From Smoker to Sssssmokin’!

[AliK]

Another update from Stig-san:



1. Case and bearing surfaces cleaned. Yours is not epoxy coated inside. Maybe a later diff.


2. ⁠Crown wheel removed from old cage and cleaned up.

3. ⁠Cleaned all the bolts

4. ⁠The biggie for you, swapped the crown wheel onto the Quaife





This indeed is starting to feel very exciting! I love the fact that those original factory markings have survived 40+ years of sloshing about in diff lubricant!

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I will be interested to know how much of a difference this makes to road driving Ali.
I didn't have an lsd in my trackday car and sometimes wished I had. But that was ten tenths driving and hairpins, chicanes, Santa Pod.
I did have a Quaif in my blue rally car and the only time I ever felt it was when making drag style standing starts to see if it worked.

 

[Paul_S]

Another update from Stig-san:



1. Case and bearing surfaces cleaned. Yours is not epoxy coated inside. Maybe a later diff.


2. ⁠Crown wheel removed from old cage and cleaned up.

3. ⁠Cleaned all the bolts

4. ⁠The biggie for you, swapped the crown wheel onto the Quaife
View attachment 61268
View attachment 61269
View attachment 61270
View attachment 61271View attachment 61272

This indeed is starting to feel very exciting! I love the fact that those original factory markings have survived 40+ years of sloshing about in diff lubricant!

I like how he places parts down and draws around and labels them. I might copy that idea for several car and non-car projects.

 

[AliK]

I like how he places parts down and draws around and labels them. I might copy that idea for several car and non-car projects.

This is exactly why he is doing it and not me! He's a very meticulous chap and a brilliant engineer - precisely what this job needs!

I will be interested to know how much of a difference this makes to road driving Ali.
I didn't have an lsd in my trackday car and sometimes wished I had. But that was ten tenths driving and hairpins, chicanes, Santa Pod.
I did have a Quaif in my blue rally car and the only time I ever felt it was when making drag style standing starts to see if it worked.

Yep, you and me both!

 

[Robotsan]

I like how he places parts down and draws around and labels them. I might copy that idea for several car and non-car projects.

I take photos of things on the table and annotate them.. like all the nuts and bolts I'm getting zinc plated. Then hopefully its just a matter of finding them in the box, and laying them out on the table in the same arrangement. Same idea really you don't have to write on your table

 

[AliK]

I take photos of things on the table and annotate them.. like all the nuts and bolts I'm getting zinc plated. Then hopefully its just a matter of finding them in the box, and laying them out on the table in the same arrangement. Same idea really you don't have to write on your table

Me too! In fact what was a surprise at the platers was that they were very happy to keep everything separate as per my “bag & tag” scheme and return them to me in the same freezer bags!
Before

After

Ps. My liberal use of kitchen worktops etc pleases my wife no end!

 

[Robotsan]

Me too! In fact what was a surprise at the platers was that they were very happy to keep everything separate as per my “bag & tag” scheme and return them to me in the same freezer bags!
Before
View attachment 61277
After
View attachment 61276
Ps. My liberal use of kitchen worktops etc pleases my wife no end!

Ha, exactly the same! That looks amazing. I never thought of getting the fuel rail (lines?) or throttle linkage plated. Can't believe your platers kept it all in the same bags. I'll try asking mine to see if they'll do that too! If not, what company do you use, as maybe I could post to them!

 

[MCBladeRun]

Not to be a spoil sport or anything, I measured every nut and bolt pulled out including unique markings and then handed over the whole lot in a washing up bowl

 

[AliK]

Ha, exactly the same! That looks amazing. I never thought of getting the fuel rail (lines?) or throttle linkage plated. Can't believe your platers kept it all in the same bags. I'll try asking mine to see if they'll do that too! If not, what company do you use, as maybe I could post to them!

I use YB plating as they are an easy 20 mins drive down the motorway - but I would recommend going for a local one in case anything goes missing and you can go look them in the eye . Also would recommend soaking your rusty items in Lemon juice and salt for say 12-24 hours before taking down to the platers. They will of course acid dip your items, but this way you start with a better base. I find about a litre of Morrison's bottled lemon with a table spoon full of salt mixed in does wonders for rust!

#Top tip: DO NOT under pain of death plate a dip stick!! If your oil is anything like mine (i.e. see through and yellow) you ill never be able to read the dipstick!!

Not to be a spoil sport or anything, I measured every nut and bolt pulled out including unique markings and then handed over the whole lot in a washing up bowl

You sir, are an animal and need to be let out more often! Nice work!

 

[Robotsan]

Not to be a spoil sport or anything, I measured every nut and bolt pulled out including unique markings and then handed over the whole lot in a washing up bowl

OK, you win!

 

[Robotsan]

I use YB plating as they are an easy 20 mins drive down the motorway - but I would recommend going for a local one in case anything goes missing and you can go look them in the eye . Also would recommend soaking your rusty items in Lemon juice and salt for say 12-24 hours before taking down to the platers. They will of course acid dip your items, but this way you start with a better base. I find about a litre of Morrison's bottled lemon with a table spoon full of salt mixed in does wonders for rust!

#Top tip: DO NOT under pain of death plate a dip stick!! If your oil is anything like mine (i.e. see through and yellow) you ill never be able to read the dipstick!!


You sir, are an animal and need to be let out more often! Nice work!

Yeah good point. They were very good last time - hung up every little tiny screw on wire!

I've gone beyond the lemon juice and salt.. after the rust treatment I tumbled them for 24 hours with stainless steel media, and now they're super shiny! Hopefully should look amazing once plated.

 

[240L31]

Not to be a spoil sport or anything, I measured every nut and bolt pulled out including unique markings and then handed over the whole lot in a washing up bowl

Guys, keep in mind that high strengh bolts (eg suspension) may lose quite some strength due to zinc coating (hydrogen embrittlement). At least if the plating guy does not perform a special aftertreatment.

 

[AliK]

Guys, keep in mind that high strengh bolts (eg suspension) may lose quite some strength due to zinc coating (hydrogen embrittlement). At least if the plating guy does not perform a special aftertreatment.

Just read up on this after your post! Wow! You learn something new every day! Various sources agree that the bolts have to be baked for 16-24 hours at 220c after plating to get the Hydrogen out!!! As you say, it seems to be mainly related to suspension fasteners of 12.9 but apparently 8.8 or 10.9 are OK - who knew!

a good article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-best-bolt-one-use-donald-baskin/

 

[MCBladeRun]

Guys, keep in mind that high strengh bolts (eg suspension) may lose quite some strength due to zinc coating (hydrogen embrittlement). At least if the plating guy does not perform a special aftertreatment.

Everydays a school day

 

[AliK]

Mini update from Stig-san.

We’ve been waiting for shims to come from Zcardepot. They arrived in Nissan livery. You have to wonder why Nissan dealers can’t get hold of them in the UK but Stiggles may try again with the part numbers shown to see if they give a more enthusiastic response.

These are 3 shims of different sizes but only one of them is required. The rest were acquired to make the silly postage worthwhile and to have them on the bench for future other diff work.



Bearings are on the diff carrier now and soon to be presented up to the diff with the correct shims ready for wipe pattern and backlash analysis. Getting very excited now!

 

[Ian]

Its a pity Amayama don't do S30 parts.

 

[JamMe]

Just read up on this after your post! Wow! You learn something new every day! Various sources agree that the bolts have to be baked for 16-24 hours at 220c after plating to get the Hydrogen out!!! As you say, it seems to be mainly related to suspension fasteners of 12.9 but apparently 8.8 or 10.9 are OK - who knew!

a good article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-best-bolt-one-use-donald-baskin/

If I understand correctly, the final quality depends on the baking time? For example, if baked for 16 hours, it will be one quality, if baked for 24 hours, it will be another. Which one is better?

 

[AliK]

Final update from Stig-san:

—-

Run out measures at 0.5mm so within tolerance.



Backlash measures at around 0.15mm so again with in tolerance

Wipe pattern is ok, but a little to far toward the tooth crown.



Decided I wasn’t happy with it so pulled it back out.

Fitted a slightly wider shim on the right @ 2.15mm. Pattern is now spot on in the middle of the tooth. Backlash has closed up a bit to around 0.14mm. You can actually feel the diff is slightly tighter for it.



Sides seals replaced and stubb axles refitted.

I’ve oiled the crown and bearing carriers with some diff oil so it’s not dry in there.


Didn’t like the preload on the pinion so swapped out the oil seal with the new one and re torqued it to the correct pre load.





So all done and ready for you for you to fit!



Little celebratory cuppa Apart from hanging around for the shims from the States, it’s quite a quick upgrade.

—-

So this is all VERY EXCITING - but sadly he’s been busy this week and next week I’m away, not is the weather any good for wheeling Datsuns out of garages. So I have to live with the pain, akin to a child waiting for Christmas Day to arrive!

 

[Healey 12]

Love the attention to detail , What oil are you going to use in the Diff?

 

[Healey 12]

Mini update from Stig-san.

We’ve been waiting for shims to come from Zcardepot. They arrived in Nissan livery. You have to wonder why Nissan dealers can’t get hold of them in the UK but Stiggles may try again with the part numbers shown to see if they give a more enthusiastic response.

These are 3 shims of different sizes but only one of them is required. The rest were acquired to make the silly postage worthwhile and to have them on the bench for future other diff work.

View attachment 61426

Bearings are on the diff carrier now and soon to be presented up to the diff with the correct shims ready for wipe pattern and backlash analysis. Getting very excited now!

View attachment 61427

I will ask my very friendly Nissan dealer if he can get them