identifying vk diffs

[vh-holden]

I want to get a set of 4.11 gears for the diff in my vk wagon. how do i tell what diff it is and then what gears do i buy?

gotta get a 17 somehow!!

[Cane_It]

flange on diff with 4 bolts to tailshaft = borgwarner (is also cast into underside of the diff housing)

small salisbury (octagonal rear plate with bolt) common in 202s, normal yoke that takes u-bolts

big salisbury 10 bolt (almost tear shaped rear coverplate with bolt), normal yoke that takes u-bolts)

getting 4.11s is easiest on a borgy diff as Fords used them too. dont bother rebuilding it unless its got 28spline axles.

[immortality]

if it is a borgwarner diff then it will be a 2 spider center with 25 spline axles. this will fit 4.11 gears but the center isn't that strong really.

[vh-holden]

thanks for the replies. here is a picture. i'm still confused

[vh-holden]

i'm guessing small salisbury.

[SL/ENUT]

You've guessed right chief, that is a 8 bolt "small" Salisbury diff.

[vh-holden]

thanks!! so i suppose, the next question i should ask is, how hard is it to get 4.11s for it, and is it worth fitting them?

[SL/ENUT]

Don't think they made a 4.11:1 ratio for those, i know the bigger 10 bolt diffs had 4.44:1. I think its better finding the BW78 diff out of a VK and using that.

[vh-holden]

hrmmm, might have to wait.

a mate has suggested getting a pintara diff. would that help?

[Huitzi]

You will need the vl diff housing and the pintara center, pintaras came with 3.9's and 4.11's 25 spline but skylines are 3.9 and 28 spline centers, + when you get the VL borgy diff don't forget to grab the tail shaft to go with it as your Salisbury one wont fit.
I hope this is some help

[DANNY8]

You will need the vl diff housing and the pintara center, pintaras came with 3.9's and 4.11's 25 spline but skylines are 3.9 and 28 spline centers, + when you get the VL borgy diff don't forget to grab the tail shaft to go with it as your Salisbury one wont fit.
I hope this is some help

For a gear ratio change u don't use the centre, just the gears, the crown and pinion.

Also, the VL tailshaft won't fit the Salisbury 8 bolt tailshaft (VL tailshaft is slightly larger in diameter). You need to get a tailshaft for a borg warner diff out of a VK. Harder to find, but it's the only option if u don't wanna spend a few extra dollars getting them customised. You need the front of ur current tailshaft to go into the trans, then use the rear section of a VK borg warner tailshaft to join up to ur borg warner diff.

If u can find a R31 Silhouette, that not only has either 3.7(manual) or 3.9(auto) gears, but also LSD. The only thing is they are a 28 spline centre so you'd need to use different axles......but if u were gonna use the LSD centre out of a Skyline, u could just get a VL diff coz VL turbo's and 5.0L's use 28 spline axles......the VK borg warner diffs are 25 spline. VN (and upwards) axles are 28 spline, but those diffs are a little wider again so might need shortening or sumfin.

Lots of mucking around.

For my VK wags, I bought a Borg Warner diff (which was even harder finding a VK wagon borg warner diff), then got a 25 spline LSD off of ebay. I know 28 spline is the way to go, but I'm not making enormous amounts of power so I rekon it will be ok lol.

[Huitzi]

For a gear ratio change u don't use the centre, just the gears, the crown and pinion.

Very true you only need the crown and pinion gear but unless you are a diff specialist and are familiar with setting up clearances and back lash/crown to pinion wear i would use a complete mating center with its existing crown and pinion gears, its not an exercise for a novice setting up a borgy diff.

[DANNY8]

Very true you only need the crown and pinion gear but unless you are a diff specialist and are familiar with setting up clearances and back lash/crown to pinion wear i would use a complete mating center with its existing crown and pinion gears, its not an exercise for a novice setting up a borgy diff.

Wouldn't ya have to get it adjusted anyways? Isn't it the shims either side of the centre which align it? And all shims are different aren't they? I'm not 100% sure, I'm leaving my diff to the professionals