I want to swap a 90-96 non turbo 300ZX diff into my 91 240. I have searched and all I can find is that I need to change my output shafts b/c of the bolt pattern being different blah blah... but nothing about what to do if I want to use the 300Z axles as well. Do I need to modify anything for them to work properly? Do I need to use a J30 drivers axle in place of my pass. axle? Are the splines the same? I know this is probably common knowledge but I am still pretty new to the 240 world so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

PS- If this is a little too newb oriented, feel free to move to the Newbie section but someone please help.

 

Anyone???

 

on the J30 diff's you need the axels witch slide in to the 240 hub, so thats
most likely the case with the 300zx diff as well. but thats just a wild guess

 

I thought the 95-96 J30's were a direct bolt-in and you can use your 240 axles?

 

Well I am trying to go with the 5-bolt output shafts rather than the 6. I just don't know if I need the 300Z hubs to make the 300Z axles work or if I can use the 5-bolt output shafts and just use different axles if I need to. If the 300Z has the same spline as the 240 hub then I should be able to use the 300Z axles as long as both driver and passenger are the correct lengths. I know this seems a little confusing but just look at it as "what would I have to do to make the 300Z diff WITH the 5 bolt output shafts work in my 240? Is it possible using a combination of OEM parts from different cars?

 

for s14's not s13's if you get s14 axels then it will be a direct fit on a s13

 

The J30 output shafts are 5 bolt right? This means I could use the J30 or Z32 VLSD and use S14 axles instead of having to change output shafts correct? This would make my Z32 VLSD w/S14 axles swap work in my S13 and would solve my problem.

 

I see. I thought the s13 and s14's had the same axles. I got that from here:

http://www.ka24development.com/vlsd.html

 

I read that post and it helped me out a tremendous amount. I now know that my 300Z diff and axles i'm looking at buying will work if I can find some J30 axles. Or I could just go with a J30 diff and axles that have the 5 bolt pattern and it should go right in and only be 3/4" longer than my stock unit. I could also swap all the guts into my open diff housing but I probably won't be doing that as I don't want to mess with setting the clearances in the diff. Now if I can just find a used set of 5-bolt J30 axles for dirt cheap..... Thanks for the info.

 

j30 and z32 diff have different output shafts you can put j30 output shafts on the z32 diff(stronger) and use s14 axels or you can put s13 output shafts in the z32 diff. i just got a J30 cause it was a direct bolton to my s14 i saved my stock diff just in case i buy a clutch lsd ever lol

 

I thought that the Z32 and J30 diffs were identical. Aren't the Z32 output shafts and the earlier 92-93 J30 output shafts both 5-bolt? What's so different? I've just read where the 6-bolt is weaker than the 5 and since I am able to get it fairly cheap I would like to use 5-bolt output shafts.

 

well maybe 92-93 shafts are 5 bolt 95-96 are 6 bolt and s14 are 6 bolt

 

So now if I can find J30 axles cheap enough I should be able to come out a little cheaper than the OEM 240 VLSD swap and should also be a little stronger .

 

Wow, a lot of misunderstanding going on in here...

Diff Strength:

The Z32 NA VLSD internally is the same as a J30 VLSD and a S13/S14 VLSD. The input shaft and the output shafts have the same spline count. They are the same "strength".

Input Flanges:

The differences between all of these diffs are in the input flanges and the output flanges. All of the input flanges have the same diameter 4-bolt pattern.

The input flanges are different length though on the ABS and non ABS cars. The J30 has 3-channel ABS, due to this the ABS sensor being part of the input flange, and it lengthens the diff somewhat to accomodate the sensor. The Z32 has 4-channel ABS, and as such the sensors are on each output shaft and the input flange length is the same as a S13 or S14 without ABS.

I would say all of the Input flanges have the same "strength".

Output Flanges:

S13 and S14 have the Tri-Y 6-bolt flanges.

The J30's have either a Tri-Y 6-Bolt or an even spread 5-bolt pattern depending on year. Early 93-Early 94 are 5-bolt, Late 94-96 are Tri-Y 6-Bolt

All Z32 NA are 5-Bolt.

We can argue a lot on whether the Tri-Y 6-Bolt or the 5-Bolt are stronger, but I think it's a mute point. When people break R200's, they break the output shaft at the spline root, which is a stress concentration. They don't shear the flange bolts.

Axles:

Z32 track width is wider than the S chassis as well as the J30. Z32NA Axles will not work in any S chassis car. Maybe the Z32 NA Drivers side axle could work on the passenger side of the S13/S14, but that's purely speculation. I can take some measurements if anyone is interested.

If you want to use the Z32 NA diff or the Early J30 Diff, you need early J30 axles.

With the exception of the 5-bolt or Tri-Y flange on the axle, the rest of the construction is the same on all of these cars. Including the Spline count that enters the Hub.

I hope that clears some things up...