R180 from Subaru into our Nissan R180

Started by perfecttttt · Feb 18, 2013 · 17postsSMF 2010–26

perfectttttFeb 18, 2013, 2:00 pm · #1

I am looking to get a little sideways on the track, but I don't want to weld the diff quite yet because I don't have another car, so what I would like is an LSD.

I've read on various Z forums that some Subaru STi's have LSD R180s in them and that they can swap over. However I have not seen enough information to be convinced that the same can be said for s12s. Will the internals simply drop into my stock R180 housing? If not, what would need to be done to make it work?

My friends brother has a whole Subaru STi parts car in his garage, so I could probably get those parts cheap. Obviously the other option is to do the R200 swap, if it's easier. I have a mrk1 '85 ca20e and R180, but later down the road I will be doing a ka swap.

I am still relatively new to differentials, so any advice would be appreciated.

iceagegFeb 18, 2013, 3:06 pm · #2

From what I understand it shoudl be pretty easy to bolt in. The spline count on your existing axles is different from the subie diff though. If you are dedicated to the subie diff you will likely need custom axles.

I_heart_VVLFeb 18, 2013, 3:13 pm · #3

I'm pretty sure you can just swap out the diff center into your R180.

perfectttttFeb 18, 2013, 4:14 pm · #4

iceageg on 03:06:55 PM / 18-Feb-13From what I understand it shoudl be pretty easy to bolt in. The spline count on your existing axles is different from the subie diff though. If you are dedicated to the subie diff you will likely need custom axles.

I am sure that the Subaru's axles are too long, but would that be a significant worry?

I_heart_VVL on 03:13:14 PM / 18-Feb-13I'm pretty sure you can just swap out the diff center into your R180.

How sure? Iceageg says the spline counts are different. A quick search shows that the spline count on the Subaru R180 is 27, and the Nissan R180 is 25. I also saw people mentioning that older Subarus have spline counts of 25.

Is their some sort of magical adapter to connect the 27 spline and 25 spline?

DjayS12Feb 18, 2013, 5:18 pm · #5

perfecttttt on 04:14:27 PM / 18-Feb-13Is their some sort of magical adapter to connect the 27 spline and 25 spline?

Nah you just need a bigger hammer to make it fit inside!

Seriously, I've looked on this swap a few years ago and decided not to venture because of the different spline count. You would need custom axles, unless some subie axles fit our car with the six bolts pattern.. but it is VERY unlikely.

What could work though is using their ring and pinion to have more choice of differential ratio.. but that won't help you in having a lsd.

Best option is either the Quaife R180 differential (pricey)
or get a rear half driveshaft/R200 differential/axles from a turbo or SE S12.(which is what I did. Still uninstalled, I haven't purchase a LSD to put in yet). With the R200 from these S12s you can fit any aftermarket differential meant to be use for 240sx WITH FACTORY OPEN DIFF. Very important because your axles won't fit a replacement meant for a factory vlsd diff. Same goes for the Nismo LSD, they come with their own axles that are 1mm larger.

vegasS12Feb 18, 2013, 5:33 pm · #6

I wouldn't go through the head aches with the subbie.
and why beef up the R180. yea it may hold but why not get a R200 in there its alot stronger than the R180.
like Djay said you can fit any R200 LSD meant for a open diff.

there are many R200 Longnose ratio options you can go with.
I for one am going with a 3.90 R200 that came in the S12 SE's and also the 88-89 300zx N/A's with a KAAZ 1.5 way LSD.
Z31 or S12 turbo/SE R200 axles are needed with the R200 longnose diff.

perfectttttFeb 18, 2013, 5:42 pm · #7

Okay, I think then I will go back to my original plans for a R200 swap, it makes the most sense.

Just so I am clear on that though, I need the R200 long-nose, some axles, and the proper half shaft. No custom work needed for that?

Thank you all for the advice and knowledge.

night_s12Feb 18, 2013, 5:49 pm · #8

Should all bolt right up.

ArroFeb 18, 2013, 7:58 pm · #9

Another reason to steer away from the R180 route... Iggy on here does a lot of drifting and has snapped R180 axles. The place where the stubs meet the axle shaft is narrower than R200 axles.

Anyways sounds like you've convinced. Just wanted to add that to the mix for others who stumble on this thread.

That's assuming as time progresses, human beings will actually use the search feature that would have answered this scenario lol. Maybe we should add a counter to the search button that shows us how many people actually bother to use it :P

Edit: Hmm....... *evil grin*

turbo-s12Feb 18, 2013, 9:17 pm · #10

Subie diff isnt really worth it its more work than just doin a r200 with a lsd...And my buddy had this in his 510 with custom splines and they contstantly broke so he got rid of it

seishukuFeb 18, 2013, 9:18 pm · #11

I've also broken an axle, popped right at the splines.

turbo-s12Feb 18, 2013, 10:27 pm · #12

^thats what was happening to him

ProlowtoneFeb 19, 2013, 11:49 am · #13

Yeah, I agree with everyone above from info i seen over first year of having my gray car. I looked long and hard into the r180 info by going to the Subaru sites and searching different S12 sites using the Google translator and everything i have seen just made more sense to do the r200 route :S

vegasS12Feb 19, 2013, 12:01 pm · #14

perfecttttt on 05:42:03 PM / 18-Feb-13Okay, I think then I will go back to my original plans for a R200 swap, it makes the most sense.

Just so I am clear on that though, I need the R200 long-nose, some axles, and the proper half shaft. No custom work needed for that?

Thank you all for the advice and knowledge.

Yes thats all you need and it should bolt rite up.

ArroFeb 26, 2013, 1:40 pm · #15

And really, the R200 3.90 is preferred over the 4.11 if you plan to make any decent power. 4.11 is great for peppy, lower powered engines.

200srdriftFeb 27, 2013, 9:13 pm · #16

turbo-s12 on 09:17:50 PM / 18-Feb-13Subie diff isnt really worth it its more work than just doin a r200 with a lsd...And my buddy had this in his 510 with custom splines and they contstantly broke so he got rid of it

thats what id suggest. which diff did he use... the ones from old loyals?

nismo200sx16Feb 28, 2013, 3:47 pm · #17

I dont see how the axles are breaking on the r180's . I welded my r180 and have bin pushing 400hp through it for years with no broken axles. must just be lucky.