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how much power can my diff handle?


Guest GPSMatt

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Guest GPSMatt

I have a 74 260z 2+2 Just got the car no nothing about these. I have some sbc engines laying around waiting for a home and after finding this site i figure my 260 will be perfect for it but the rear diff? How much power can it handle stock and what upgrades are there that will strengthen it?

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That rear differential is bad, very bad. I suggest you pull it out and sell it to me. I'll give you $50 for it. :D

 

All kidding aside, you most likely have the very rare 3.36 open differential. It is a R200 which can hold quite a bit of power. There has been guys that have taken thier Z cars into the 9's in the quarter mile with the R200. The differential isn't the weak point in the rear end. It's the u-joints in the half shafts and the stub axles that are the problem.

 

If you change gears in your 2+2, PLEASE let me know! I will buy the differential!

 

!M!

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Guest GPSMatt

Hell yeah you shoulda told me that it really really sucked and its trash if u wanted to buy it lol. I am proly going to get a 86 vette for 500 bucks and use hte rear end and the front breaks and all of taht on my Z. Good idea or bad? I mean if that diff can handle a estiamted 700hp as my vortech blown small block will have then i dont need to do the swap right? And sorry for the stupidity Open diff is what? is taht a nissan posi?

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Yeah, I could have said that it was trash, but someone would have said something and then I would look like the bad guy.

 

Open differential means that it's not a limited slip. It's a one wheel wonder.

 

The R200 will hold 700hp for quite some time if you don't abuse it. There is a few guys on here that have done the 'Vette rear end swap with much success. I'm not sure on the front brakes though.

 

If you use the search function on the top of your screen, you will find TONS of information on all of your questions.

 

!M!

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It depends, anywhere from ~$500 for a used clutch type diff. and swap the carrier into your case, or up to $1000+ for a Quaife unit. There is also the R230 option which is a viscous unit, but is still an expensive option. From what I understand, stay away from the Phantom Grip, but you can draw your own conclusions. Any way you go is going to be somewhat pricey. Don't forget about upgrading the halfshaft u-joints or swaping to CV's and possibly stub axles if you don't already have the thicker ones in your car.

 

If you do a search in the Drivetrain forum with the search words that I have put in bold lettering, you will find a lot of information to keep you busy for a while :wink: .

 

!M!

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Sorry to say it but you don't have a 3.36 R200 in unless someone swapped it for the original. The highly coveted 3.36 R200 came only in a '79 280ZX 2+2 w/4-speed tranny. I can't recall what you've got but should be easy to find out, good luck. :)

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I don't remember where on here it is, but someone confirmed that the 260Z 2+2 also had the 3.36 R200

 

So, this is what I have for the 3.36 R200

 

260Z 74 MT 4 sp. 2+2 (3.36) (R200)

280ZX 79 MT 4 sp. 2+2 (3.364) (R200)

 

That's why I got all excited. GPSMatt, is there any chance that you could pull the cover off your differential and tell us what numbers are on the ring gear? Or better yet, is it even a R200? Here is a picture for comaprison:

99r09f24arw2.jpg

 

!M!

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Matt, you're remembering it wrong...here's a table breaking them down by year. A '74 may have a 3.36, but it would be an R180.

 

Standard Rear End's as Delivered From The Factory 1969-1989 :

 

 

 

240Z 70-73 MT (3.364) (R180)

 

240Z 70-73 MT 5spd. (3.900) (R180) - non US

 

240Z 71-73 Auto (3.545) (R180)

 

 

 

260Z 74 MT (3.364) (R180)

 

260Z 74 Auto (3.545) (R180)

 

 

 

280Z 75-76 (3.545) (R200)

 

280Z 77-78 MT (3.545) (R200)

 

280Z 77-78 Auto (3.545) (R180)

 

 

 

280ZX 79 MT,4 Spd,2 Seater (3.364) (R180)

 

280ZX 79 MT,5 Spd,2 Seater (3.364) (R180)

 

280ZX 79 All With Automatic(3.545) (R180)

 

280ZX 79 MT,4 Spd,4 Seater (3.364) (R200)

 

280ZX 79 MT,5 Spd,4 Seater (3.7) (R200)

 

280ZX-GL 79 (3.7) (R200)

 

 

 

280ZX 80 MT,2 Seater (3.545) (R180)

 

280ZX 80 Automatic 2/4Seat (3.545) (R180)

 

280ZX 80 MT,4 Seater (3.9) (R200)

 

280ZX-GL 80 (3.9) (R200)

 

 

 

280ZX 81-83 Automatic all (3.545) (R180)

 

280ZX 81-83 Turbo - all (3.545) (R200)

 

280ZX 81-83 MT (3.9) (R200)

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That's what I thought for quite some time by reading that list of differentials and ratios from Zhome.com, untill someone said that there was indeed a 3.36 R200 in the '74 260Z 2+2. The Zhome.com list does not show what gears came in the 2+2. Lets see if GPSMatt can confirm this for us. If it's a R200 then the gears inside might be promising.

 

EDIT: Heavy, I found that post a while back that I was thinking of click here

. Well, I guess it's just one guy that said that the 3.36 was in the 260Z 2+2. Hmm, I guess we will have to wait untill someone wants to open up thier 260Z 2+2 differential.

 

!M!

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Ok I have a real odd ball.

 

I have a 260 SBC Z and it had a BMW (yes BMW rearend) with 3.45. I have the custom mustache and custom axles so it will mate into a Z. The pumpkin is welded and I have all to place it in a z (including a custom machined adaptor that bolts to the BMW diff and the other side bolts to a Datsun).

 

Anyone interested email me slow260z@yahoo.com

 

Thanks

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well, now, you guys have me curious.

I also have a fat-bumpered 260Z 2+2, and was suprised to find it had the R200 in it to begin with...

Now with the possibility of it having a 3.36, looks like I will be opening the rear up sooner than I thought.

No wonder it works the boost so hard---like my ld 240 before I swapped from 3.36 to 3.7....

I'm curious, maybe this weekend I will check it out---I need to do a fluids flush anyway. :?

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Tony D,

Please check! It would help to clear up some things. Post your results here when you find out. Are you positive this is the original rear end?

 

When you pull the cover off, you will see numbers stamped on the ring gear. It should read 37:11 if it does have the 3.36 ratio.

 

37 divided by 11 is 3.36

 

!M!

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It would make sense that the late 260Z had an R200 as the 260Z was the transition from 240Z to 280Z with the early 260Z being like a 73 240Z and the late being like a 75 280Z. However, as I understand it, the R200 3.36 only came with 4-speeds.

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