I have a 1993 turbo miata with an open diff. It makes 182 whp and 163 lb/ft of torque at 7 psi. I want to make around 200 whp but i have heard that my 1.6 open diff will explode if I go more than 180 hp. My question is does welding your diff make it stronger or will my 1.6 open diff still explode if I weld it? And is there another more budget option because I don't have $1,000 to spend to get an led from an NB miata. Thank you!!

 

welding will do nothing for it. economically, a 1.8 diff is a fine option to hold the power. 400 or so for all the bits you would need. then later you can weld it or install an lsd unit.

 

LSD's don't usually run a grand, but like the previous poster said, an open diff from a 1.8 with the axles will be more than fine for your purposes. The 1.8 open differentials don't break the same way 1.6 diffs do.

 

LSD 1.8 in SoCal normally run around $600, and we tend to be a bit pricier in what I've seen. Easier to find, but more expensive.

 

How do you weld a viscous LSD? Like this?



Seems to me that this would be the best way to prevent exploding the ring gear.

If you're really cost conscious, get a 1.8 open diff. All the strength; none of the cost.

 

Been while since I read up on this, but my understanding is that the OS Giken adds strength and stabilizes the ring gear?

 

1.6 diffs fail, often at stock power levels. Welding them does nothing to strengthen them but makes the car not want to turn and promotes tire wear. Welded diffs cause severe understeer in the dry and snap oversteer (spinning into the trees, curbs, parked cars) in the wet.

 

No.

 

Sorry, missed that it was the 1.6

 

$600 is usually the low end of what they go for around here. a full swap for a 1.6 car is normally $1200ish.