Get up and Go (4.11)

The "big" project for this summer was to improve the 240z's off the line performance.  After switching to the wide-ratio 5 speed from a '77 280z, the gearing did not play well with the 3.36 rear differential that came stock in the 240z.  Yes, I could get 35+ MPG on the expressway going 65mph, but for all around driving fun, it was very slow.

After searching for several years, I got a great deal on a 4.11 R180 differential from a Datsun 4x4 pickup truck.  Its a direct swap for the 4x4's front R180 into the back of the 240z, other than needing to scavenge two buttons from the original differential to allow for the axle stubs to bolt in.

 

To fit the newer 4.11 R180 differential, I needed to steal the two "buttons" from my original R180 to allow me to bolt in the axle stubs that the half shafts connect to.  I then needed to install them into the new R180.  The good news is that by the time I needed to install the buttons, I had some practice on the old differential.  Below are some pictures of what needed to be disassembled.

Once the carrier was extracted out of the differential, the spider gears needed to be pulled out in order to access the buttons as shown in the left of the picture.

Below is a great video that walks through exactly what needs to be done, plus some live-camera comedy by the two performing the swap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li_Q40T2Zm0