Thanks for the link Joe. Sifted through that a few weeks ago and was confusing in parts but got through it. Varying 8" gear ratios were able to be used in the LSD Gen I carrier. To date, a Quiaff LSD along with grinding can be used with stock gears in a Gen II carrier. Former forum member, Mafioso, used a Quiaffe in his 05 STR, but the install must have went wrong causing it to eventually lock-up. Hope DTS (Warren, Michigan) can fit an affordable LSD in our carriers.

 

Are you using the Mark VIII rear for strength? If you just want the gear ratio the LS has a 3.58 ratio. Install that with the LSD in your Gen I housing. Would be a cheaper way if you wanted to go that route? Keep the factory rear suspension.
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Strength is one concern, although the Gen 1 carriers are pretty heavy duty. I am planning for the eventual day when the car has around 600 hp. (For now the swap has an estimated 430hp with a stock engine.) Based on already having a custom drive shaft in the car, I estimate it will only cost up to $300 more to put in the Mark VII carrier, versus rebuilding and using a stock Gen 1 carrier.

For future reference, my Mark 8 Carrier and S-type Gen 1 carriers arrived today. Attached is an image of them next to each other. The Gen 1 cover fits perfectly on the Mark VIII carrier. The outside seals where the axles go in are the same width, thus as written in the LS forum the Mark VIII carrier with Gen 1 cover will bolt up in the same place on the sub-frame. Therefore a modified drive shaft and front mounting cross bar is all that is required to make the set-up work.
The housing for the Mark VIII is about an inch longer, (Therefore the gen 1 pinion 8.0 wont fit). The MK8 mounting bossed are 1/2" further away from the axle center line.

We should focus on the Gen 2 LSD upgrade in this thread. But if The Mark VIII install goes well, I will plan to do the same thing to my STR later this year.

 

Ok guys, looks like our diff has been delivered to DTS! Hopfully they will be able to find an economic and solid option for a Gen 2 LSD!!

At least we are underway!

 

Eric (DTS) called me this morning to inform me they have the differential and will work on a LSD solution.

 

Something to ponder while we wait.

Take a look at this image of a 2006 Gen 2 axle stub next to a 2001 Gen 1 inner axle stub.
It shows how much different the Gen 2 housing is from the Gen 1. Gen 2 apparently does not have the outer roller bearings. Polish on the shaft above the splines indicates that the axle is rolling directly on some sort of bearing.

LSD in a Gen 2 is going to be a challenge....

 

Not entirely sure how the difference will apply when placing the axle stubs into the differential. I'll phone Eric (DTS) to send him to your post with pics. Can someone send me a PM tomorrow, reminding me to call Eric?

 

Updates?

 

None yet. I'll call Eric (DTS) tomorrow.

 

Any news for the Gen 2 carrier with LSD?

I ordered the rest of the parts to build up the Mark VIII carrier for my 2000 S-type conversion. Torsen T-2R, M-4210-B1 rebuild kit, axle bearings and seals. I've gone with a 31 spline set-up. I am still working on my own version of heavy duty 1/2 shafts/axles. I believe I have a good solution for the inner axle stubs.

I hope I don't have to go this route for my STR.
I already have spent close to $1,300 in the Mark VIII Carrier rebuild, and still have to purchase materials to fabricate the carrier mount, and build up a set of axles.

 

On the phone with Eric (DTS). He's checking with the service dept.... He said they're going to machine the carrier to fit a 28 spline 8.8" Traction-Lok. The service manager has some doubts, but is working on it. Eric said he'll call with any news.

 

So While we wait to see if a LSD can be fitted into a Gen2 carrier, I am finding that I have too many small projects going on at the same time.

I have parts arriving for my Mark VIII IRS carrier rebuild, as well as rear axle upgrades, plus there are other projects on my car I should be working on.

I am thinking of having a local shop assemble and adjust my differential/pinion and am wonder what is a fair price to build up a carrier?
The pumpkin is disassembled, cleaned and all the parts are purchased and ready to be assembled. I can put it together myself but would rather use the time on my other projects. It has been at least 10 years since my last differential rebuilds.

Presently I am fabricating a CV joint axle puller because all the techniques I've used to date wont pull the axle out of the outer CV. Slide tube, hammer the crap out of the CV joint, put the cv joint under pressure in my press while I hammer the opposite side. I've read that they come out easily or are often a PITA! Mine are a PITA!

 

Ok Joe. Def. understand your too many directions. Good luck slapping the **** out of the cv axels. I'll call Eric (DTS) today and report back.

 

Tijoe: Labor on a rear-end build should be $300-$700.

 

Any news from that phone call? Summer is coming! :-)

 

Haven't heard from Eric (DTS). I'll call Monday.

 

I'm really getting itchy about this. Been to see my mechanic today to organise a time to have the car serviced & some other things done before our trip to the Nürburgring 1st week of April.

Basically I need to know in the next few days if I can get an LSD or not, because with shipping from the US & organising the parts, as well as the guy to reprogram the TCM, it'll be very tight to get this done in time for the 'Ring trip...

EDIT

Can you please ask DTS if the gears are the same as the 8.8" Ford diffs; i.e. can I buy replacment gears from Summit, etc...

EDIT #2

I looked at the Quaife again. TL Jaguar has quoted £695 + £80 delivery for the centre alone (USD $1213) so please please please DTS come up with a cheaper solution!

 

I plan on being at the Ring the last week of May, but without the Jag.

 

Because of the speculative nature of the Gen II LSD, I went ahead and purchased another Mark VIII IRS rear end. I might as well build up one for each car while I am at it. Economy of time. To use the 31 spline inner CV axle stub I chose, I have to open up the axle seal holes from 2.41" to 2.441" to fit the only seals I could find that will work.
Now the kicker is that I received quotes of $250 to $350 to open up the 2 holes. Ridiculous price by my standards! So instead I will box up 2 housings and send them to my brother who will enlarge the holes for free. Shipping will cost less than $70 both ways for 2 housings. (Only $6 difference in shipping one versus 2 housing.)

This will take a couple of weeks no doubt, so maybe by then we will know if the Gen II LSD project will work.

 

Joe and all, tomorrow I'm definitely calling Eric (DTS). He said he'd call, but understand if too busy. Can someone please send me a PM reminding me to call DTS?