Limited slip and oil

**Bill** · #1 (**permalink**) 02-21-2003, 10:34 PM

Hey folks,
Anybody know the type of rearend in a '78 Spider? Was it standard limited slip? How does one tell? If so, is there a specific gear oil to use? Sorry about the questions but, I have had the car 3 weeks and I have not been able to locate an owners manual for it. While on the subject, is there a replacement for Redline I can use until I can find a supplier ? For both the gearbox and diff.

TIA, Mac

LBC · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2003, 08:06 AM

I found this webpage bill, it should give what gear oil your suppost to use.

http://spiderfaq.home.att.net/app_b.htm

**alberbat** · #3 (**permalink**) 03-07-2003, 09:14 PM

A person in our Northern California club who is very experienced with Alfas and owns among several a 69 Spider says that Shell Spirax is the best because it is designed to work well with the moly syncros. I have not gotten any yet as I think you have to buy it from a lubricant wholesaler and perhaps in bulk. But I'm going to give it a try because I have a lot of confidence in this persons opinion.

Good luck, let us know what you think.

Bill

**Sniady** · #4 (**permalink**) 03-08-2003, 02:14 AM

It's a limited slip. Alfa started doing Limited slip differentials in 69? 70? around there.

**alberbat** · #5 (**permalink**) 03-08-2003, 10:14 AM

Ok, my trifocals let me down again. I'm not sure if this is the best limited slip rear end oil or not. His specific comments were for the transmission and said you can use it in the diff. also; but he knew I had a 69 and you are correct that l/s diffs. didn't become available until I think the 72 or 73 model. Somewhere I read that it was an option on 73??

Thanks Sniady for catching my flub. Next time I see the xpert I'll quiz about the l/s.

Bill

**Sniady** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-08-2003, 09:42 PM

here is a link i found... will help a little, but it's still unsure. GTV spec

One way you can probably tell, lift the back wheels, and turn the car on and accelerate it, I'd assume that both wheel's should spin (still not sure about that though

) if it's a LSD, or I know on my 73 when I turn one wheel right the other goes left, I think that's another way to find out.

67GTV · #7 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sniady
on my 73 when I turn one wheel right the other goes left

**Sniady** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-10-2003, 02:07 PM

...on a limited slip, or maybe it's just mine. When the car is up on four's you spin say the right wheel clockwise and the left will spin's counterclockwise.

JoeCab · #9 (**permalink**) 03-11-2003, 12:20 AM

Snaidy,

If your diff has never been rebuilt, the chances are the LSD in your diff is no longer limiting slip!

**Sniady** · #10 (**permalink**) 03-11-2003, 12:31 AM

JoeCab, so what does that mean, what's it going to be doing?

JoeCab · #11 (**permalink**) 03-11-2003, 09:21 AM

Snaidy,

Sorry, I was just being a smartass.

The LSD unit in the Alfa differential uses plates, similar to clutch discs, to provide the locking action. From the factory, I believe these are set to a 25% locking factor.

After 30 years of use and abuse, it's a good bet these are completely worn out. When worn, the LSD no longer provides any locking action and behaves like an open differential.

**italcarguy** · #12 (**permalink**) 03-11-2003, 09:27 AM

sniady,
this could be why you were getting wheel spin in the canyon OR it could be that you were going very fast and are ready to shim the LSD up to make it tighter.