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Hey Guys I need a bit of info due to ordering replacement gears for my 91 TA auto. I now have 2.73 rear end and plan to order new parts to rebuild to a 3.42. I am trying to determine which is the better manufacturer for ordering my parts. I sort of am looking at Revolution which is a Korean manufacturer or Richmond which is Italian. Do any of you have experience with these manufacturers or what would you recommend as far as other manufacturers? The last thing I want is to tear down my rear end order parts from the U.S. (I am in Australia) and rebuild only to find I have a noisy rear end and not being satisfied. Your help would be greatly appreciated!! thanks.
I have no experience with Evolution, but frequent encounters with Richmond; but in 2021, neither of those is one of "those" places that people who want to make the cheeeeepest thing possible, would be going. India, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, ... I'd distrust. Not because people there "can't" or "don't know how to" make good stuff; rather, if something is made there, it's because whoever caused it to be made there, was in the race to the bottom.
I would avoid the Richmond drag-race gears however, if the car will EVER be driven on the street, EVEN ONCE. Their "stock replacement" style gears are fine though. But the drag race ones are a special-purpose item, good for only THAT ONE EXACT thing, and do not provide satisfactory street service. Kind of like, street gears don't provide satisfactory drag racing service. It's not an issue of "quality", as such; rather, suitability for purpose.
Thanks for the reply. It is not that I am going for the cheapest but I am not familiar with manufacturers of diff gears. So, have you had good results and info about the Richmond gears? I was under the impression that Richmond were manufactured in Italy now? I don't plan to do any sort of racing and I would specify that when ordering. Any other brands that you have heard are quality products? Your advice is greatly appreciated. I have heard good things about Strange and Motif from a friend over here. I would assume they are a bit "pricey"?
I've had good experience with the stock replacement Richmond gears, in street applications. You'll find endless horror stories about their drag race gears when used on the street though; noise, short life, and so on. They are designed specifically for the special purpose of drag racing: the tooth shape is different; the metallurgy is different (softer actually, to absorb the shock of sudden power application without shattering like stock type ones will do). Not suited to the street, any more than street gears are suited to max effort drag racing. Choose a product that matches your intended use.
Can't speak to gears made in Italy specifically, except that, if a reputable mfr had trouble with a product manufactured ANYWHERE, they'd get rid of it or fix it, FAST. Given that some of the finest automobiles in the world come from Italy, I'd be inclined to think that the skillz and machinery and whatnot to manufacture high-quality auto parts are readily available there. I wouldn't see that as a problem.
Can't speak to "pricey"; that's vastly different in Oz from the US. Some things that are impossibly "pricey" here are cheeeeeep there. And vice-versa. You'll have to be the judge of that AFTER you do the research.
Strange and Motive are reliable brands. So are Precision, US Gear, Yukon, Superior, and some others.
Thank you so much for all that information. That gives me a lot to work with. I think you will find that most of the things there are much cheaper than they are here. I usually order most of my parts, etc. from the States. I realize the differences in things there compared to here being that I am originally from South Carolina. Again I appreciate your time and information. Ron
if the italian gears are from masiero antonio, very good quality. as much as i hate to say it but "most" of the imported gears are pretty decent lately. at least compared to 20-25 years ago......keep in mind that going from 2.73 to 3.42, you will need either the "thick" gears or have to change carriers..
I see that you have also had the pleasure of using one of these Differential Gear-Sets.
I do not know what they were thinking.
The "Track-Only" Drag Racing Vehicles that I work on, would not be able to use those Gears either.
They would be destroyed as soon as leaving the Starting-Line...
and end up as a big clump of malleable junk!
At least in the Alcohol Funny-Car community; with Mark Williams or 9-Plus based Differentials (basically a jumbo-size Ford 9") Gears that soft are worthless!
Ford 9" on the far Left, and My Mark Williams Pinion on the far Right:
08-07-2021, 06:10 PM
India, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Thailand, ... I'd distrust. Not because people there "can't" or "don't know how to" make good stuff; rather, if something is made there, it's because whoever caused it to be made there, was in the race to the bottom.
