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Re: [GMCnet] ~ Final Drive ~ [message #225160] Thu, 10 October 2013 22:54 Go to next message
hnielsen2 is currently offline  hnielsen2   United States
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Registered: February 2004
Location: Alpine CA
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Senior Member
We run 4:70 and never have had a tire spin problem
No posi.
Unless I stand on it.
We returned today from Coos Bay returning the long way back on US 395 eastern Sierra.
Snow north of Bishop on the passes over 6,000.
Never a tire slipping/spin problem.
Howard
Alpine Ca
74 Canyon Lands
455 not quite stock running 3:70 final drive.

All is well with my Lord



> On Oct 10, 2013, at 19:30, Bob Heller <rheller@cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I've heard some people say the 3.21 has 'posi' characteristics but having had one apart to replace bearings and now running it on the GMC I can't see how it's any different from any other open diff. There is nothing in the 3.21 to couple the two outputs in any way. A LSD has something, like clutches, to allow some additional torque to be applied to the 'stuck' wheel instead of letting the spinning wheel determine the max amount of power available. The 3.21 has nothing like that, it's an open diff that just happens to use a planetery gear set instead of the more traditional spider gears like everything else. From what I can see, the 3.21's only 'advantage' is that it's narrower but in our application there is plenty of room so the 'narrowness' doesn't matter.
>
> On my GMC the 3.21 spins the tires easier than the 3.07, probably due to the gear ratio multiplying the torque a bit more. It really sucked when I was at Speed World and, where with the 3.07 I got good consistent launches with minimal wheelspin, now with the 3.21 the tires go up in smoke far too easily. With the 3.21, flooring the pedal with the gear lever in '1' results in a tire spinning, the speedometer at 44mph, and the engine making some noises I don't feel comfortable with (it's the original engine and I don't like to float the valves on it). Even in normal driving when it's wet out the tires (actually one tire) spin(s) with less pedal than before. Since I don't tow and mostly drive in Florida I'm ready to put the 3.07 back in.
>
> SO, tell me again, how is the 3.21 the better diff, other than the ratio?
> --
> Bob Heller
> 1974 X-Canyonlands 26ft
> Winter Springs FL
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All is well with my Lord
Re: [GMCnet] ~ Final Drive ~ [message #225173 is a reply to message #225160] Fri, 11 October 2013 01:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
appie is currently offline  appie   Denmark
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Is there any way to possetivly establish witch FD is installed?
I have read there should be stamped a number, but is not there where it should be


Appie eleganza 76 "Olga" now sadly sold 6 wheel discbrake Quadrabags Springfield stage 2 462 olds Manny tranny ( pictures at http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g6489-olga.html Fulltiming in Europe july 2014 til july 2016 Denmark
Re: [GMCnet] ~ Final Drive ~ [message #225192 is a reply to message #225173] Fri, 11 October 2013 08:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Appie,

Very simple; crawl under the coach and count the number of bolts in the FD cover, if it has 10 bolts it's a 3.07 if it's 9 then it's
a 3.21.

It is also possible that a PO installed an aftermarket ratio if it is a 3.07; to determine that you would have to compare the speed
and engine rpm to the chart on Gene's website.

http://gmcmotorhome.info/front.html#RATIO

Regards,
Rob M.


-----Original Message-----
From: lenze middelberg

Is there any way to possetivly establish witch FD is installed?
I have read there should be stamped a number, but is not there where it should be

--
Appie

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] ~ Final Drive ~ [message #225200 is a reply to message #225173] Fri, 11 October 2013 09:38 Go to previous message
Larry is currently offline  Larry   United States
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Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
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Senior Member
appie wrote on Fri, 11 October 2013 01:55

Is there any way to possetivly establish witch FD is installed?
I have read there should be stamped a number, but is not there where it should be


Look at this for the differences between the 3.21 and others (3.07, 3.50, 3.70, etc)
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g4399-fd-visual-differences-3-07-vs-3-21.html


Larry Smile
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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