The old "volvo diff into celica conversion"

[wa5]

I have had someone ask me about upgrading an early RA Celica to LSD, is the Volvo option the best way, are there other options?

[Toy77]

Hi there,

There are always lots of options - you need to decide the best.

LSD's that fit the standard diff do exist - i think... but rare and expensive and not very strong.

if you are prepared to change the diff - then there are other options.

The Volvo and Hilux diffs are the 2 most common - have a read through this thread, pro's and cons are laid out pretty easily.

But i have also seen Borg warner (from early skyline and commodores) and 9in diff from a ford used.

There are a couple IRS conversions running around now as well - one using a GTR setup, the other i think was an F series toyota - but there are a more difficult thing to do.

You need to ask yourself -
What do you want to do with the car?
How much power do you want to make?
How much if any can you do yourself?
How much are you prepared to spend?

This will help you narrow your options.

I have a Volvo diff - and it has been great. I believe it is the most cost effective solution to a strong, suitable geared and disc braked rear end.
But i do not know how it will hold up to my new power plant... but with the last one (and plenty others on here) they seem to work well with around 200rwkw - how much more is yet to be seen.... But if i ever get mine running and blow it up - i will let people know here.

Cheers
Stew

[wa5]

Thanks ............

[ian]

does anyone know what the length of the volvo diff is

[Toy77]

1400mm from memory - mounting face to mounting face.

So 10mm narrower than the wider hilux ad about 30mm wider than factory.

cheers
Stew

[stidnam]

around 1410 I believe from memory. Thats for the older 240, 244 etc diffs. I pulled a diff out of a newer rwd volvo by mistake and it ended up being something like 1460

[Toy77]

my first post has 1400mm on it... which is when i would have measured it. I thought the later hilux ones were 1410? it is narrower than them.

[stidnam]

It may well be. It would have been 2 years ago since I measured mine

[gmonkey]

anyone know what width diff/axels was in the volvo 360s?? (the small hatch back volvo released mid 80s?)

also toy77 any pics of your hub setup being 5x114.3 would love to see as i plan on going 5 stud if possible... as ill have the hopper stoppers on the front so want same stud pattern but push comes to shove guess could get them 4 stud

[egamirrorim]

What models besides the 240 should I be looking under?

[greg]

the 360 volvo has a de dion rear end whth the gearbox as an integral part , don't know if it can be separated easily. the 260 diff is same as 240 ratios vary though.
cheers greg

[gmonkey]

there is two diffs available for the conversion.. 1030 and 1031.

they can be found in 240/242/244/760

i got myself a 244 1030 with 5x108 pcd on it... 281mm discs and 2piston calipers.

[egamirrorim]

There's no way to tell what the ratio of the diff is until it is taken apart, right?

[Toy77]

yup there is - it is written on a metal plate on the front of the diff for your viewing pleasure.....

cheers
Stew

[drumerboyben]

If you cant find the plate (I had no luck) there's also a sticker on the left (if memory serves) axle casing facing the back near the the caliper. It'll prolly be covered in crap but the top layer of the sticker peels off pretty easy then you can see the ratio clearly.
Cheers,
Ben