Skyline rearend?

[jurven240z]

Does anyone know what year of Skyline one needs for the LSD that will fit a 5/70. Will be in Japan in a few days and it would not hurt to see if I can find one at a fare price.

[HS30-H]

Hi jurven,

Can I ask precisely why you are chasing what you call a "Skyline" diff. for your Z?

If you want to "upgrade", and even go LSD with a nice ratio, why not go for the R200 ( seen on many many Nissan models - not just the Skyline ). If you choose one from an early 300ZX it will NOT be expensive in Japan ( unless you think around $400 for a really spiffy 3.9 LSD-equipped R200 is expensive ). Open 3.9 ratios should be peanuts money in Japan ( maybe as low as $100 ) and they are usually in great condition too.

If you ask at a Japanese used parts yard for a "Skyline" diff, you will probably be asked what model you want ( there were myriad different versions, and don't forget that the "Skyline" name started way back in the mid Fifties in Japan..... ).

Stick to asking for a "Fairlady" diff and you will probably simplify matters for yourself. Then you only need to change the moustache bar and pop some bolt-up output shafts on it ( easy to find from any early-type R200 ).

You might not be able to get it through the X-ray machine at the airport though..................!

Good luck,

Alan T.

[jurven240z]

Thankz, Will go with the early R200 from a 300z. I'm on a Navy ship and will carry it on board. Free shipping literaly.

[Zvoiture]

Isn't the diffy you are looking for the R190? Wouldn't any R190 be a fairly easy swap into a Z--at least not any harder than converting from 180 to 200?

steve77

[24OZ]

I hope you sort out the customs documents. Customs can be a real pain when they want to.

[HS30-H]

Zvoiture,

He won't find many "R190" diffs in Japanese scrapyards...........

The "R190" was the name that DATSUN COMPETITION in the USA gave to the diff. that was fitted as standard in the Z432 ( PS30 ) and Z432-R ( PS30-SB ), and in the first Skyline GT-R's ( PGC10 and KPGC10 ). In actual fact, the Japanese called this the "R192", and it was kind of like an R180 on steroids. Still the same basic design - just scaled up. These are now very difficult to find, and very expensive when you do.

Being the same basic design as the R180, it shares the faults of the R180. They were always noisy, especially with 3.9, 4.1, 4.44 ( standard on the 432 and GT-R ) and up gears ( they went up to 5.1 ).

The R200 however is a much better design, and is a dream to set up in comparison to the R180 and R192. Its also so common in Japan that it seems to be possible to find one whatever area of the country you look in. Not too expensive either, and with Japan's many difficult mountain roads and snowy / icy weather in winter, it quite easy to find them with LSD from the factory - especially on the commercial vehicle applications ( look for Cedric and Gloria wagons for these ). The "Scrap" yard owners in Japan quite often have them already stripped out of the car, on the shelf, and with the ratios marked on them in paint marker.

Jurven, you sound like you have the luxury of free shipping - in which case you might consider buying some more diffs to sell when you get back. The "Want Ads" seem to be full of Z owners in the USA looking for R200's with and without LSD's.

Happy sailing,

Alan T.

[jurven240z]

Thankz Alan, Just hope I'll be able to carry it back to the ship. Will make an effort to find one beside doing the sailor in a foreign thing "drinking".

Later all. Miss driving my Z already!