When I was investigating a while back, I was also looking round for other donors to use. Didn't have to look far, as my VX commodore has very similar CV setup to the Porsche-type ones . Apparently plenty of BMW's also have a similar setup - the only one I've looked closely at (a 740) certainly did. I keep meaning to check out a 3-series rear end or even a 2002 (if they ran CVs), as these might be close in width to a 1600 rear end ?

From what I can ascertain, the porsche-type CV's are popular not only because they are strong, but because they have a large operating angle. This is important in their most common application (buggies), but I've wondered if it's really neccessary on a shaft made for a datto ??

Apparently VW and particularly Kombi's have similar CV's plus they're cheaper and more readily available (or were 12 months ago when I was checking it out). And as Martin points out, there are plenty of shafts available to suit them in a wide range of different lengths. I found plenty of info on off-road racing forums.

One issue I can see with a lot of the Nissan ones is that they are a big, bulky thing. You lose quite a lot of shaft length due to the CV joints themselves, resulting in more angularity on the shaft.

I intend to have a crack at making my own "Wolf Creek" ripoff sometime in the future, hopefully using commodore components. Once I finally get around to buying a lathe

Just a few random thoughts . As you can tell, I've done plenty of thinking in between cutting out rust on my SSS

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1970 ex Group A Rally P510
1971 P510
1972 180B SSS
1965 SP310 Fairlady
1966 SP311 Fairlady

You are onto it Dave. I reckon the alloy adaptors are going to be the common way to go.

Although the only thing I'd like to change is having an adaptor plate that suits say a S15 r200 output shaft. Rather than having to find a 260z diff output shaft to bolt the adaptor to.

Looks like ebay australia is starting to have some of this stuff pop up;

cv boots flanges

Porsche CV's

$220 spent, then all you need is shafts and adaptors.

I've been talking to some machining shops that specialise in custom shafts etc, and they reckon they can do a custom cv shaft.

My mate is halfway to being a mechanical engineer, so I might give him some measurements to play with, and see if he can CAD up an adaptor for me... it's just finding the time.

Guys,

Very interesting.

I've actually found a CV from a local porsche supplier which would probably cut the mustard. it's not a genuine porsche CV, but it's priced fairly competitively as a porsche replacement CV for the old turbo 930's and the 911/993 models. The real CV's from Porsche are around $500ea, whereas these are $140ea.

I was going to use some of these and make up an adapter plate to suit. But haven't had the time
(gotta finish the car first!)

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

The cv joints that godzilladat links to, don't seem to have any plunge allowance in them, unless I'm looking at them the wrong way. On most cars I've seen the plunge seems to be taken on the outboard CV and the inboard one is static, or at least certainly this is the way the Subaru CV joints are set up. In my research it seems as though most of the common BMW/Porsche/VW shafts have ~40mm of plunge, which would be at least (or more) what the nissan 720 CV joints appear to have.

I don't know about alloy drive flange adaptors, a bit weak for my liking. The outboard adaptor is a piece of cake and when I looked at it, the standard Datsun outboard drive flange with 16mm worth of adaptor plate (probably more than is needed) is still shorter than the overall length of an R30 drive flange. I have both version drawn in CAD (3D file that I can export to 2D if needed) if anybody wants a copy.

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Happiness is watching the race.... in your rearview mirror

Very interested in the 3D CAD drawing. What format do you have it in?

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1972 Datsun 1600, S14 SR20DET Engineered (204rwkW @ 17psi.)
viewtopic.php?t=6579
#SR20Datsun @SR20Datsun

Drawn in IV9, can export as sat or step and probably a bunch of others. AutoCAD wouldn't be a problem either. Haven't bothered to model the dust slinger.

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Happiness is watching the race.... in your rearview mirror

I agree with the alloy statement, that's why I don't really like the wolf creek kit. But I haven't heard any bad reports as yet about them, and I suppose you could just replace them yearly if needed, but yep, not a fan either.

Also added a couple of pictures of what a guy I sold my old 1600 shell to did with his cv conversion, not sure if they have been tested yet.

What are those CV's from ?

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Happiness is watching the race.... in your rearview mirror

DR30 I believe.

dr30 cvs are same as Z31 NA which is three pairs of two bolts sort of like (but 10-11mm smaller than) R30 Skyline cv's.

Ive got both dr30 and r30 on my bench atm and that cv is different to them.

I just scored a pair of nissan halfshafts speically shortened and resplined to fit Nissan CV's into a 510 with an R200. I'm hoping to to score some 3x2 companion flanges tomorrow, then I'll just need a couple of pairs of 3x2 nissan CVs. I don't know how strong they are, but another guy I know had one of these set ups with the same shafts I've got and he gave (and still gives them) absolute death without a hitch. The bloke who made the axles still has a few sets if that suits your needs.

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My drinking club has a Datsun problem............

NZ Datsun Club inc
www.nzdatsun.com

Let us (or at least me) know how you go with sourcing those CV's.

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Happiness is watching the race.... in your rearview mirror

The Later nissan S13/R32 and above had two different CV's, the 5x1 compared to the 3x2 style from all accountsd and comparison have larger/stronger CV's in them, in S13 it was purely luck if you happened to get the 5x1 shafts, no real pattern as to which got them

In my S13 i was using an R32 diff and S13 diff hat with R33 half shafts, so all half shafts are the same length too, GTR have a larger spline

Interested to see what happens with the CV setups

and dave, you now have a lathe!! so when does R&D on adapters start?

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http://www.healingchambers.com.au

I have sourced what I need from a bloke named Morrie in QLD, into FJ20's like me (from fj20.com). They are the Porsche style c.v's with custom en36 heat treated virgin steel 33 spline shafts, complete with alloy adaptors, cv booots and fasteners. Cant wait to receive them in the post in the next week or so, should be good.

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My ride: 390rwhp FJ20 Datsun 1600 (DATFUN)

I have a R200 in mine with DR30 cv's and companion flange. The shaft it self is larger in diameter from a ls1 commodore which is cut down and the correct spline machined on to them.. Ran a 10.9 with 400rwhp with no driveshaft issues....

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Datsun 1600 SR20DET GT30 etc 377 rwhp
10.915 @ 129 mph