Quiafe LSD diff for P6 - is there enough demand?

RoverAlex

Active Member
Hello. I few may have seen I have mentioned in other threads and the Facebook group of the following but thought it may be a good idea to have a thread.

Would there be much interest in having a Quaife diff made for the V8 P6? Perhaps this has been attempted before but Quaife will do short runs if there are 20+ orders, 30 preferably (confirmed by Quaife by email). I think it would be wonderful to have an LSD by Quaife in the P6 rather than having to modify other diffs or rear ends to suit. Particularly suitable for those with a modified or bigger V8 or just with those with spirited driving or track use or just wanting a stronger diff that will last. Of course there are other things to consider to upgrade but I would see this as a step in the right direction.

Quaife cannot give a true price until they know the demand and have seen a donor diff (which would be another ask I would have as I don't have one!) but they say that their diffs are between £500+VAT and £1000+VAT...for comparison the Jag diff is £850+VAT

If Quiafe will not ship Worldwide (would be surprised if they didn't) then I am sure we can sort something out - i.e me or someone else who would be considered a trusted member rather than a newbie could take delivery and then dispatch.

So what do people think? Would anyone put their hands up and say "I'll have one" If so let me know your name below and I will compile a list from the few places I have asked and then go from there.

Thanks

Alex
 
Interesting to sound this one out, but personally speaking I think you're being very optimistic, seeing that on another thread a simple £100 mod to pretty much cure a P6 basic handling defect hasn't got it together yet. i.e. the thicker anti-roll bar.

I'd love one if money were no object, but you're waaaay into specialist territory here. Without tuning, rear end traction is pretty damn good even today and I'm guessing most people (outside this select gathering) are relatively gentle with a 50 year old car.

It would also be helpful to nail it at either end of that price bracket.
 
I'll have one 8)

Richard

PS that's not just showing my interest, and putting my name down for fun. I will have one and am willing to pay for it - no question. :)

Is it here yet?
 
Hi, to my mind it's not the diff that's the main problem, it's input and output shafts that are weak.
A quick look on Ebay shows that up to £500 gets you a S/H Jag diff with it fitted and of course the
stronger output shafts.

Colin
 
Yep and the Jag diff needs a whole load of work to fit.

Yes I know I am being optimistic...but if someone doesn't try there is zero chance of it happening :)

Well, that's one name confirmed :D
 
Reply from Quaife r.e shipping:

We are able to ship worldwide. For reference 1 x differential sent to Australia / USA is £95.00 + VAT(if applicable). 1 x differential sent to an EU country is £45.00 + VAT(if applicable). Own collection is also welcomed.
 
I'm interested, How much diff are they supplying? the whole show , or just the centre or centre plus crown and pinion? can they do stub axles (and maybe extension shaft) to match? I'm running out of axles!
 
Hello.

To answer your question:

"We would only be able to produce the differential itself. Not the crown wheel and pinion or the differential housing.

Stub axles and shafts can be produced. We would require to see samples of both and again a minimum order quantity would be required."


Alex
 
Thankyou for clarifying all that for us. I can't see the point in doing all the work of changing over the diff without uprating the drive extension and stub axles. How are you progressing with finding a sample unit for Quaife to look at? I've got spares but I'm in Aus so postage would be expensive and it'd take three months to get there...I can get a price if you like to ship diff centre plus one axle and the drive extension, plus a better estimate of the time. Happy to go halves in cost. Would you mind getting a ball park cost for axles and a ''full set of everything?
 
Hi. To drag this up from the dead I have asked a few more questions out of curiosity for the P6 owner. Quaife will make even individual units, if required, but of course there is a significant cost (£3K+VAT) associated with that, much of which is setup costs. If I had definite numbers for those that would want one then I could re-ask the cost question but I understand there is not a massive demand in the P6 world. At the moment I cannot afford one, either, so that's one number down :/

Another option is Alan @ Classe Parts who offers a drive in, drive out service if required. More than one car reduces the price considerably (by 1k) due to setting up the tooling and so on. I am not sure if the prices for the diff and fitting he gave me are 'public' so feel free to PM me or ask Alan direct. His diff comes from making them for two (if I recall correctly) P6 race cars. Alan recommends in addition an oil cooler for the diff on a pump with a thermo switch (so the pump doesn't struggle when the oil is cold) which he can supply or supply+fit. He does the uprated input that are prone to failing, too.

So there are at least two options for the spirited P6 driver - both of which retain the original suspension setup for those that don't want to swap out the rear end for a Jag or similar...you just need the £££ to do it (donations wholly accepted :p). I may be repeating what people already know but I hope this helps, even if just to clarify.
 
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Alex
Thanks for pursuing this.
Do you have any actual details on what is on offer from Classeparts ? I see there is a drive in service to change the diff but what exactly on offer for the unit itself ?

Thanks
Mark
 
Something perhaps to consider is price and availability of replacement parts, should the need ever arise, hopefully not for a few decades if the parts are new, but still they would be made to order at a premium no doubt, rather than the plentiful supply of used and new manufactured parts for the Jag for example..
Jim
 
I had a look a Hollinger a while ago, they were about $5,000 AUS for an individual unit which was about the same as Quaife at the time, but they'd do a one off whereas Quaife weren't interested back then in one offs. I have heard of people modifying LR LSD centres and i note that the same gauge tools are used for both diffs though the ring gears are different. I'm investigating this further but currently trying to assemble car without getting sidetracked into more improvements....And i just finished the rear end rebuild.
 
Alex
Thanks for pursuing this.
Do you have any actual details on what is on offer from Classeparts ? I see there is a drive in service to change the diff but what exactly on offer for the unit itself ?

Thanks
Mark

I am afraid I do not know what parts they use - but they use the existing casing and so on and change the internals - as far as I know it's their own design. If you have specific questions for me to ask I am more than happy to give him a call back. They are also happy to provide the diff as supply only - he *prefers* to do a drive-in-drive-out service from what he said because it rules out any fettling that might be required - but as long as the client is aware that minor things might need to be done on a supply-only basis, that isn't a problem either. I don't have a price for that, though.
 
I had a look a Hollinger a while ago, they were about $5,000 AUS for an individual unit which was about the same as Quaife at the time, but they'd do a one off whereas Quaife weren't interested back then in one offs. I have heard of people modifying LR LSD centres and i note that the same gauge tools are used for both diffs though the ring gears are different. I'm investigating this further but currently trying to assemble car without getting sidetracked into more improvements....And i just finished the rear end rebuild.

It isn't the norm for Quaife to do a one-off - but they confirmed in email that if it came to it, they would.
 
Something perhaps to consider is price and availability of replacement parts, should the need ever arise, hopefully not for a few decades if the parts are new, but still they would be made to order at a premium no doubt, rather than the plentiful supply of used and new manufactured parts for the Jag for example..
Jim

This is very true. Going to a company like Quaife would hopefully mean the parts will always be available as they would keep the design. So available...yes...cheap...hmm. But then again not very likely to break.
 
Is Quaife talking about one of their ATB diffs? I've just fitted a 3J Driveline diff in my Midget, it's a plate type LSD. It's made the car quite brutal (scrabbling at low speed corners and quite fierce on/off characteristics) but wasn't all that much money. Certainly cheaper than the Quaife alternative, and still keeps drive if one wheel is lifted off the ground.
 
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