Rear diff torque rating?

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70spider
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Rear diff torque rating?

Post by 70spider »

I was wondering what kind of torque can the rear diff take? Would 150 ft./lbs. be to much?
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
TX82FIAT
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Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by TX82FIAT »

150 seems high to me. I would think the differential front flange is about 90 ft/lb and the cover is about 40 ft/pd. I may be misunderstanding the question.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
Nut124
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Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:39 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by Nut124 »

Engine torque?

The rear diff is the weakest part of the 124 drivetrain. I have broken four diffs in my 1800 by launching hard. Used to be I broke the diff every time I got sticky new tires. The diff fails as the pass side diff gear carrier bearing journal snaps off, weak, cast iron. Hard launching does it or stepping on it in reverse.

The russian LSD is stronger, steel, and mine has held up so far. Not sure what the availability is now with the war.
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70spider
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Your car is a: 1970 Fiat spider
Location: N.E. New Mexico

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by 70spider »

The rear diff is the weakest part of the 124 drivetrain
That's what I thought. There goes the plans of an engine swap unless I can figure out how to put a stronger axle assembly in him.
Thanks for your input.
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
Nut124
Posts: 748
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:39 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by Nut124 »

What kind of engine swap were you thinking of?

The russian, steel LSD I have looks to be much stronger than the Fiat cast iron unit. It fits in a -70 axle.
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70spider
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Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by 70spider »

I was looking at a few options. The more practical one is the old mustang ii 2.8l v6 with a T-5 trany, seemed liked the best one but the torque rating of the engine is 140 ft.lbs, HP was ok around 110. The other two (honda k20 and mazda renesis) were a little higher around 150-160 ft.lbs. The reason why I was considering it is I moved to an area that the only road between towns is the interstate and my little 1438 with the 4.30 rear end isn't practical at 75-80 mph. I thought about the 3.90 rear end gears from AutoRicambi combined with the 0.63 overdrive in the T-5 would be good, reducing the rpms from 4200 to 2700 @ 75mph.
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
User avatar
70spider
Posts: 676
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 3:05 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Fiat spider
Location: N.E. New Mexico

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by 70spider »

The russian, steel LSD
Wow just looked it up and there over a grand, ouch. I think it would be cheaper to put a ford 8" rear end in it.
1970 Fiat Spider 124 Sport aka "Pesto"
2002 Mazda Protege5
2013 Buddy 170i
Wolfman2332
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Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:27 am
Your car is a: 84 black fiat 124 spyder

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by Wolfman2332 »

Where can I look at the Russian Differential?
Black '84 w/tan top
Nut124
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Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by Nut124 »

Wolfman2332 wrote:Where can I look at the Russian Differential?
They could be hard to get now due to the war. Mine came from Ukraine 3 years ago. Looks like the one below. They come with different lock presets.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185669063599?h ... R76Fz8DHYQ
Wolfman2332
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Re: Rear diff torque rating?

Post by Wolfman2332 »

Thanks for the lead Nut124 - that looks like a good idea. Would love to hunt down a (aprox) 3.65:1 read end. Limited slip is going to get ordered for next years project list.
Black '84 w/tan top
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