GU4 3.08 LSD SALISBURY DIFFS TO SUIT VB, VC, VH & VK's, HOW HARD ARE THEY TO COME BY?

[johnmachine]

G'day guys just wanted to put it out there to see if I am fighting a losing battle, or not. Im currently in the process of restoring my VC SL/E back to original condition and one part I have struggled to locate is the early Commodore Salisbury LSD 3.08 ratio disc to disc diff. I have come across a heap of Kingswood type diffs or even the WB Statesman equivelant however trying to find this particular diff is proving to be a difficult task. I have tried ebay, numerous wrecking yards, Gumtree you name it but still no luck. What do you people think is this type of diff too hard to come by? Your thoughts?? I live in Melbourne and currently have found zero....HELP!!!

[SL/ENUT]

First off, is your SL/E a 202, 253 or 308 factory original? There is 2 verions of the Salisbury diff you see, 8 bolt or 10 bolt.

[Jonno]

i have 2 10 bolts sitting in my shed :P

[johnmachine]

My SL/E is currently a 253 with a single spinner 10 bolt Disc to Disc Salisbury.

[SL/ENUT]

Well news is, your SL/E had 8 bolt factory. Same diff as what the 6 cylinder Commodores had. And also, if thats what is factory, might not even have LSD diff. AFAIK, only the bigger 5 litre Commodores gained LSD factory.

ALso, just a minor tip, don't go buy the diff cover plate. its how many bolts on the crown wheel.

[DerekP]

The VH 5ltr SL/E's had LSD as an option (sadly mine hasn't got that option!) - assume the VC was the same??

[Smitty]

The VH 5ltr SL/E's had LSD as an option (sadly mine hasn't got that option!) - assume the VC was the same??

yep correct on VC
and
the large Salisbury with LSD was not std fitment to VH anything (cept VH SS )..it was option up only, standard was the 'large' open diff

[johnmachine]

I read what you wrote Smitty on the 336 Pack on this forum (I think). You uploaded 3 old documents which contained the GM options for the VC SL/E and what was standard on the SLE base model & 336 pack. In the document it stated that LSD was to be fitted only on the 336 pack and also that the LSD option was only available in the 3.08 ratio. I know this option was only available on the 336 pack however I'd love to know if GMH ever fitted them to 334 packs or lower maybe to employees cars or special order type scenario, dealers cars??? Any idea?

[machone]

mines a 3.08 LSD diff there getting rare to find i know that keysborough diff have them if your in Vic but for a price...but there worth it over the standard there a big difference in performance...also look outside the square ring country wreckers its amazing what some of those wreckers have for the old girls.

[johnmachine]

Thanks for the tip machone. I picked up a good second hand diff today (If there is some such thing lol) for $400 bucks and now intend on cleaning it up, lick of paint & change the LSD Diff fluid and finally fit it to the VC. I scored a 308 ratio Salisbury disc to disc which as you say are getting very hard to come by. I have been searching high and low for the past couple of months and everything I ever came across was always interstate (not Vic) so finally today scored the Diff. Anyone know how much LSD fluid is supposed to go into the Diff and lastly should I use a high temperature paint for the diff?

[machone]

congrats mate good to hear you found one...since you already have the whole diff and not in the car before putting it into the car undo the drain plug drain the oil out... it also might pay to go down to repco autobarn and get a new gasket nothing worse putting the diff in finding its a leaker...mmmm diff oil nice smell not! but make sure you get the right gasket theres the large type and small salisbury... id say you have the large salisbury diff but check if unsure no biggy buy both gaskets there not expensive and just return the other...then clean both mating area surfaces so no old gasket is left smear a bit of gasket cement on both surfaces place the gasket on and bolt it up...you can put LSD oil in it now if you want or do it when its in the car but when you put it in the car the panard bar might be in the way so dont put that on just yet...do it after you fill it... but you can also fill it with a small oil can that you pump (im sure theres a name for that oil can lol) takes awhile but its no problem...be careful also on the diff theres a breather tube that i think is on the right hand side dont break it....when filling the diff with oil best way to check it is... the oil should just be below the plug so stick a finger in the hole (try not to get it stuck lol) but its about 1.5 litres by memory if you can feel the oil then thats cool shes full...after you have the diff in run the car for a few klms slowly!!!! then recheck the oil...go slow when you first put the diff in for those first few klms you want the oil to even its way through the gogs....listen for any noises or grinds LSD diffs can sometimes make a whinning noise on those diffs normally its ok but clunks rattles its not ok....as for the paint go to town on it no high temp paint needed....good luck with it all mate btw i was like u a few years ago i needed a replacement 3.08 centre for mine i also hunted high and low for it...then i was talking to my step son saying how hard they are to find...he lives down in gippsland and he goes ive got a whole diff in the shed you can have i was like wtf???? all this time ive been looking for one and youve had one grrr...but i cant complain hes knows his stuff and hes free labor lol....good luck mate its not a hard job but two people its easier...oh and remember to tighten everything back up to torque but when its on the ground heres gregorys torque settings but double check it in case im wrong


shock absorber upper nut 16nm
'' '' lower nut 70nm

suspension arm mounting bolts 110nm

panhard rod axle housing attaching nut 70nm
'' ''' body attaching nut 110nm

stabilizer bar bracket to axle housing 18nm
stabilizer link nuts 16nm

[vkberlina]

If you want a tough paint to paint it in you can use agricultural enamel with hardner, its alot tougher than other paints and very easy to work with.

scott