FTO AUSTRALIA

I've just had an EVO III clutch-plate LSD installed in my manual GPX. Yummy......!

The installation itself wasn't trivial, as the manual FTO driveshafts are 2mm greater diameter compared to the EVO diff. So the inner driveshaft ends were swapped over (ie. between inner CV joint and diff). The diff is also stuffed away deep inside the gearbox, so basically the whole lot had to come apart.

It's now back on the road. And it's still got perfectly good manners for normal driving. No diff whine, no grinding or clicking sounds, no understeer when cornering, etc. There isn't any crazy torque steer. Basically, this is because the diff isn't locked up too tight.

No matter... On the track, it's dynamite...


We tried a course in a Motorkhana training session three weeks ago, when the factory open diff was still in there. I got the following times for what's called "Course 10" at MC Motorsport...

46.60 (using 2nd gear throughout)
46.73 (downshifting to 1st at each end)
46.51 " "

Today, the only vehicle difference was the LSD. Otherwise, all else was equal. Same weather, people in the car, tyres, fuel load, whatever.

And today's results for the same course:

45.77 (2nd gear throughout)
46.04
45.63
45.35
45.37
45.66
45.94 (2nd and 1st gear)
45.74 " "
45.20 (2nd gear throughout)


That's a 1.3 second reduction... which is pretty damn good! Especially considering it was my first drive ever in a FWD car with slippery diff!


On another course, I reduced my personal best by 1.2 seconds. Awesome.


Can't wait until the next competition weekend...

- Rich

Love your work Rich!

Of course now your gonna have every kid & their pocket money lining up to ask where you got your & diff & for how much....hehe

> where you got your diff & for how much

Got it from Japan. And RalliArt EVO III diffs aren't cheap. You'd have to be pretty enthusiastic to do this job.

Just don't talk to me about those lucky people who just "find" their FTOs have a factory LSD one day!!!! lol.

- Rich

why didn't you just get a cusco lsd?

Hi Vlad. I've still got your FTO calendar!

A Cusco LSD would have been awesome on the track. But Malcolm (who has managed my car setup over the years) was not confident a Cusco part would be able to provide the balance I needed between normal on-road driving and on-track effectiveness. The development of that car has always been about balance. So he recommended sourcing a RalliArt diff.

Basically, it needed to drive the same during daycare dropoffs as it did with the factory open diff. If Karen has to take my car, she shouldn't notice the difference.

And trackside, I've lopped over a second off my times. So once again I have the best of both worlds.

- Rich

PS. Have you called MC's and booked for the July 17, Afternoon session? It would be good to have some more FTOs booked in!

Nice work Richy boy.
Get that FTO hanging son.

Good point Rich, My cusco is pretty harsh. I got some new rubber and it still cant get proper grip to the road.

I'm saving up to go to europe, so i cant attend the July practice session.

When's the next one after that?

We should organise another drag event in about to weeks so we can all compare our "packages" again and i can pick up my calender

Im up for another cruise if anyone is interested im just to lazy to organise it myself