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Aluminum Cover Worth It???

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#4 ·
The bearing caps can be over loaded on a stock 12 bolt. There are steel caps available and larger bolts can also be adapted. The cover supports the stock caps to help strengthen them, and it also helps brace that huge hole in the back of the housing.
 
#8 ·
327!275hp!Convt! said:
That IS pretty neat. I wonder if you get the same benifets from this material as you would aluminum?
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No, There are a couple advantages of the heavy duty cover including support for the housing as mentioned above, but the biggest advantage one gets from a performance aluminum cover is it has main cap supports to help hold the differential in. 12 bolts basically want to puck the differential out of the back of the housing. I am just being a parrot here, but Nodular caps help, the support helps also. We run 900 horse in a street drag car that goes 1.30 short time in a 3450LB car with a 12 bolt with a cover. Works excellent. I love 12 bolts.
 
#11 ·
If your on a tight budget I wouldnt be blowing an extra 150.00+ on an Alum. diff cover. Sure their stronger and help support the bearing caps. But thats if you need it. Stock motor you would be more than safe with a stock or 20.00 crome one from Checkers. Shoot Im running a 406 torque monster 4sp. with 4.10's and a 20.00 crome 12bolt cover. The last thing Im worried about is bearing cap support! More like twisting an axle!
BUT if you have the money buy one I would. More for the cool non rusting factor though.
 
#12 ·
As Frank said, the linked cover is only for show or for at least to cool the oil because of the fins.

The cover everybody else is talking about is this one:
http://www.jdsperformance.com/index.asp?initemuid=1284&fcmd=item&inmake=0

This cover supports the carrier bearing caps and supplies a rear access fill & drain plug. However, I do believe the fill plug is alittle high for a fluid level plug.
 
#13 ·
Yup thats the one I have and yes if you fill it to the top of the fill hole it willl be over filled and drain out the over flow. I found that out when I 1 st put it on.:clonk:
 
#14 ·
CarlC said:
What happens to the bolt preload when the differential gets up to operating temperature? Does the difference in thermal expansion relax the preload? Has anyone noticed fretting of the cap at the cap/bolt interface?
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I've been wondering this too. Anyone using one of these on a car that sees 200-300 mile road trips and lots of street cruising?
 
Discussion starter · #15 ·
spideynut said:
If your on a tight budget I wouldnt be blowing an extra 150.00+ on an Alum. diff cover. Sure their stronger and help support the bearing caps. But thats if you need it. Stock motor you would be more than safe....
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Yeah, this is cover is just about the LAST thing on my wish list. I only run a totally stock 327/275hp with a 355 12 bolt. I'm in the process of putting in a TKO 600. I was so happy to find an all original RS convertible with a numbers matching 275hp. I'm not going to be modifying the engine, save maybe ceramic coated headers.

I was just curious because I see these aluminum covers on ebay a lot under my "12 bolt" favorites category. I know people at this site know a lot more about this stuff than I do. :)
 
#17 ·
900 million $ in R&D and GM couldn't figure out the aluminum cover:confused: Don't waste it, spend your money on some performance parts.;)
 
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#18 ·
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#20 ·
BGH, as mentioned by CarlC and John65Nova what is the impact of the cold vs warm on the bearing caps and how do you determine the preload? THe latest CHP shows a buildup on a 8.2 with a girdle but no tech info.
 
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