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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Phantom limited slip differential

Does anyone know anything about this product?

http://www.phantomgrip.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=121

The price seems pretty good. Is there any catch here?

Thanks,

Darian
Darian Henderson

I'm seeing a lot of mention of machine work to the spider gears to compensate for the addition of the plate thickness in the forums here:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=phantomgrip&btnG=Google+Search
Russ Carnes

I figured there had to be a catch...

It looked nice though.

Darian
Darian Henderson

Normally live on the 'C' forum

I have a dif loc fitted to my C (same as the phantom grip) and it works well - but I thought that they were no longer about though..

Kevin
K Whitehead

Hi Kevin,

Could you send me an email?

Thanks,

Darian
Darian Henderson

I have one in my midget. Would it be adequate to limp home if I broke a half shaft? I doubt it. Does it allow me to smoke both tires when autocrossing? Yup. Does it allow me to take those hard clockwise skidpads on two wheels? Yeah, that too. Is it an alternative to a Quaife? Nope, but much cheaper. Do I regret buying it? NOPE!

I do not know about the MGA diff, but in a Spridget, the only thing recommended for prep is to face two of the wheel gears with some emory cloth just to knock off any high spots. No big deal, and if you don't, it just takes a little longer for the PG to hit peak effectiveness.
David "PG Woodhead" Lieb
David Lieb

Thanks David,

Sounds like it's just what I'm looking for. Was it a bolt-on conversion?

Thanks,

Darian
Darian Henderson

I read your comment again and it answered my question.

How good was the documentation?

Thanks,

Darian
Darian Henderson

I got mine from Rivergate (yup, the guys with the Spridget 5-speed conversion), so it came with instructions from them. I have no idea how good the instructions from PG are. Rivergate had worked with PG to improve the actual spring rates and tensions for the Spridget version, too. Unfortunately, they no longer carry them. The unit comes with a pair of links holding the plates together so that you can slip them into place, then take the links out. Installation does not mess with any of the settings of the crown and pinion gears, but you do have to pull the unit out of the axle housing.
David "I can scan my instructions and email them to you tonight..." Lieb
David Lieb

I've tried Phantomgrip in my vintage racer and found it to be ineffective. Perhaps for the street with less HP its different. If you want a true limited slip, TranX is the way to go.

http://www.tran-x.com/DiffsHTML/MGRoadster.html


k brown

Darian (and others),

how much powe are you putting through the back wheels to be thinking about fitting an LSD? Is you car for street or a propper racing beast?

I'm interested, as mine will throw out around 115bhp at the wheels (once I've put it all back together).

cheers,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

Thanks everyone,

To answer the last question, after my MG engine died I'm committing a heresy by putting a non-MG turbo twin-cam engine in the car. It's about the same weight, but will put out about 190 hp at the engine.

Judging from K Brown's comments, though, this LSD might not be strong enough.

Darian
Darian Henderson

If it isn't strong enough, then neither is the diff. If you are looking for a Detroit Locker, this isn't it. If, however, you want something that can give you a bit less wheelspin when you leave the stop sign, this is not a bad choice for $300.
David Lieb

Darian,

you're a mad fool! ;-)

Does the turbo sound good? (not that I'm tempted, as insurance in the UK would be silly)

Have fun,

Grant :-)
G Hudson

I haven't been able to drive it yet because someone else is installing it. (The fabrication required for the exhaust, engine mounts, etc. was out of my league.)

I can't wait to drive it, and I'll post the results one I can. It should be ready soon.

But I think I'll keep my diff the way it is for now and see if it can handle the torque. If it can, a $300 LSD sounds pretty good. If not, then I have to really think about what to do.

Darian
Darian Henderson

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2008 and 14/06/2008

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.