The installation itself wasn't trivial, as the manual FTO driveshafts are 2mm greater diameter compared to the EVO diff. So the inner driveshaft ends were swapped over (ie. between inner CV joint and diff). The diff is also stuffed away deep inside the gearbox, so basically the whole lot had to come apart.
It's now back on the road. And it's still got perfectly good manners for normal driving. No diff whine, no grinding or clicking sounds, no understeer when cornering, etc. There isn't any crazy torque steer. Basically, this is because the diff isn't locked up too tight.
No matter... On the track, it's dynamite...
We tried a course in a Motorkhana training session three weeks ago, when the factory open diff was still in there. I got the following times for what's called "Course 10" at MC Motorsport...
46.60 (using 2nd gear throughout)
46.73 (downshifting to 1st at each end)
46.51 " "
Today, the only vehicle difference was the LSD. Otherwise, all else was equal. Same weather, people in the car, tyres, fuel load, whatever.
And today's results for the same course:
45.77 (2nd gear throughout)
46.04
45.63
45.35
45.37
45.66
45.94 (2nd and 1st gear)
45.74 " "
45.20 (2nd gear throughout)
That's a 1.3 second reduction... which is pretty damn good! Especially considering it was my first drive ever in a FWD car with slippery diff!
On another course, I reduced my personal best by 1.2 seconds. Awesome.
Can't wait until the next competition weekend...
- Rich
