Originally posted by Racescort:
My 90 has the 3:73 gear. How do you think this gear would do with a welded diff. I cannot aford a Quaife so this would be the choice I have to take. I am only racing at Waterford right now (except I hope to go to Mid Ohio for WOR games)and I still have plenty of 4th gear at the end of the straight. What performance improvements did you find with the welded diff. in your Escort?
Doug, from what I understand Waterford is a much tighter track than anything I run on (Mid Ohio, Nelson and IRP among others)with shorter straights so I don't know for sure on the 4th gear issue. Also as you get faster with more confidence in the car and yourself, you will be taking corners faster thus straights faster. As far as the welded diff, I would do it in a heart beat over an open diff but I would begin to save your pennies for the Quaiffe because there is nothing better than that. The welded diff will give you much better corner speeds and more importantly more exit speed from those corners. You will also build very big forearm muscles while trying to turn the car with a welded diff. The only issue with the welded diff is to make sure that you watch the front bearings. I usually changed them over the winter and had no problems with them. I know that some people have been complaining about the front bearings but I have been racing this car for 5 years now and have never had a single problem with fronts. Had one rear go bad but that was my preparation fault (read as I forgot!). Good luck and hope to see you at the WOR games. Jon
