Jump to content
HybridZ

Snapped the R200 on my very first run...:(


Recommended Posts

Yup...

finally got the car running, and drove it to Reynolds tonight. My first run I was lined up with a buddy of mine and stagged to about 2 grand or so, and dumped the clutch. It was my first time having this car at the track, so I was going to try first gear at 2 grand and go from there. As soon as I launched, of course the tire started spining...then...pop...bogged in first, shifted to second, still no good...tried third then hit the breaks. The R200 lost a few teeth :D ...not totally a bad thing if I just say I had too much torque for my diff...

 

I managed to drive the car back to Americus, and a block from the house the diff totally went out. (Sounded like popcorn back there...)

 

So...now I have to find another differintial.

 

Anyone got one they can recommend that would bolt up in place of the R200 I had? (It was someone in this forum's R200...but I can't remember whos it was...)

I'd really like to go posi...but if that's a possible bolt in replacement then I just need something that'll hold up to 350 - 400 fpt...

 

Thanks,

JB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You sure it is a r200 rear end? Usually they are stout, mine is holding up after two years of abuse and I run a 350 with 300 plus to the rear wheels.

 

I would try another one, the one you had may have just been ready to go. If you drive a manual that is harder on the rear as well.

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That car came from San Antonio, correct? I sold the guy the R200 after he had broken a couple of R180 diffs. That particular R200 came from a low mileage 78 280. It looked brand spankin' new inside, showing zero wear on gears. I think the car showed 80k on the odometer. If I would hazard a guess, your car has serious geometry issues with the rear suspension, otherwise there wouldn't be such a chain of broken diffs follwing that car. OR it wheel hops and you don't get out of it, loading and unloading the ring & pinion excessively. Also, nothing tears up an open diff faster than a one-wheel-peel either. The spinning of the drive wheel faster than the drivers side wheel causes the spider gears to spin like no tomorrow usually inducing a failure. Broken spider gear teeth can then wedge themselves in between the ring & pinion forcing a failure there. Nothing else just "bolts" in except another R200. Sounds like you need to look for an LSD equpped one and check out Pete's site for solving geometry and driveshaft issues you may have.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest ZmeFly

for about 350 to 500 dollars, or you could spend the extra cash and get a quaife, lifetime gaurantee even under racing conditions, now thats a good gaurentee.

 

they do cost mind you but to me they are worth it and they can handle the abuse

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Upon further examination this morning, I noticed the left wheel's half shaft dangling around under there, apparently that's what I heard snap. After driving back from Reynolds, as I stopped at the last stop sign of the drive, I put the car in first and eased down. *Pop Pop Pop pop pop*...

Tried second, and got the same thing. All the gears were doing it.

I'm guessing the teeth in the chunk finally all gave way, and the first pop at the track was the first few teeth and the half shaft snapping?

 

I'm thinking another good R200 and perhaps some custom half shafts?

What exactly is involved in swapping to positive traction? How much would it cost (estimated) to do a posi swap? Weren't there positive traction 300TTs?

 

This is my first hot rod, and I just completed my first motor swap (the car drove great, by the way, stayed at 160 degrees the whole way to Reynolds...) but I've never done any work on a rear end. I've never even had the opportunity to WATCH someone do rear end work. I'll have alot of help with this around here, so if you guys give me some info and I'm having trouble putting it together to decide on the best option @ my budget, I'll just print it out...

 

Thanks,

JB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm currently running the 87-89 3.70:1 R200 LSD unit through Spicer "brute Force" universal equipped half-shafts. I made two runs on the LSD and the original stock half-shafts and then "hospitalized" the car for some other work. While undergoing surgery I've had the Spicers installed. The car is running an LS1/T56 combination with 311 RWHP & 326 RWTQ. I don't know how that compares to your set-up but I haven't broken anything.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...