Quote from: lazzer408 on December 14, 2010, 09:30:41 PM

It's hard to find any info on these things. What differentials fit the x90? Sidekick? Vitara? Which years? I found out some things about the Vitara front diff fitting but they weren't clear as to what years fit what and which axles to use. Is there an interchange guide somewhere?

X90 has 4:68 or thereabouts. The Vitara/Track/Kick differentials interchange but the X should have the 26-spline shafts.

Other then the spline, are the front half shafts the same? This '02 Tracker I bought doesn't have any locking hubs. The half shaft is always engauged to the front hubs and the diff has a pressure activated clutch for the input driveshaft. I would like to use an axle like that but would modify it so it's always locked.
This is the combination I have so far...
'06-08 GV 5-speed trans.
'06-08 GV single-mode t-case
'02 Tracker (maybe others) front diff.
'02 Tracker axles for the always locked hubs.
2.5L engine. I have more piston/rod combinations for this engine then the 2.7L.

What's up with this forum's reply box wanting to scroll up all the time?

You can fit manual locking hubs, there is a write up in the Tech Archive.

I don't have a need for it though. I'm trying to make it full time all wheel drive with center differential. This car is for on-road use only.

A little update.

I cut the springs for a 2" drop. I also swapped the rear Firebird shocks for Corvette shocks as the Firebird's extended lenght would have allow the springs to pop out. Ride is about the same but MUCH less body roll and dive. It corners like my Miata now. The rear end has always been stiff and bouncy so I'm going to try some other springs I have that are a slightly smaller diameter wire. Civic maybe, I can't remember. This should soften it up some. The stock springs are too thick for a car this light. I'd do the same for the front but I think the added weight of the v6 will tame them a bit. I'd like another inch or two drop but I can't cut off too much until the engine/drivetrain are in.

I've been looking into the Duratec 3.0 v6 as another option. It has a small mod following and Nobel managed 425-450hp out of it in their "supercar". Question is, will the Mazda MPV's drivetrain handle it. 

It will be interesting when you apply that much HP against the front CV's (and the rest of running gear) on dry pavement (lots of traction). The sudden high loads occurring at rapid shifts tend to break things.

I've seen Suzuki's bouncing 33"s on rocks in 4-low and that's alot of abuse. My tires will likely be 205-215/45-50/17 and I'm thinking that as light as this is, it's going to launch pretty hard. It's not like I have 2+ tons of weight to pull against. We shall see though won't we.  

EDIT - The Civic springs turned out to be a lot better then the Suzuki rears. With those on, the rear end bumps now feel like the front end bumps. Instead of thump-BAM it's now thump-thump.

Although unfinished, this box isn't going anywhere. And I still have some trunk space left. 

Going for some thump in the trunk huh?

A quick note on the 33's on rocks.  What snaps the axles like twigs is when the tire gets bound up and can't spin.  Bouncing doesn't help on the longevity, but a lot of that power is being absorbed by the springs and not taken into the axle itself.  Unless your running a traction bar.

If the begining of the chain is the crankshaft, and the end of the chain is the tire on the pavement (or a rock), the half-shafts are the first to go? I don't think the springs are absorbing much of the drivetrain torque. I have a feeling the weakest link in my build is going to be the transmission. I'll assume off-roaders are popping halfshafts in 4-low? The transmission doesn't actually see the multiplication in torque that the low reduction makes. The trans only sees what's comming off the crankshaft and if I double the engine torque, it's stll less then the low reduction adds to the drivetrain. Say I leave the transmission out of the equation (Stick it in 4th 1:1). With 200ft-lbs at the crank through a 3:1 low gear I have 600lbs at the driveshafts. If I boost that engine to 400ft-lbs, and don't use 4-low, I'm only putting 400ft-lbs to the driveshafts. I'm fairly convinced the drivetrain can handle the power of a v6 turbo but like I said, the transmission worrys me.

I'm impressed by what some people are getting out of these Duratec V6s. I'm trying to find an AWD (center diff) drivetrain that'll bolt to it.

Can anyone think of another longitudinal mounted V6 AWD -something- available with a manual transmission? It MUST contain a center differential. The only thing I've found so far is the '06-08 Grand Vitara and I think there's a Toyota truck out there with a center diff. Toyota 4-runner I believe. If I go the Toyota route, next thing you know I'll have an LS400 1uzfe v8  crammed in here. lol

I was just talking about Suzuki's bouncing around on the rocks.  What usually breaks the front birfields is the flex, you get them at to much of an angle and they bind up and break.

Did someone here tell me they had a v6 block with a knock forsale?

Did someone here tell me they had a v6 block with a knock forsale?

I have the H-27 that is supposed to have small knock in bottom end.  I purchased it for parts, and have not heard it run.  As it still has all coils on it, It is still worth $150 to me.  If you are interested, I can try and drop the pan and get photo's of the rod bearings this weekend.
I am located in Bow, Wa.  98232

Yes I'd very much like to see it. Mine spun 4 rods and one main (ouch).

That does sound painful...

Yes I'd very much like to see it. Mine spun 4 rods and one main (ouch).

I will get external photo's tonight.  The only electronics are the coils.  The front timing cover is cracked, harmonic balancer is distorted, and cooling manifold under intake is broke (car with the engine I am using had been sandwiched).  There are no motor mounts.