SteveO

You don't have to convince me. I think the 8.8 diff is the right direction, and I'm seriously considering it for my project, but I am thinking / planning on fabricating custom hub carriers to use the Ford outer CV joints and hubs, and a shorter strut secured above the axle centerline. Thinking about making a jig using the original Nissan strut / hub carrier assembly, and my new 5 lug stubs that I may never use! I already bought the MM stub axles and adapters but will try to sell them off if I do end up going this route. The torque biasing diffs for the Ford 8.8 are about half the price of the Quaife for the R200, gears / parts are plentiful and cheap, I agree. Having said all that, I think that either your uprights are going to crack right where you welded in the diff. cover mounting bosses, or will loosen / break the upright mounting bolts. Will be anxious to hear which. Did you get them stress relieved after welding? I know the Nissan engineers could have done a few things better in hindsight, but I am confident their decision to isolate the diff mounting from the suspension arm mounting was a good one. Could you not have made some modified uprights to give room for a custom made mustache bar that would mount to the Explorer cover (or Cobra cover) and to the original mounting points in the rear subframe? I don't have any of these parts in front of me (yet), so am going off of imagination only...

I've skimmed through all 105 posts on this topic and didn't see discussion about using the Ford outer CV joints, shortened shafts, and OE hubs with custom fabricated knuckles / hub carriers. Has anyone thought about doing this? I have taken some rough measurements and it looks like it could work if I raise the strut tube holder/ socket a few inches, above the CV axle centerline, possibly using the Tokico Illumina BZ3099 cartridge or one even shorter if it exists. I am just getting started on my 280 Z project, planning to use the LS376/480. I bought the MM 5 lug hubs and CV adapters already, but reading on some of Sunny Z's experiences have me thinking about adapting the Ford 8.8 diff, axles, and hubs with custom fabricated knuckles, and selling my MM hardware, even though I think his inner stub breakage problem is directly due to the stresses from the welded diff. Steve

Wondering where the extra loading on the rack comes from with wider front wheels / tires. As the spindle turns, a wider tire would have the effect of lifting the suspension / chassis more than a narrower one and therefore more resistance to turning? More amplified with camber and caster?

Jon- Just tuning in to this thread now for the first time. I had been thinking about looking at the Woodward Steering MR or MRC series racks for my '77 280Z project w/ LS motor. Curious to know if there is any specific reason why you chose the HL model over these, and if you think the mounting issues would have been any less with an MR or MRC. Steve