question for safari diff guru's

[swampa]

lets say for argument sake i was wanting to run say 49 irok's????? and maybe 500plus hp????, is a gu front diff the best way to go, or a gq front diff with aftermarket cv's? or are there gruntier better options, and i dont want to hear hilux with longs.

[PR]

GU spirts (baby safaris) are the same as GQ and the GU big boys have the bigger/stronger gear from what I have been told but I could be wrong

[curly12]

lets say for argument sake i was wanting to run say 49 irok's????? and maybe 500plus hp????, is a gu front diff the best way to go, or a gq front diff with aftermarket cv's? or are there gruntier better options, and i dont want to hear hilux with longs.

i have been told to go for the GU front diff by one of our local guru's who has ls1 in his whale

[swampa]

my friend had a price for 2k for a gu front end, or getting a gq then spending over 2k on strong inners,

[curly12]

PM Turoa because his dad is the guy to take to

[DaveM]

GU spirts (baby safaris) are the same as GQ and the GU big boys have the bigger/stronger gear from what I have been told but I could be wrong

All GU's run stronger CV's but the ring/pinion on the 2.8's are weaker due to their ratios was my understanding, as my GU has the cv part number as the 0z 2.8's, and these are heavier than the GQ

[darinz]

All GQ and GQ run the diff head. There is an arguement that the higher 4.6 ratios are weaker due to tooth size but that is the only difference.
Factory GQ cv is about 3000nm
Factory GU is about 4500nm
co-moly GQ is about 9000nm.
There are now cro-moly GU cv's but don't their strength.

With 49's all Nissan diffs are going to be marginal but it will be stub axle weakness not CV that lets you down. This where the 60series Landcruiser arguement starts as it is stroner in this area.
The HP won't be an issue. My GQ ones are handling my power fine. I'm careful about using the power when tuning but otherwise it gets a bit! I have over 500hp as well but only with 35's.

The best option would be a Dana 60 with cro-moly UJ etc etc but then you are looking at about $5k US. But that will be near unbreakable. You can order these off the shelf in whatever ratio, axle width etc etc you want. It will also get you brakes that will stop a 49" tyre.

[swampa]

thanks for the info, i have put in gq diffs, and i am also going to put in the cal offroad cv's, as these guys guarantee their gear up to 42'' tyres that will probably be as big as i go, got the engine sorted i want, next decision is to either run a turbo 400 trans to a safari transfercase or go safari auto and transfercase, thanks for the strenght details.

[darinz]

I'm running the Safari auto with a few mods. Top of the list is a manual shift valve body from Wholesale Automatice in Oz. The other things are basically upgrading it to the VH45 spec auto which increases the number of plates in each clutch pack. The other is to get the torque convertor sorted. This will depend on the motor you are planning but with Safari torque convertors the big weakness is the spline. It is a standard mod to get it welded in better.

What motor are planning on running?
I went through alot of this when planning my conversion and getting a 700r4 (Holden) to be strong enough will cost more than a Safari auto and it is questionable whether it will even be as strong.
T400 is obviously a pretty good option if you are going Chev.
Another way to look at it is to go for a completel different drivetrain. eg T400 and an NP205 T-case. That is a gear driven case and has a very strong PTO as well. The only problem is they aren't common in NZ or Oz.

[swampa]

got the choice of engine down to 3, 1st choice is the new ls3 6.2ltr from walkinskaw mated to a t400, transfer case????? marks adaptors have a special on their atlas transfer cases( besides the power of this engine it is a dry sump engine as well). 2nd choice is the ls2 6.0 which i can get from dunedin and have a motec computer installed and running for around 11k, but that doesnt include trans etc... both these engines are crate motors, and the 3rd choice is the good old 454 with a few extra herbies, gonna get the lux certed (again) and sell it fo finance the new engine of choice.
The NP 205 t seems to me to be the go at the moment, although egine and accessories probably wont happen till the end of year, i can get one in from the states, if i do this it might be easier for me to get engine through to ftransfer case from the states.
On a side note, there is a shop in the states doing dana 60's for cruisers etc with the pumpkin on the right hand side with all the goodies, indestructable for the princely sum of around $12.000.

[darinz]

The rock guys in the US love Atlas T-cases, I guess it just comes down to cost and what is easier to source. If I was you I wouldn't waste my time with a 454 unless you are going to inject it etc. The others will provide more power, economy and will be lighter.
A T400 is a pretty cheap (and strong once worked) option but does lack an overdrive which can be a problem depending on gearing. I never use the overdrive and hardly need 3rd, in mine. The joys of so much power is you can just put your foot down a bit more rather than change gears!
Another option is the late model auto (electronic) that comes with the LSx motors. (can't remeber the numbers) You can get all the bits from the US for them, they are strong with an OD and will bolt up to the LSx. As they also come in 4wds you can get a bolt togethe with an NP T-case. Alot to be said for factory bolt together options!!!!!!
For what you are doing I wouldn't use an adapter kit and a Nissan auto as they requires a flywheel and torque convertor and increase the length by 3" to allow fitment in a standard GQ. (I shifted body back 3" to clear firewall instead) The Nissan auto will handle the HP, but as you are going Chev their are easier options. IMO

Watever you do it sounds like fun.

[swampa]

just a question out of the blue, would an rb26 fit up to the safari transmission easily???

[DaveM]

AFAIK the RB series boxes won't bolt to the TD series and vice versa, but you can run the RB boxes, whether they would handle the application is another story though
There are a couple of guys running RB30DET's in oz, and blowing their boxes

[swampa]

thanks for that, just playing with some ideas in my head, if there was a dream engine combo out there that wasnt v8 what would it be? i thought trusty ecotec v6 with twin turbo's?

[DaveM]

Any engine combo is a dream for me after downgrading to th 2.8GU
Now V6 with twin turbo's would be interesting! I always liked the idea of the RB30 setup or even the 26, but if you can't run the TD box, its just asking for problems. In saying that, there must be a growing market for adaptors to be produced for these if possible?