C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

[Jerry G.]

i'm ready to put my blown rear end back together. since this is a road race car i'm always looking for ways to lighten it. I think i heard that a later C3 used an aluminum rear cover for the differential that will work on my c2 diff. does anybody know if this is true or where i could find an aluminim cover for my differential. Jerry

By the way i think the ring gear retaining bolts loosened and then sheared. I can't find any evidence of lock tight. My guess is no use of locktight and improper torque caused bolts to loosen and then shear, Live and learn

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

i'm ready to put my blown rear end back together. since this is a road race car i'm always looking for ways to lighten it. I think i heard that a later C3 used an aluminum rear cover for the differential that will work on my c2 diff. does anybody know if this is true or where i could find an aluminim cover for my differential. Jerry

By the way i think the ring gear retaining bolts loosened and then sheared. I can't find any evidence of lock tight. My guess is no use of locktight and improper torque caused bolts to loosen and then shear, Live and learn

Jerry------

C3 Corvettes from 1980 to 1982 used an aluminum carrier housing and an aluminum cover that was integral with a complete aluminum crossmember. The differential unit was a Dana 44. The aluminum cover and crossmember cannot be used on a C2 without significant modification. The cover will not bolt up to a 1963-79 carrier, anyway.

Most 63-79 original ring gears used only a lock washer for ring gear bolt "locking". Lock washers are a VERY poor means of "locking" a bolt, especially one like a ring gear bolt. GM eventually went to a special ring gear bolt with a "serrated" seating surface to improve locking. The best plan is to use these bolts WITH Locktite 242. Most aftermarket bolts will not work for a Corvette application.

[Jerry G.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

Thanks Joe do you know where I can find the GM bolts for the ring gear? Does chevy still sell them and do you have a part #? Jerry

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

Thanks Joe do you know where I can find the GM bolts for the ring gear? Does chevy still sell them and do you have a part #? Jerry

Jerry------


They're still available from GM under GM #14003451. The bad news is that they GM list for almost 6 bucks each.

[Jerry G.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

probally cheaper than what this rebuild is going to cost me. Thanks for the information. Jerry

[John D.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

Jerry, If you want a nice finned flat mount vette rear cover out of aluminum for your hot rod race car try Speedway Motors.
They also have a fake quick change look aluminum rear for 63 to 82. Unpolished or polished aluminum cover. Polished is 600.00. Not for use with stock Vette spring. I am guessing it can only be used for the coil overs.
Personally you would have a beefier setup with a stock cast one.
Those Vette independent rear ends are toys you know. How about nice Ford 9" rear. Speedway has a carrier housing out of aluminum. Are you having fun yet Jerry? LOL. JD

[Jerry G.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

Hi John. I was just trying to figure out if the C2 rear end ever had an aluminum cover. It's for the race car so strength and lightness are what count, not looks. The most fun i'm having is with the FI unit. i just finished reading Dolzas and Duntovs papers to the SAE in 1957. I think I now have a better fundamental principle understanding of the units. Very clever and basic, but need to pay attention to details. I'm doing some more air meter flow bench testing next month. Right now my air meter flows about 700CFM but the control signal is not proportianal so i'm working on changing the shape of the air meter leading edge to give some boost to the signal. I will also be doing some testing on the stock units to get a base line of data. I'm happy to share any and all information with you. As an old mechanical engineer this is as fun as it gets. Jerry

[Mike R.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

I had an aluminum diff cover on a race car back in the 80s. I bought it (for $10!!!) from another road racer that cast several out of aluminium using a stock cover as a pattern. I ran a lot of laps at Sear Point and Laguna Seca without a problem. Except for the material you couldn't tell that the cover was not stock. The issue with stuff like this is bang for the buck. Saving weight that far back and that low is not worth a lot of $$$. You can save about 30lb with a composite spring. To increase your envy factor, I also bought an aluminuim copy of the heavy cast bracket that holds up the steering colum for $10 from the same guy.

Hi John. I was just trying to figure out if the C2 rear end ever had an aluminum cover. It's for the race car so strength and lightness are what count, not looks. The most fun i'm having is with the FI unit. i just finished reading Dolzas and Duntovs papers to the SAE in 1957. I think I now have a better fundamental principle understanding of the units. Very clever and basic, but need to pay attention to details. I'm doing some more air meter flow bench testing next month. Right now my air meter flows about 700CFM but the control signal is not proportianal so i'm working on changing the shape of the air meter leading edge to give some boost to the signal. I will also be doing some testing on the stock units to get a base line of data. I'm happy to share any and all information with you. As an old mechanical engineer this is as fun as it gets. Jerry

[Jerry G.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

I agree Mike, that said do you know where any of those aluminum covers are now?

[Mike R.]

Re: C2 rear diff cover aluminum??

Sadly, I don't

I agree Mike, that said do you know where any of those aluminum covers are now?