S-chassis Diff internals in a Z32 casing

[articdragon192]

So I'm looking into differentials for my Z32. From what I know, I can't bolt up an S13 or S14 diff into my car because I use longer half shafts.
However, I was wondering if I can run the internals of an S13 or S14 differential and run them in my NA Z32 diff. My car is currently equipped with ABS and a VLSD, so I'm not sure if that matters much.
For those wondering why I want to do this... it opens up the options for diffs in my case. Clutch type diffs on the Z32 boards are very hard to find as owners rarely upgrade to a clutch type. I can either find a used Z13 or S14 diff and just swap internals, or shop for new S-chassis diffs and put thsoe in. Thanks for any help :D

[racepar1]

I have had an infinity j-30 diff (same as the 300zx) all apart right next to an s-14 diff. The difference in shaft length seems to be because of the thickness of the ring gear. The ring gear in the j-30 diff was about 1/4" thicker then the s-14 one. The result is that the "fat" stack of shims for the carrier bearings was on the passenger's side on the j-30 diff, but on the driver's side for the s-14 diff. This means that the stub shafts have to be about 1/4" shorter on the driver's side and 1/4" longer on the passenger's side. In all likelyhood the diff itself is exactly the same as the s-13 or s-14. The stubshafts are different lengths because of how the differential is shimmed inside the case. As long as you get a diff that is correct for your sideshafts (vlsd or open) it should not matter if it is for an s-13 or s-14. You just can't use the s-13 or s-14 sideshafts because of your ring and pinion and the difference in shim orientation.

[g6civcx]

See what others can help you come up with.

[racepar1]

You have several options:

1:
Take an entire S13/S14 pumpkin, swap the rear cover from your diff over, and bolt the entire pumpkin into your car.

You may have issues with the propeller shaft and definitely the axles.

If the propeller shaft has enough yoke to reach the shortnose diff, then you're okay. At most you'll have to redrill the diff to accept the propeller shaft bolt pattern.

If you can't line up the propeller shaft, bolt up the diff, check for proper alignment, then call the Drive Shaft Shop. They can make a custom length propeller shaft for you. They'll help you from there.

For the axles, the Drive Shaft Shop can make custom length axles for you as well to bolt up to the S-chassis output flanges and the rear hubs. Bolt up the diff, check for alignment, then call them. They'll help with the rest.


2:
Take the rear cover off your diff. Remove the output flanges and accompanying parts. Be careful to remember the original position of all parts.

Take out your ring gear together with the diff and unbolt the diff.

I think Z32 R200 ring gears are 13mm while S13/S14 R200 ring gears are 12mm.

If I'm wrong, you can just bolt the S-chassis diff to your ring gear and go.

If I'm right, you'll have to bore out the S-chass diff to accept 13mm ring gear bolts.


I am stuck at this part. I don't know how to make an S-chassis diff mate up with a Z32 axle.

The output flanges on the Z32 won't bolt up to the S-chassis diff and the output flanges for S-chassis diff are wrong for the axles.

To me, #1 is the only way I know for sure that will work. If someone knows better they can chime in.

The s-chasis pumpkin will be about 1/4" too short. The yoke is exactly the same and as long as you have 5-bolt output shafts on the s-chasis diff it will bolt right up to the axles as well. You may be right about the ring gear bolts though.

[g6civcx]

as long as you have 5-bolt output shafts on the s-chasis diff it will bolt right up to the axles as well

I can't confirm this. I'm not sure about swapping output shafts with diffs. If you know better then there's no harm in trying.

[articdragon192]

From what I know, the Z32 output shafts won't work in the S13 diff. Too long. Which is why the early model J30 ones are used. As those are too short for me to use. Ugh.

[racepar1]

From what I know, the Z32 output shafts won't work in the S13 diff. Too long. Which is why the early model J30 ones are used. As those are too short for me to use. Ugh.

The z-32 and j-30 output shafts will definitely not work with an s-chasis diff housing/ring and pinion. I tried that and one shaft was too long due to the diff spacing difference that I described in my first post. The j-30 output shafts should work with a z-32 housing/ring and pinion I think though. I'm not sure about the differences in the early/late model j-30 diffs. Just find a LSD that was meant to use vlsd output shafts. It'll bolt right into your housing and your output shafts will work.

[g6civcx]

Just find a LSD that was meant to use vlsd output shafts. It'll bolt right into your housing and your output shafts will work.

Being that the entire purpose of this thread was for him to be to use S-chassis aftermarket diffs, perhaps he should buy an S-chassis VLSD for use as mockup.

Then if you can get the VLSD working correctly, then you can order aftermarket diffs to replace the S13 VLSD.

[racepar1]

Being that the entire purpose of this thread was for him to be to use S-chassis aftermarket diffs, perhaps he should buy an S-chassis VLSD for use as mockup.

Then if you can get the VLSD working correctly, then you can order aftermarket diffs to replace the S13 VLSD.

:werd:

Sounds like a good course of action to me.

[articdragon192]

Ok, back for more enlightening.
What about diff internals being swapped?
Because I was looking into a 6 bolt Nismo diff. Here's what I did notice though. The 5 bolt application for the Silvia/240 is the same as my application. Howeverm the 6 bolt isn't, for obvious reasons. One being that 6 bolt half shafts are supplied in the kit.
Anyways, would I be able to use the internals for a S-chassis diff and swap it over to my Z32 diff using my ring gear, bolts, etc?

[g6civcx]

See what others can help you come up with.

[g6civcx]

What about diff internals being swapped?
Because I was looking into a 6 bolt Nismo diff. Here's what I did notice though. The 5 bolt application for the Silvia/240 is the same as my application. Howeverm the 6 bolt isn't, for obvious reasons. One being that 6 bolt half shafts are supplied in the kit.
Anyways, would I be able to use the internals for a S-chassis diff and swap it over to my Z32 diff using my ring gear, bolts, etc?

You can bolt any R200 diff to your ring gear and pumpkin, but you have to use the side flanges meant for that specific diff. Whether your axles will meet up with the side flanges is a different story.

Your last option would be custom axles.

[lazysk8er2]

what about a z31 clutch type from a turbo or an SS

[g6civcx]

what about a z31 clutch type from a turbo or an SS

Did you just not read anything I wrote?

ANY R200 diff unit will bolt to any R200 ring gear. Getting the side flanges to mate up to the axles is up to you.

[lazysk8er2]

Did you just not read anything I wrote?

ANY R200 diff unit will bolt to any R200 ring gear. Getting the side flanges to mate up to the axles is up to you.

actually no it must have popped up after i wrote what i said didnt see ya there buddy. k?

[racepar1]

OK waaaayyyyyyy too much BS in here.

ANY r200 ring and pinion will fit into ANY r200 housing. The only exception is the uber long ass housings like from a z-31. ABS/non-ABS does not matter at ALL. The length of the pinion gear is the same, the difference is in the yoke.

ANY r200 differential will fit into ANY r200 housing, they are all dimensionally the same.

The sideshaft issue is DIRECTLY related to the thickness of the ring gear. Some of the r200 diffs have thicker ring gears. A thicker ring gear means that the shim arrangement inside the diff is different and the lengths of the shafts have to be changed. The only other thing to consider with sideshafts is vlsd or open diff.

Anyone who has not personally taken apart both differentials that are being talked about here should keep their mouths shut. You have nothing to add. I have had both versions of the r200 differential that are being referred to all apart side by side. I have seen the differences right in front of my face. I compared the parts side by side. We don't need any more god damn assumptions in this thread, there is already enough crap here.

[articdragon192]

Now does ring gear thickness correlate with it being from an VLSD or an open diff?
You say this:
The only other thing to consider with sideshafts is vlsd or open diff.
So does that mean that an aftermarket diff meant for a VLSD won't work in a housing that originally came with an open diff?

From there, depending on what the answer is, can we assume that an aftermarket diff meant for an open diff in an S-chassis will work in the VLSD housing of a Z32 if the sideshalfs, ring gear, etc. were all transferred over?

[racepar1]

Now does ring gear thickness correlate with it being from an VLSD or an open diff?
You say this:

So does that mean that an aftermarket diff meant for a VLSD won't work in a housing that originally came with an open diff?

From there, depending on what the answer is, can we assume that an aftermarket diff meant for an open diff in an S-chassis will work in the VLSD housing of a Z32 if the sideshalfs, ring gear, etc. were all transferred over?

An aftermarket diff meant for a vlsd will work in any diff housing and sideshafts that were originally vlsd. You need to find an s-chasis diff that was meant to use the vlsd sideshafts. Use your original ring and pinion and your original sideshafts as that is what your sideshafts are matched to, your ring and pinion and the shim placement necessary due to that ring and pinion. For a z-32 you need 5-bolt output shafts to match your axles. As far as I know you cannot convert your z to 6-bolt axles, 5-bolt open diff sideshafts were not available on any nissan, and no z-32 or j-30 came with an open diff.

[articdragon192]

I have no plans on converting to 6 bolt even if it was an option, lol. I understand what you say about S-chassis VLSD internals working in my housing as long as I use my parts and keep my 5 bolt halfshafts. However, here's why I'm going on and on about the open diff issue.
I found a Nismo 2 way meant for an S-chassis open diff. Comes with 6 bolt halfshafts included, which of course would not be used by me.
I'm trying to see if that diff, meant for an open diff, will work in my VLSD housing using my half shafts, ring gear, etc. I almost feel like I'm asking the same freaking question over and over because I feel like I'm missing something in what I'm reading in your replies, lol.

[racepar1]

I have no plans on converting to 6 bolt even if it was an option, lol. I understand what you say about S-chassis VLSD internals working in my housing as long as I use my parts and keep my 5 bolt halfshafts. However, here's why I'm going on and on about the open diff issue.
I found a Nismo 2 way meant for an S-chassis open diff. Comes with 6 bolt halfshafts included, which of course would not be used by me.
I'm trying to see if that diff, meant for an open diff, will work in my VLSD housing using my half shafts, ring gear, etc. I almost feel like I'm asking the same freaking question over and over because I feel like I'm missing something in what I'm reading in your replies, lol.

I got ya now. You can't use that diff unless you can find some 5-bolt open diff sideshafts that were meant for a z-32, j-30, or maybe a q-45. Maybe you could machine your sideshafts and make them work, but I don't have a clue where you would get the correct length measurements from. If you don't mind a shorter gear ratio you could always just use and entire s-13 or s-14 pumpkin with the 4.08 gears. I don't think that nissan has any 5-bolt open diff sideshafts though. Maybe some diff companies made 5-bolt sideshafts to use with their diffs as the 5-bolt axles are stronger?

On a side note, did someone come clean out some posts? As I remember there was way more bullshit in here earlier. G6civcx, why did you come edit a bunch of your posts? You and me were the only ones adding any actual info or constructive, and educated, ideas to the thread.

[articdragon192]

I got ya now. You can't use that diff unless you can find some 5-bolt open diff sideshafts that were meant for a z-32, j-30, or maybe a q-45. Maybe you could machine your sideshafts and make them work, but I don't have a clue where you would get the correct length measurements from. If you don't mind a shorter gear ratio you could always just use and entire s-13 or s-14 pumpkin with the 4.08 gears. I don't think that nissan has any 5-bolt open diff sideshafts though. Maybe some diff companies made 5-bolt sideshafts to use with their diffs as the 5-bolt axles are stronger?

On a side note, did someone come clean out some posts? As I remember there was way more bullshit in here earlier. G6civcx, why did you come edit a bunch of your posts? You and me were the only ones adding any actual info or constructive, and educated, ideas to the thread.

NA Z32 and S-chassis have the same 4.08 gears. Will the early J30 half shafts work with the S-chassis open diff in my Z32 since I can't swap over my own 5 bolt half shafts?