Anyone exer used a Nissan rear diff in a Subaru?

[ouch1011]

May be a stupid question, but worth asking I guess.

Anyone ever used the differential from an older 300ZX in a Subaru? Its designated as an R200 differential and was available with several different gear ratios as well as open, viscous and clutched (true) LSDs. The R200 was used in almost every IRS RWD Nissan since the mid 80s, but the 84-89 300ZX (Z31) has a different carrier than the other models that used it. I have an 89 300ZX, and I was doing some work on it the other day and it occured to me that the carrier looked very similar to the Subaru R160 diff I had laying around. So, I took a few rough measurements, and the R200 is much larger overall due to the larger gears (higher torque capabilities), but the over length from the pinion flange to rear mounting point on the diff cover is very very close to the same (within 1/4", may be exactly the same but I couldn't get a good measurement with the diff in the car) and the 4 mounting points on the front of the diff are spaced the same as the R160. I would tentatively say that the R200 diff from an 84-89 300ZX could potentially bolt right into a Subaru with little or no modification. I can't really answer anything about the axles or anything as I didn't remove them to check.

Anyone heard of this?

[FlatBlack]

Try the mid 70s ;)

The early Zs [S30s] 240Zs and 260Zs had R180s. In 75 the 280Z got a R200. They are all open until the 87 Turbo Z31s [but you already know that ;)]

The long nose R200 in the Z car was the same from 75-89, 29 Spline IIRC.

There is a guy in California who is making side stubs for our S30s that will allow us to use the STi CLSD. If the Subaru diff will fit in the Z, then the R200 should line up with the Subaru mount points, but it's much bigger.

http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?/to ... 0%20Subaru (http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?/topic/78123-subaru-wrx-sti-r180-side-axles/page__hl__R180%20Subaru)

Starting with the 280ZX in 1979, the R200s were mounted with one bolt in the back through the diff cover. The S30 RXXX diffs were mounted with two holes through the moustache bar in the back. The Z31 300ZX r200 mounts the same way, and the suspension is basically the same from the 280ZX.

http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/R200.htm

I'm interested in doing the opposite swap, a R180 CLSD from a STi into my 78.

PM me if you want to chat on AIM about it.

[ouch1011]

Awesome, thanks for the input. I haven't really looked much at other gens of Z, so I wasn't sure if the S-chassis Z's used the same or similar diff or not. The Z was just the only "modern" Nissan I saw that used the long nose R200. The factory clutched LSDs are a bit ellusive to find, but there are a lot of aftermarket LSDs available.

[rougeben83]

someone did to convert their subaru to RWD...it involved making a new rear subframe due to clearance for the r200...

[Okin DaVanh]

MrAnlet. Found here:

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2287&hilit=mranlet

R200 and all.

[ouch1011]

^^ It looks like he used the shorter r200 like what is in the 240sx.

Still, looks like it doesn't quite fit in the subframe. Still, a viable swap if you are running rediculous power (or RWD).

[Sarra]

This would be the route I would go (Nissan R200) if I went RWD in a Subie. Indeed, I believe I would possibly even look into putting an RX-7 5 speed into the Subie along with RX-7 front suspension and steering for a good drift car and reduced front weight (lighter front hubs, no front axles).

For a high powered AWD car, I'd just stick with the STi R180 and beefed up LSD.

[FlatBlack]

The Z diffs are long nose R200s.

I stumbled on a good picture of the mounting point from a S130/Z31 [280ZX/300ZX] R200.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/DSC02851-1.jpg

Notice the mounts are the same as the Subaru covers

http://www.subarupartsmall.com/images/rear_diff_protect.jpg

A guy on HybridZ.org just put a STi LSD Carrier into his Nissan R180 pumpkin using the stub axles I mentioned earlier.

http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?/to ... ntry854671 (http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php?/topic/90094-subaru-sti-torsen-install/page__p__854671__hl__STi__fromsearch__1&#entry854671)

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/post170812694830947922-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/03/post17081269484059656-1.jpg

[ouch1011]

This is interesting, I'm glad I brought this up. I'll probably never really make much use of this info, since I have no plans of making my Subaru RWD and I don't think I'll be making enough power to break the R180 I plan on installing, but it is still interesting.

[FlatBlack]

Subaru 4.11 R160 on the right, Datsun 3.54 R200 on the left

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/05/103_1777-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/05/103_1779-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/05/103_1779-1.jpg

R200 R&P

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/05/103_1783-1.jpg

R160 R&P

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/05/103_1782-1.jpg