Differential Help

DeviLSh

DeviLSh

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Bought a 2003 diff w/ 3.58 to swap in my 01, has anyone done this before?

Just pulled the 01 diff out...

When comparing the 03 diff to the 01 the cases are different. THe 01 is wider (from axle inlet to axle inlet) than the 03. By about an .5-1 inch. SO i am a little worried. All of the mounting points are exactly the same, so mouting it will not be a problem, but im worried about the axle shafts being in the right place and sealing. Any thoughts???

I know that an 04 Thunderbird diff will work on an LS (a member has done it) but i thought there was no difference from teh LS to the thunderbirds...

LS project 021.jpg
 
Jason,

The 2003 Diff will not work in our cars. 02V8Sport accidently told me an 04 went into his car when it was actually an 02 Diff from a t-bird(that had the 3.58) So, tomorrow im going back to Waukesha to return the 03 diff, then possibly going to elgin to pick up a 99 LS diff, or 02 t-bird diff. Which then should fit.

I have the car at a friends right now, driveashaft zip-tied up and axles sitting, waiting.

So, 03-06 difs will not fit 1st gen LS's, end of story. Axles are beefier on the 2nd gen models. However, the gears can be swapped from any year, for they are all 8" ring and pinions.
 
jtscully82 said:
Are any of the diffs limited slips.
Click to expand...
None of the factory differentials used in the LS or the DEW-98 T-Bird were limited slip. I don't know about the Jags, but I don't think they had one, either.
 
so the T-birds came out with 3:58's? what year T-bird can I get these gears from a 2000-2002 am I right? Im also assuming, that ones the gears are upgraded the computer needs to be reflashed, and thats where the X-cal comes into play right?
 
I made a mistake when telling Devilsh my diff in my old 02 LS was out of an 04 T-bird, since that is what they yard told me it was out of when I bought it from them. It was actually out of a 02 T-bird.

For the 00-02 LS you can use the late 99/early 00 diffs which have the 3.58 or the 2002 T-Birds only.

The 03+ Tbird and 03+ LS's have a different carrier. and only interchange between the 03+ years.

I figured Devilsh would change the ring and pinion gears if the diffs were not the same dimensions, thats why I figured he would have been safe with getting the 03 diff I recommended to him. Devilsh just wants a full swap out and not mess with the diff internals and I didnt know that at first.

Sorry for the mixup Devilsh.

I also did this mod almost 2 years ago so things were fuzzy to me:
http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=11970&highlight=3.58
 
No problem,

I went to Southbend IN(3 hour drive each way) and picked up a 2000 LS 3.58 diff yesterday for 200$. We got it in last night at around midnight and After getting some gas went to test it out.

All I can say is this is probably the best 200 dollars i've ever spent! 1st and 2nd dont show much of a durastic change, but third is very strong. VERY STRONG. 1st and 2nd are also a little shorter and 3rd comes in around 50 instead of right by sixty. (in D5mode) But third is the moeny gear. From about 60-95(right before 4th) this car MOVES OUT! very strong acceleration.

The diff went in pretty easy it took us about 4hours to get the old one out but only about 45 min to ge thtis one in. I had to remove my exahust, unbolt the middle driveshaft bracket, and loosen the suspension a lil to ease the install, but evreything works, and man does it wokr nice.

Jason, you may want to think about doing this.. BUt ill let you see mine whenever we hit up GLD so you can check/compare the gears to see if it will help.

-Devin
 
Im glad to hear that! The guy in Elgin didnt work out?

When you and Jason go up to GLD I want to meet you guys up there with my 04.
 
Where is GLD? You guys aren't too far from me, I have only been to Route 66 which is like 15 minutes away from me(New Lenox)
 
Any noticeable difference in fuel mileage on the highway? I would magine the engine runs a few hundred rpm higher at 60mph. 200 bucks aint a bad investment for seat of your pants noticeable gains. :p
Now we just gotta see some times!
 
CTX-SLPR said:
Is there an LSD offered for these cars from the aftermarket? One-wheel peels are always lame.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

SoonerLS said:
None of the factory differentials used in the LS or the DEW-98 T-Bird were limited slip. I don't know about the Jags, but I don't think they had one, either.
Click to expand...

already been answered...
I would like a LSD as well, but have yet to find any info about one.
 
Glad its together and workin well.

I'm up for the track, name when.

I'm hoping for a 1-1.5mph and .04-.06 sec. gain in the 1/8.

1.5-2mph and 1-1.5 sec gain in the 1/4.

That would make my Gen1 as fast as the Fastest Gen2...N/A. I think their gearing advantage is about all they have on mine now.
 
Actually I think you guys mean Traction Loc as Ford calls it. GM uses the Posi-Traction name. Powers both wheels when loaded. Limited slips don't.

No aftermarket made that anyone has discovered. The ring and pinion arrangement of the old 8" Ford is likely different by design...would a aftermarket Traction-Loc for that work??? Doubt it.
 
02LSE96LSC91SE84TC said:
Actually I think you guys mean Traction Loc as Ford calls it. GM uses the Posi-Traction name. Powers both wheels when loaded. Limited slips don't.

No aftermarket made that anyone has discovered. The ring and pinion arrangement of the old 8" Ford is likely different by design...would a aftermarket Traction-Loc for that work??? Doubt it.
Click to expand...

If you gonna go aftermarket, I don't think anyone makes a differential for LS that could be swapped.
I think if you wanna put it apart and change the gears that would not be a problem to do.
I remember someone in LLSOC getting TORSEN gears to put into LS differential but I didn't stick around long enough to see results, if any (not that is impossible, but just not done).

Anyway how are you gonna fix the speedometer error?
I know XCal can't do it on my car cuz I compared my speed with my portable GPS unit, roadside radar that shows your speed and there was no change when reflashing PCM with different values.
Maybe there is another gear that can swapped so a PCM gets a correct signal to show speed, if possible
 
Sn8kbordin said:
Anyway how are you gonna fix the speedometer error?
Click to expand...
Changing the gears won't affect the speedo; the LS pulls the speed data from the ABS sensors, which are after the gears. Changing the overall tire diameter would affect the speedo, but not changing gearing.

BTW, the LLSOC Torsen project is under way, but it's sitting in the project queue of the guy who has it now.
 
Yeah I belive Lous has the Torsen diff sitting in an LS case, they just need ot finalize it... Hmm may be an idea for my old diff sitting around.

Speedo has cause dno problems that i know of, like Sooner said, LS runs off abs sensors. The XCAL2 has an axle ratio adjustment anyway, adam you still have the orig xcal right?

And as for my peg-leg burnouts... Well its actully been a long time since only one of my tires have spun. The car DOES NOT have an LSD but I frequently get both to spin... I love it when the car slides out to the right when standing stil

02V8Sport, The guy in Elgin wanted 400 for the t-bird diff, and 500!!!!! for the 2000 LS. My friend tried to bargain with him, and he wouldnt budge, not even for 300 for the t-bird. SO when ended the phone conversation with "good luck selling that thing for 500, and good luck staying in business" haha
 
SoonerLS said:
Changing the gears won't affect the speedo; the LS pulls the speed data from the ABS sensors, which are after the gears. Changing the overall tire diameter would affect the speedo, but not changing gearing.

BTW, the LLSOC Torsen project is under way, but it's sitting in the project queue of the guy who has it now.
Click to expand...

Any idea of a part number or something of the TORSEN gears?
What do I need know about differential in LS to replace the gears with at least LSD type gears?
 
$400-500 for these diffs is just nuts!! Ive seen them a low as $100 in various parts of the country. Im glad you found one for a good price.
 
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