you'll want an 80-83 ZX 5 speed.

Never heard of the OBX (apart from the synth).

Looks like OBX is of typical mainland China quality metals, quality build and consistent component uniformity...lol

OBX_LSD Products

Remember they can polish a turd there very well.

Jeff G, Your points are valid, and perhaps I did not find the best solution, but I think a factory set up LSD form subaru (my favorite car company, so I am biased) may prove more robust than anything I can set up in my garage. HOnestly, I never even heard about OBX until right now. But I went with what makes me feel comfortable. I trust Subaru, I trust Wolf Creek Racing, and I trust myself to put those together.

:)

I got the STR2.8b

In fact the pic on his webpage is my engine!

There was a lot of OBX talk on hybridZ. It's a Quaife/Torsen copy and other than the fact that many of the units are assembled wrong, they seem to work very well. Buyers usually disassemble the units when they get them and make sure that the assembly is correct. If not, it's a simple reassembly in the right orientation to fix the mistake. Once assembled correctly, the buyers have had very good success with the OBX unit.

Again, I'm not questioning your decision, I just wondered if you weighed the options. The OBX LSD is fairly unknown outside of the hybridZ world so I understand that you hadn't heard of it. I'm not sure why nobody knows about it, but I've never heard any chatter on this site about the OBX.

Well truth be told an OEM stock 240Z really does not Need a LSD. I am not sure I even still need one with the sticky 205 rubber I am running on my car. But it is sort of part of the package, so I welcome it, but I am not sure it will be a dramatic difference.

Also, this will finally give me an excuse to install my RT Zsonthebrain diff mount as well. So a lot of things are going to happen once parts start to arrive.

Kudos to Todd at Wolf Creek by the way. Shipped it out the same day I orderd it.

Great service.

I ave the OBX in the R200 3.54 rear in my 280Z ITS race car. It has all the upgraded bolts, wachers, etc. It's seen 2+ years of auto-x and a year of road racing. No problems.

Chuck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cbuczesk

I ave the OBX in the R200 3.54 rear in my 280Z ITS race car. It has all the upgraded bolts, wachers, etc. It's seen 2+ years of auto-x and a year of road racing. No problems.

Chuck

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So how long did it take you to do the work? And did you get the parts from the guy on Hybridz? What would you estimate you spent, all told, by the time you got it installed? Just to fill in the blanks for a good comparison to a diff and half-shaft swap.

The PO puchased the OBX and had it installed. Pretty sure he also installed new bearings. I have the receipts at home. I'll get the info tonight and post it.

Chuck

Labor to replace bearings and seals was $215 by the local Nissan dealer. Bearings and seals were $250. I can't find any info on what it cost to have to LSD unit installed. Sorry.

Chuck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zedyone_kenobi

Well truth be told an OEM stock 240Z really does not Need a LSD. I am not sure I even still need one with the sticky 205 rubber I am running on my car. But it is sort of part of the package, so I welcome it, but I am not sure it will be a dramatic difference.

Also, this will finally give me an excuse to install my RT Zsonthebrain diff mount as well. So a lot of things are going to happen once parts start to arrive.

Kudos to Todd at Wolf Creek by the way. Shipped it out the same day I orderd it.

Great service.

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I think I remember John Coffey stating that the LSD is the single best improvement you can do for handling. With the STI set up it is one of the easiest also. The LSD is not that exotic for an OEM , just a very nice option.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jeff G 78

There was a lot of OBX talk on hybridZ. It's a Quaife/Torsen copy and other than the fact that many of the units are assembled wrong, they seem to work very well. Buyers usually disassemble the units when they get them and make sure that the assembly is correct. If not, it's a simple reassembly in the right orientation to fix the mistake. Once assembled correctly, the buyers have had very good success with the OBX unit.

Again, I'm not questioning your decision, I just wondered if you weighed the options. The OBX LSD is fairly unknown outside of the hybridZ world so I understand that you hadn't heard of it. I'm not sure why nobody knows about it, but I've never heard any chatter on this site about the OBX.

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Good option for the gear head- bad for the novice. That's why an OEM( very good OEM) was the best option for me. I wouldn't know if I was putting the OBX in a wore out diff or not. I've read on the Subby sites that the r180LSD is good for 400hp and it was made in this century!!

Did someone say OBX? Yes it works, and it's pretty darned tough. I am going on about 3-4 years with it now (about 350RWHP). No issues. I actually, opened up the back of my R200, and swapped in the OBX unit with the 200m ring gear from the R200 swapped onto it. I reused the shims that were already in the R200, bolted it up, checked the gear lash which was fine, and filled it with oil. I like it. My only gripe is that it does clunk, but so did the R200 before I installed the OBX. If the STi unit can eliminate the clunk, that would be a plus. Yes, my clunk is coming from the diff internals...it has been thoroughly investigated externally. I am not sure if its from the OBX, the pinion, the ring, or splines. Good luck with the STi Diff install, please report on it.

http://forums.hybridz.org/topic/8809...lation/?hl=obx < The picture in this thread is a photo of my OBX unit when I discovered that they were assembled BACKWARDS!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cygnusx1

The picture in this thread is a photo of my OBX unit when I discovered that they were assembled BACKWARDS!

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Mainland China.... they also produce food and safety equipment there.

My only thing I have to source is the pressed in studs that need to fit into the output shafts that WCR sells. I could take the ones off my old Diff, but I would rather install new ones. Anybody know a source of said studs.

thanks!

parts should start arriving friday or monday.

You might have to search the threads on Hybridz for that. They were having a tough time coming up with those. I used the ones from my old axles without reservation. Not sure if I have ever read about a failure on one of these bolts.

I have a spare diff in my storage unit, so I may have an extra set already...Thanks! I just wanted new ones... well, just because...:)

Wonder if the dealer might have them. Looks like they're called out in the R180 diagram, but not the R200. Part #34.

Datsun 240Z/260Z/280Z Differential Gear, Pinion & Cover (R180)

And Courtesy shows availability. $3.11 each.

BOLT-DRIVE :: Nissan Parts, NISMO and Nissan Accessories - Courtesyparts.com