Hello - Looking for some R160 info

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bh0891
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Joined: 07 Mar 2018 05:33

Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Hello - I do not currently own a Datsun 510 though they look very cool and love the sounds I have heard at the race track.

I am really looking for information on the R160 differential. I am trying to put one into a triumph spitfire as an upgrade due to my miata engine/transmission. Really need the old style bolt in axles with the flange (non-cv application). Not terribly concerned about getting an LSD, but that would be nice. Are these like finding buried treasure? I notice it seams a lot of 510 aftermarket serves to update to the later R160 or the R180.

Also - I have an R160 out of an '89 GL. I am assuming the flanged (non-cv) stub axles will go into this differential, but can they even be had? Everything I have seen relating to stub axles is again related to converting to later diffs or cv's.

Any help would be appreciated - It is possible to upgrade the rear suspension to allow for CV's, but that is probably a +/-$2k endeavor.

Thanks,

Ryan
iceman510
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by iceman510 »

Hey Ryan, I have a set of these flange stub shafts I would probably sell. I also have some spare 510/240 rear axle halfshafts if you were interested in playing around with these.

What I would not have to go along with these is the bolts or the buttons (nuts) that go inside the diff housing to bolt these shafts in. I reused those when I converted my truck R180 to the bolt-in shafts.
bh0891
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Joined: 07 Mar 2018 05:33

Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Yeah. I would be interested in the stub shafts. I will probably use my existing half shafts with an adapter. PM me and let me know what you may want for the stub shafts.
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MikeY
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by MikeY »

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2 ... &source=48
Here is a r180 and halfshafts on dpan on Facebook. As you didn't let us know where you are I don't know how practical this is.
bh0891
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Thanks MikeY. We have to use the bolt in stub axles if utilizing the original suspension because it is a swing axle. I think the pull out force is more than the c-clip type can handle. From what I have read only the R160 had bolted in axles.
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Byron510
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by Byron510 »

bh0891 wrote: From what I have read only the R160 had bolted in axles.
Both the R160 from the 68-73 510 and the 72-76 610 had the bolt in stub axles in an R160 diff. I'm certainly not an expert on the subject, but the R160's were mostly 3.9 ratios with a very rare 4.375 in early '68 1300 cars. There is a mystical 4.11 in print, but I've been around 510's for nearly my whole life an have never seen one.
However the 240 and early 260Z had an R180 with bolt in stub axles. The R180 in the 240Z is likely too tall for you; 3.36 for the manual cars and 3.54 for the automatics.

There is an option here however for the R180's. We used to use the front diffs from the 80-86 720 4x4 trucks, as these were R180's with 4.11, 4.37 and 4.625 (long box L20B up to 06/1980 only). I've yet to find a 4.625, but they have been found in the past. Nissan actually ran the gear sets in reverse up front in the 720 4x4 which worked perfectly well in our 510's going forward in the back! At any rate, these come factory with CV's and snap in stub shafts and are now known as the "K" R180 as there is a large "K" cast into the top of the diff casing. BUT...... You can disassemble an R160, push the threaded buttons out of the side spider gears of the R160 and push them into the side spider gears of the 720 R180 and use the sub shafts from the R160 (minus the dust shields) in the R180. This was a really common low gear set for guys in the 90's and 2000's when lots of these 80's trucks were in wreckers. But like everything else, these are also pretty much non-existent today - but I thought I'm mention the option.

The R200 that came in late 260 and all 280Z's also had bolt in stubs but is huge! If interested they were 3.36, 3.54, 3.70 and 3.90 - possibly other gear sets as well.

Just a little more to chew on. BTW, I really want to see this diff work in another car - you have to promise us to post photos when It happens, even if it's 10 years from now! I love this kind of engineering.

Byron
Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
bh0891
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Joined: 07 Mar 2018 05:33

Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Thanks Byron. Will do pictures. There are some other spitfire guys that have done it. Currently there is a group getting the rear cover castings/machining done and two other brackets required for the install. They are specifically for the r160 because the 180 is too big to fit inline with the rear hubs which would require the use of a cv setup which is problematic for our swing axle setup. Some have done the 180 but the cost of changing eveything is quite large. Of course diff options are a lot easier though.

The other nice thing about the 160 is that it is about 1-1/2" narrower than the stock spitfire. This allows some fabricated spacers to line up the different bolt patterns of the 160 stub shafts and spitfire half shafts.

Will do pics when complete. My task now is to find the older flange style stub axles for the 160. The one I have is out of a subaru gl and has the cv type stub axles. An lsd that would work wouls be great too, but not holding my breath...
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Byron510
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by Byron510 »

Thanks, look forward to the photos.
So where are you located?
Unless you are crazy remote, I'll bet someone has a stock R160 near you - post up your general area and I'm sure someone can help. 510 guys nearly throw these things away because we mostly need something bigger to handle the power upgrades we generally do. Most guys do an R180 minimum upgrade just because of the relative ease of installation and availability.

Byron
Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
bh0891
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Thanks. I am in north central Indiana. I will post something in the classifieds. Here is a pic of the little car.
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bh0891
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Another question I was wondering - The R160 that I currently have is open. Certainly preferable to have LSD but I have noticed that the old R160 with LSD are hard to find and are typically the 3.7 ratio. I prefer a 3.9+ ratio. Is it possible to retrofit the later model (c-clip axle style) with the "buttons" from the old style and use the bolt in axles?
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StrutlessWonder
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by StrutlessWonder »

Yes, you can do the button swap. LSDs use 11mm diam ring gear bolts while open units use 10mm, just in case you buy a 3.7 LSD and want to swap in an R&P from an open R160.
Kurt Hafer
'70 2dr VG30et "Strutless Wonder"
bh0891
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bh0891 »

Thanks. Is the viscous worth it. Figure I would have another couple hundred in it.
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StrutlessWonder
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by StrutlessWonder »

cLSD or Torsen type.
FWIW, if one wheel is off the ground, the Torsen acts like an open diff.
I feel a viscous LSD is not a good choice for motor sports, so no, not worth it.
Kurt Hafer
'70 2dr VG30et "Strutless Wonder"
68Datsun510
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by 68Datsun510 »

I agree, I used to have a B13 Sentra SE-R with a viscous LSD, and honestly, if I hadnt "known" what it had, I would say it was an open diff. With my CLSD in the 510, its VERY obvious whats back there.
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bertvorgon
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Re: Hello - Looking for some R160 info

Post by bertvorgon »

I agree that a VLSD is a poor choice for motorsport. I hate the VLSD in my G35, too much lag when you jump on the throttle. IN motorsport, you NEED that instant feel of what the rear end is going to do.
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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