I'm doing research for my upcoming inline twin 600cc engine chain drive middy. Currently trying to find a source for inexpensive Torsen Differential. The Audi center diffs seem hard to come by and quite expensive.


Apparently the Chevrolet Camaro SS (live axle) came with a Texel-Torsen for a number of years. They are suprisingly inexpensive. A new one is less than $100... They hold quite a bit of power.

See image below - Can this type of unit be adapted for use with a sprocket? And subsequently placed into a carrier to accept a pair of cv joints?

If so, how would you go about doing it? Would you grease it or oil bathe it? How does it seal into a casing?



Thanks for your help I am no machinist so I can't tell if the idea is sound.

Graber

[Edited on 11/22/04 by sgraber]

sgraber and I have already chatted about this off-forum, but for the rest of you, here's a pic of a modified Torsen diff from an Audi Quattro, set up for a bike-engined car. It sits in two ecentrically mounted bearings for easy chain adjustment.
Rescued attachment Rorty_Torsen01.jpg

that's a thing of beauty.

inboard brake too... damn nice.

Steve:

Have a chat with the U of A FSAE team. When I was in college, I got a gig doing a custom Java application for a bicycle store. The owner of the business, a professor and I worked out a program where I received credit hours for my work--the work I was already doing and getting paid for. You may be able to work with an engineering student to help you design your diff (they probably already have one designed). Alternatively, many teams are switching to the Taylor-type diff. This means they have a lot of these things laying around the shop. Perhaps a bit of beer will purchase one.

I donate a bit each year to my FSAE team. You would be surprised at the amount of friendliness this will buy.

--Chris

hi do you have a pick of the ecentrically mounted berings?

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Originally posted by ceebmoj
hi do you have a pick of the ecentrically mounted berings?

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Rorty, this is very interesting to me. I think this is a very viable option for a mid bike engined car while keeping the motor transverse. I have been trying to research a more cost effective option than a Taylor or Quaife differential and looked at a few options including changing the orientation of the motor. As much detail as you're willing to share with us would be very appreciated.

-Steve

some more info on the fsae setup, custom housing is needed, etc, but easier to do than the camaro unit because there are a few people who have done it thus far. Rorty did you machine that yourself? NICE

why can't you have the 2 engines transverse, like in the bike, and next to each other and use a chain from each engine to drive a single rear wheel each. almost like having 2 bike rear ends next to each other at the back of the car. then you don't need the extra gearing to join the 2 power outputs and you have almost zero transmission loss because you're not using a diff.
what do you think?

dom.

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Originally posted by tigris
Rorty did you machine that yourself? NICE

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Originally posted by Sven
I have been trying to research a more cost effective option than a Taylor or Quaife differential ...

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