Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 I have commonly heard the R200 being referred to as bulletproof and strong enough to hold up to anything... I have also read threads of ppl concerned with the half-shafts breaking but nothing really about tributes to the durability of the differential itself. If I plan to drop a 350HP+ SBC into my Z and use the R200, how confident can I be that the R200 will hold up, especially if i get it to hook up good and like shifting hard? BTW, I plan to have a manual transmission.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denny411 Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 VERY. There have been a few z`s w/ r200`s running in high 9`s and low 10`s with as much as 700 rear wheel hp and nitrous. Unless there is something already defective, an R200 should hold up to 300/350hp with relative ease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike C Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 Just like any rear diff that is open, you WILL break it if you spin one tire exccessively. You will destroy the spider gears and the pinion pin (spider pinion). A high perf car requires a limited slip or a moderate throttle foot. If you break an R200 limited slip you are doing something you shouldn't... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted June 20, 2003 Share Posted June 20, 2003 i have never seen anyone break an r200 LSD. now axles driveshafts and stub shafts are a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nic-Rebel450CA Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 How do i know if it is LSD or not? The R200 is from an 81 280Z.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 If its in the car you can jack it up and turn the wheels.... if they both turn in the same direction its a LSD.. but may be a welded diff. if they turn in teh opposite direction its a open diff. the car in question did not come with an LSD.... the first gen 300zx turbo did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyntti Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 If it is the original rear end then it is not original. Only the 300zx's came with LSD. The sought after clutch type LSD's only came in the 87-89 turbo models. There were VLSD (viscous) in the later cars. There was never a stock LSD in the 240/260/280 z or zx as far as I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boobala Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 How do i know if it is LSD or not? The R200 is from an 81 280Z.. If it's from an US '81 280Z(X) chances of it being an LSD are very close to ZERO, unless someone put one in it, 'cause the factory did not. The way to tell is to jack up the rear of the car, make sure it is out of gear and turn one wheel. If it is an LSD the opposite wheel will turn the same direction. If the other wheel does not turn or turns in the opposite direction, you got yourself a peg-leg (non LSD, Open Diff.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boobala Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 LOL! I guess he got his answer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 i guess everyone was answering him at the same time ;> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil1934 Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 I'm building and bought a R200 but not yet running. Stony, I think you said you have custom stub axles. Did you break several stock ones and what's Moser charge for something like that? Also I wonder if the swap to CV jointed axles is really necessary. It seems CV's go out regularly on FWD but I've only trashed a couple U joints and could trace it to other things like broken U bolt retainers. If it is necessary what ZX models have the right axles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 i didnt break any stubs just half shafts. they will not hold up to anything above 350rwhp at teh drag strip. i had a local machine shop machine my strut to accept different bearings so i could use z31 300zx stub shafts... they are bigger and stronger... then i had teh driveshaftshop.com in newyork build a set of custom chromoly axles to fit my application. it all cost right around 1000US along with this i converted to 300zx disc brakes at all 4 corners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil1934 Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 So the problem with the half shafts is the small diameter outer shaft to make the sliding joint? And you would eliminate that with CV joints as they have a little end play. I just ordered new U joints for the R200. Engine is maybe 350 HP, 9.7:1, Melling 290/300 cam, small valve smog heads and 4 deuces. Should I cancel the order or will it hold up for a year or so with a T5 and BFG DR 235/60-15's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 the factory original u joints seem to be the strongest of any aftermarket. i went thru 3 different sets all supposed to be very strong but broke easier then the stock originals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 How do i know if it is LSD or not? I know I sound like a freakin' broken record here, but... The ONLY way to know for sure if you have a limited slip differential is to take the rear cover off and look inside. The spinning wheels routine doesn't work. A welded diff will appear to be an LSD if you waste your time spinning the wheels. Take the cover off! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zxgts-4 Posted June 22, 2003 Share Posted June 22, 2003 Yes John you are quite correct, we are not worthy! I recently picked up a VLSD and when the viscous coupling is cold you can counter turn the two axles with effort. Neil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dp351zcar Posted June 23, 2003 Share Posted June 23, 2003 Yes you can slowly turn it but it is hard. That is the viscous clutch slipping. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-Dreamer Posted June 24, 2003 Share Posted June 24, 2003 I don't believe anyone really knows how strong the R200 is or how much power it can withstand, because it's the halfshafts or stub axles that break first! It would be interesting to see a bullit-proof set of halfshafts and stub axles in a high powered Z to see what it would take to break a R200! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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