Afternoon,
After thinking about it for several years i have now done it.
The road going cups run a 3.45:1 rear diff the race cars had a 3.9:1 diff, this would give better acceleration at the expense of top speed. Noted that the race cars weight a lot less but with the same power and gearbox they were faster.
I managed to find a breaker with a QP 3.2 evo automatic and bought the rear diff for £250, new seals £6 each - not from Maserati and some new oil.
It bolts straight in no problems with the exception of the speedo sendor, it has a female end as opposed to male, but the whole unit unbolts and i swapped them over.
Ran it last night without a small child in it, so could drive it a bit more aggressively, it certaianly makes a difference over 4000 revs when the turbo's kick in. Third gear was always the car's strong point but even as the driver it catches you by suprise. First is still useable, there was the concern that it becomes too short, but it is ok. Sixth at 4000 revs is about 100mph, so not attrocious at the top end.
I am not going to lie and say it is now F40 fast but all in all a reasonably cheap way to get a bit more performance out of the car without touching the engine, and it would not lose any points in a concours competition !
Not sure how it would effect a 2.8 but assume the same logic would apply depending on what diff they have fitted in the first place - there seems to be various options and in traditional Maserati style there is no set logic as to what went in what car !
Del
After thinking about it for several years i have now done it.
The road going cups run a 3.45:1 rear diff the race cars had a 3.9:1 diff, this would give better acceleration at the expense of top speed. Noted that the race cars weight a lot less but with the same power and gearbox they were faster.
I managed to find a breaker with a QP 3.2 evo automatic and bought the rear diff for £250, new seals £6 each - not from Maserati and some new oil.
It bolts straight in no problems with the exception of the speedo sendor, it has a female end as opposed to male, but the whole unit unbolts and i swapped them over.
Ran it last night without a small child in it, so could drive it a bit more aggressively, it certaianly makes a difference over 4000 revs when the turbo's kick in. Third gear was always the car's strong point but even as the driver it catches you by suprise. First is still useable, there was the concern that it becomes too short, but it is ok. Sixth at 4000 revs is about 100mph, so not attrocious at the top end.
I am not going to lie and say it is now F40 fast but all in all a reasonably cheap way to get a bit more performance out of the car without touching the engine, and it would not lose any points in a concours competition !
Not sure how it would effect a 2.8 but assume the same logic would apply depending on what diff they have fitted in the first place - there seems to be various options and in traditional Maserati style there is no set logic as to what went in what car !
Del
