[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

The contact patch of the 245 tyre on there is probably 40%. The outside of the tyre isn’t even scrubbed in, but the inner is on wear bars.

It has had 4pt and 2pt adjustable kits in it at various times. SSSL springs don’t help the situation. I do however have to be careful I don’t ‘over correct’ the situation as the tyres will scrub on the outer guards.

Had a false start last night. Cracked the diff cover, drained the fluid and realised I didn’t have a slide hammer to pull the stub axles out. I’ll make one tonight or tomorrow.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Might help if you list a part number?

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

NickVR – Is yours a V8 conversion?

If so the cluster will still think its a 6 and will be receiving 33% more pulses than it expects, so will read higher.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

OK so as per usual I didn’t get much of any time to work on this over my (short) break. In fact, I only did about 3 hours yesterday 

(On a side note, I bought 1/2″ cordless rattle gun for the job. It’s brilliant, should’ve bought one years ago.)

This is one of the problems I’m trying to fix:

Diff centre.

Workshop Helper.

Rear end out. You can see the 10mm plate I put in probably 10 years ago. K-frame still seems to be in good shape. Nolathane bushes are also in good shape. I used to have Noltecs in there and they disintegrated.

K-frame ready for mods. Diff ready for new centre and I’ll be making up a new diff mount using control arm bushes. Stay tuned.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by  [TUFFVQ].
• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by  [TUFFVQ].

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

No need to change from M78 in my case – I’ll never break it with the power levels I’ve got.

Plus I’m happy with the ratio, just trying to make it more ‘legal’

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Anonymous wrote:

That’s funny Tuff, I just got an e-mail saying they’re closed today

Must depend how loudly you whinge ;)

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Plot thickens.

Spoke to the manufacturer about the installation of the product. Turns out that if you have a lower ratio gear set in it (typically 3.89/4.11) you need to remove the pinion and shave a few thou off the top corner of the pinion gear teeth to provide sufficient clearance. I was told I could do this with an angle grinder (expect if I have to I might use the linisher instead!)

My first thought is why not manufacture a product which has this clearance built into the LSD case if so required? Unless I’m not thinking of this right.

Looks like this isn’t an ‘over Christmas’ job as I haven’t got a replacement crush washer on hand if I have to pull the pinion out… 

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Justin from Tuff Car Parts responded pretty quickly, even gave me a call which is surprising given the time of the year. Apparently it’s ‘normal’ to not have spec/instructions provided, and the units are supplied in the same manner as is Eaton units (i.e. in a plastic bag).

Right.

Hopefully it all goes in an works OK.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

I’ve had 3.89’s in my VQ for going on 7 years now. Great ratio. sits on 2250rpm on the highway. Don’t get caught into this ‘it’ll rev too hard on the highway/kill economy’. It’s a crock. you might be revving slightly higher but there is less load on the engine so they basically cancel each other out.

Don’t bother with 3.45’s in a stock aspirated engine. 3.89’s at least, maybe 4.11’s.

I wouldn’t worry about running out of revs on the strip either – how often do you actually race? Hits on the street are more 1/8th mile anyway. Gear it up!

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Like the rims

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Diff centre arrived yesterday. Can’t say I’m very impressed at the moment.

The package arrived like it had been delivered by Ace Ventura. If you’re going to put a 10kg LSD centre in the post, at least use cardboard that might stay together. I would’ve also expected the centre to arrive in something other than a plastic bag and not ‘protected’ by left over old foam.

The centre itself came completely bare with no branding/packaging, there are no brand marks on the centre itself or even a serial number on it. There was no invoice or installation instructions included.

Whilst I don’t actually need the instructions it would’ve been good to have as a reference. If I have a warranty claim how can I prove this was the unit I purchased?

All in all, pretty poor approach from Tuff Car Parts. The old owner never operated like this. I’ll drop a line to the new owner but I doubt I’ll get anywhere.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

cava454 wrote:

…. full spool ….

Say’s the guy who claims “I’ll never get a spool”

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

I’ve had the Astra pump in the shed for ~2 years, haven’t gotten around to doing anything with it really.

Might look into it in the new year. Just figured that while I was ordering stuff to add a couple of fittings in there (hope I got the right ones!). It’ll mean also probably spending another $300 on 200 series lines and fittings too  And dealing with the nerves of the first few drives wondering if I’m going to lose steering all of a sudden.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Cheers.

Just emptied my wallet on some speedflow to tidy up the fuel system. Picked up some adaptors for the power steering too as I will eventually put an Astra electric pump on it.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

I’ve only had one decent tramp instance at the strip but that caused a breakage.

Have had some minor ones at high speed when on a slippery surface. But let’s see how it goes.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Oh and before Cav points out “what about the CV you smashed at Calder?”, that was axle tramp as I was a tight arse on tyres and tried using 4 year old Adrenalines on the right-hand lane. Fail sauce. Would’ve happened with an LSD as well, but at least with the spool I could drive it still :P

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

So nothing has really happened with this. I have still been sinking spare money into the house and also just bought the missus a new car – Ford Fiesta ST (Insert Ford jokes). It’s a killer little car.

Anyway I only have a week off over Christmas, so figured I should do at least something with the car as it has had next to no love over the past few years.

Plans aren’t big, I just intend on pulling the rear end out for some minor changes. I’ll make the trailing arm mounting mods to decrease camber, I’ve ordered a Torque Lock LSD centre for the M78 (to replace the mini spool which I’ve had for nearly 7 years, no complaints or breakages) that should arrive Monday. For $650 delivered it’s worth a shot (apparently Australian made, but I doubt it).

I’ll replace the camber adjustable bushes as well as they’re probably worn now after a few years and likely replace the rear shocks, hopefully something that can help reduce axle tramp. Suggestions?

Will probably also slot in a nolathane insert into the diff mount. I might also replace the braided lines in the boot for the surge tank and 044 with hard line to reduce fuel vapour permeation.

 

Next lot of work is to re-do some wiring then eventually pull the engine. The rear main leak is now quite impressive, and if I drive much more than 10-15km it gets pretty bad.

Not sure what to do engine wise though…

 

http://www.tuffcarparts.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1580

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Top work on that plastidip.

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

Apologies if you mentioned this earlier but I had a look and couldn’t find it – what are the black 18/19’s you’ve put on there recently?

[[TUFFVQ]Participant Melbourne1991 VQ 304 View build HERE Member since: March 2, 2015 Posts: 171]

OK So I plan on finally sorting this out over the Christmas/New Year break. Will post pics in my thread and here for future reference.

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