I am thinking about getting a rear diff griddle. I have an 89 RS. I recently put and eaton posi and 3.73's in there and i was interested in that diff cover with the bearing compressing bolts. I was wondering if anyone has installed them, and how easy they are to install and what is a good brand?

 

Piece of cake. I used Summit.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...-89-guides.jpg

JamesC

 

It's easy enough to do but you may want to weld your axle tubes also. Theres a few tech articals on building up your rear end.

 

Alot of people have told me to weld my axle tubes, but isnt the center of the rear cast iron and the tubes steel?

 

There is a Group Purchase on MAC products through FASTTOYS.NET
Check out the GP board it ends this FRIDAY the 13
The regular Price for there diff cover is $129 But it's cheaper in the GP Message me for the price. If we post the prices publicly we won't get the discount. It's cheaper than the SUMMIT one.

 

Do they make rear end girdle for the Austrailian rear end in my 88 Formula 350? Or just for the 7.5".

 

There are a couple of articles in the tech section on beefing up the 10-bolt.
Brian, check the following link:

Rear End Girdles

JamesC

 

T/A Performance just started manufacturing the nine bolt girdles not too long ago. They're the only company making one for the nine bolt. For the original poster, sorry, I can't resist. Are you going to use that "griddle" for pancakes or waffles?

 

haha, Pat, you beat me to it

I have the summit one as well. It was $139, so that group purchase sounds pretty good, assuming it has similar specs (1/2" thick, sturdy aluminum, etc)

Little tip - don't bother using a gasket, it'll just leak. Use a bead of RTV. Make sure you don't tighten those preload studs too much, just a teeny bit of preload. They come into their own once the rear tries to flex.

I think you're right on the center section being cast iron, compared to steel tubes. I welded my tubes, but didn't do a very good job. You can use a stick welder, and some "weld all" rods, or high nickel cast iron welding rods to do it. I think I just used E6013 rods, and did a pretty **** poor job of it. When people say "oh yea it's only held on with two measly spot welds", I have to wonder if those people have ever seen those two "measly" spot welds. They're HUGE. I welded it as a feel good thing.

oh, you can also get main caps studs to strengthen your rear end. All these things do not require disassembly. The most crucial part of beefing a rear IMHO is the solid pinion spacer, which does require disassembly.

 

Don't weld your axle tubes to the carrier. It weakens the metal and creates a stress riser. Also, since our cars have a torque arm the axle tubes only carry torque during braking. In other words, no chance of twisting an axle tube during a launch.

 

Can you run over that one for me? That doesn't sound right..?