hey, i got a pos geo that im working on right now. im in the process of removing the 4wd and installing the clutch. i figured that since i already have the driveshaft off, i might as well get the rear gears welded so i have more grip. now the rear end in it is opposite that of gm (even though it is). the back is solid, but the front is what gets removed for access to the gear. now how would i go about welding the spider gears to lock it in place? the neighbor only has a stick welder, but im pretty good at it.

even though i have my heart set on this, i know that it might no be fesable. i dont think it would be too safe to weld near a gas tank and on something coated in oil. i also dont know much about the rear end, so i dont know what could go wrong if i pulled the front out.

 

If your little Suzuki/GM crossbreed is going to be driven on the street at all, you will truly regret welding the spiders. Simply put, with that short of a wheelbase, it won't turn. It will be so uncontrolable around corners and interchange ramps, you will die. Believe me, it will not be pretty

 

i was thinking of an lsd, but theyre about $350, and i dont have that to spend on a beater. however, i want to be able to get enough grip to possibly do wheelies (low range). yea, i know, wheelies. the car will weigh about 1600 lbs when im done, with the heaviest things being the body and the engine.

 

You really don't want a locked or welded differential on the street. It stresses the hell out of the drivetrain, rips your tires to shreds, makes it a chore to go around corners, and almost impossible to park.

 

it would seem like your front end is hopping around when your turning, would probly break real quick as well.

 

that was gonna be my other question. now my engine is only making about 100 hp, and a little bit more torque. however, it has a 4.56 gear in it. would that cause issues with the axles? i dont think it would, but i dont wanna chance it

also, would a locked rear end make it push more in the corners? it used to have a slight off throttle understeer that i could correct with some gas, but too much gas made it push more.

 

With a locked rear it does not want to go around corners, let alone push.

 

alright, im going to leave it open. i also decided to leave the 4wd in place for now as i dont have the tail housing or the spindles for the wheels. i cant run a tranny with a gaping hole allowing all the oil out.

 

What alot of people don't understand about lockers is how to drive them properly. Automatic lockers, like Detroits no spin and others like it, lock up under torque load and will unlock when a difference in wheel speed is needed. How this equates to street driving: simply back off the throttle when you turn, the diff will unlock and ratchet around corners. once the axle speed syncs up it locks. Now, if full throttle is the name of your game then expect to buy alot of tires and drivetrain components. Driven properly, they wont hurt tires so bad and are just as drivable as an open. I have a no spin in my Chevy and have no problems w/tire ware and chirpping around corners, unless I throttle it.

 

what happens when one wheel starts spinning and the other wheel doesnt...you are changing directions..Just ask my old man who put his 67 big block Camaro through the front of a donut shop in Revere Ma. Any othe questions..ask him about his fake bones and teeth..If you wanna weld your gears together and do wheelies...let me know where you are and when you are gonna be on the road so I can keep my friends and family home..Dont be foolish..s#!t like that will kill you. Buy a bike if thats what you are looking for.