2cool4school
Member since Feb-8-05
3 posts (Thinks MOT is a brand of apple juice)
Nov-29-10, 01:01 PM (PST)
"Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
I'm close to a Subaru R160 swap. I've chosen this type of differnetial with the goal of butchering as little as possible. When it comes to the U-joints close to the diff., the side flanges (go by many names), would it be possible for a spitfire to run with CVs while still using the orginal center mounted lead spring? CV's allow the axle to be extended or retracted, where the orginal set-up restraines the axle.
foxtrapper
Member since Feb-27-02
1035 posts (TTN Hall of Famer)
Nov-30-10, 11:11 AM (PST)
1. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #0
Those u-joints are what keeps the wheels out under the fenders. They absorb the side thrust on the wheels. CV joints don't do this, so the wheels will slide in and out on the axle shaft, with very bad results.
clshore
Charter Member
734 posts (TTN Power Member - a well respected man)
Dec-01-10, 08:45 PM (PST)
2. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #1
You would need to fit the GT6 rotoflex rear suspension setup, perhaps with the CV conversion. It's possible to fit an RXXX diff with swing axles, but you have to find one that can take the thrust loading (more than 1000 lb). I don't remember which models, but you can search the web.
Joe Curry
Member since Oct-20-03
1328 posts (An "official" TTN Senior Wrangler)
Dec-02-10, 08:28 AM (PST)
3. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #0
While the GT6 Rotoflex is indeed an option, there are others that actually work better. You might consider doing something similar to what I did with Tiny Tim and the Corvette Diff I installed.
Instead of using the transverse spring, I installed coil-over shocks and while the GT6 rotoflex affair uses the spring as the upper control element, I constructed upper control arms that work in concert with the Rotoflex wishbone (or in my case the adjustable struts that replaced them).
I use U-Joints on the output of the diff and CV-Joints on the outside end of the half-shafts. As an added measure, I use sliding joints in the half shafts to make sure that there is sufficient play to prevent binding. I think that was unnecessary but was very easy to implement since I used transmission yolks as flanges for the U-joints.
clshore
Charter Member
734 posts (TTN Power Member - a well respected man)
Dec-03-10, 08:51 PM (PST)
4. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #3
Nice work Joe, but Dave did say '... with the goal of butchering as little as possible.'
Your mods are far from 'butchering', just saying it seems like he's looking for a solution with less fabrication, and Roto is the closest thing to a bolt-in upgrade from swing axles.
Joe Curry
Member since Oct-20-03
1328 posts (An "official" TTN Senior Wrangler)
Dec-04-10, 08:11 AM (PST)
5. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #4
Carter, I offered that as another option. Certainly there are some things that stop short of going as fas as I did and still achieve a much better end product.
For example, there are some people who have gone with the Rotoflex option but have replaced the rotoflex coupler with a CV-Joint leaving theroad spring intact. But you have to get the GT6 rotoflex uprights and wishbones. I have a pair of wishbones that are crying out for a new owner, if anyone needs them.
clshore
Charter Member
734 posts (TTN Power Member - a well respected man)
Dec-04-10, 05:14 PM (PST)
6. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #5
Sure, I agree Joe, never hurts to show what's possible. For example, I've been trying to figure out a way to do a DeDion style rear, without major surgery. Obviously there's no room for the classical large diameter DeDion tube to join the hubs. But a fully triangulated space frame beam built of small diameter steel tubes could do the trick. Basically a cage with the diff inside. Would have to be made in pieces that get snaked into the gaps between the frame and body, and then bolted together around the diff.
Nick Jones
Member since Apr-22-04
333 posts (Keeps a clean machine)
Dec-09-10, 08:05 AM (PST)
7. "RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?"
In response to message #6
As already mentioned, CVs can only work if the suspension and driveshafts are modified so that the driveshaft is no longer the suspension link as well. This means changing the hubs/wheelbearings as well as they are not designed to take cornering loads.
The NZ links given earlier are good. I think they use the Datsun 240Z / 180B diff which has bolt-in side flanges allowing then to retain the std suspension and driveshafts with just an adaptor at the inner end.
IMO, if you are going to the trouble of getting rid of the Triumph diff, you should also get rid of the swing axle arrangement.
As already mentioned, the Rotoflex set-up from a GT6+ is a fairly easy swap and they in turn can be converted to use CVs.
Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?
RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?
RE: Determined to upgrade differential: Will CV's work?
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