After getting _almost_ stuck in snow, then _getting_ stuck in the snow a few weeks later, and the umpteenth "Blizzard of the Century" fast approaching (I'm in PA) right on top of that, I want to do something about it. I've already bought 2 sets of used rims and I planned to put snow tires on them. Then I saw what Keven97SE did and got to thinking....

Rims + good snow tires that drive well on dry >= $700
(used rims cost me $250 shipped. Snows are $100ea+s/h)

If I could find a good price on a VLSD, That swap might cost me less than the extra rims/tires and be useful year round. (and keep my basement free of extra rims/tires)
Keven has pointed out the codes for the VLSD (R5F50V) vs open (R5F50A) diffs, but could anyone please let me know what models used that diff?
According to Brian Catts post regarding the Quaiffe diff, the following cars are likely 5spd VLSD donors:

92-94 3rd gen SE
95-99 4th gen Canadian ES/SE
96-99 I30t
5th gen 20th AE

Can anyone confirm?
thanks

 

Yeah, those are the cars with the LSD. Your best bet if you have a 4th gen is the Canadian Max or I30t 5-speed tranny.

Hopefully Keven can chip in here and give some advice.

 

I will definately be cheaper to get tires. All you need to do is find a used tranny with VLSD, and do the swap (you'll need new driveshafts too)....Should be $1000 (used) or so for the tranny, NEW axles are $450 (you can find used maybe, it took me 2 months to find them), and labor may be closer to $4-500, unless you do it yourself.

Hope this helps,


Don

 

To correct Don, I know his auto tranny swap (open diff to VLSD) did require swapping driveshafts, but for the 5spd swap, NO driveshaft swap was required. The only thing I had to swap was the transmission...THAT'S IT!

As far as what models use the VLSD tranny, you listed all the ones I'm familiar with. When it comes to searching for a VLSD unit, though, all you have to do is ask for a 5spd tranny with a LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL (instead of an open diff). I used http://www.car-part.com and http://www.woodfins.com to search. To make sure I was being quoted on a VLSD tranny, I always called up the wrecking yard and confirmed that it did have a locking diff, and also had them check the VIN# of the donor car to verify...apparently, one of the characters in the VIN# will identify for sure whether the car came with a VLSD transmission. I don't recall the specifics, however.

 

hey Keven

when i checked to get my LSD tranny, the place ran a check and the part numbers for the LSD and non LSD were different. Oh well, hopefully your right cause i think im juss gonna use regualr driveaxles. Im gonna get some custom built ones later