CEN GST converting w/center diff
 

okay, i get my truck and started tearing down. i have run into a problem though i'm hoping somebody can answer some questions before i start buying non working parts.

i know a few people have used the matrix tr arena diff for this conversion. i was planing on trying with one i already have. i was at first going to just remove the front slider shaft and replace with a dog bone, only to discover that it is red lock tighted on and i cannot remove it and replace with an output cup. so then i try to swap the output on my diff with the output on the stock diff in the gst's trans. its made just a little different and the shaft going in is just short of allowing me to put the pin in it. now my diff is from a gs sut, but my question is will i be able to do this if i buy a cen diff from the arena? if not, my other option will be to tear into the front diff and replace its output with a cup so i can use a dogbone. i need to buy one or the other, but i really like the idea of keeping the slider if possible. my thoughts are less rotational mass, and a more solid connection than a dogbone.

i've done some searching, and the part i have from stock diff output is gs039. the rear cup appears to be gs094. in the tr arena, its front and rear ouput cups are gs094. with this info, i'm thinking i can just pick up a tr areana''s center diff and replace the front output with a gs039 and it should be a direct swap. if anybody knows anything that would make this not work, please let me know so i don't waste any money and time going this direction.

Depending on your motor, the slider will snap sooner or later. You need to get the drive cups from Nemesis to put on the front diff and middle diff/tranny + dogbone. 3 items.

GS093 drive cup for the front diff, GS219 front drive shaft and G094 brake drive cup for the centre diff

i guess i will head that direction then. i will also have to get that slider off the front diff some how. any tips on removing red loctight? i may have to just replace the dang input gear.

You need to heat it up.

i thought that was the answer, but its plastic. i guess i can try with a heat gun.

Hmm. I'm still not sure what's red loctited? Is it the plastic sleeve? Loctited on a diff cup or are the 2 parts loctited together?

In any case, you should try to heat it up but stop long before it can melt. If not, try to break the bond by banging it in/on something.

basically its the input gear into the front diff where the grub screw is at. the front half of the slider is loc tight onto the input gear. i will try heat if i have time tonight after work. i guess i can try to get some pics up too of my progress.

Red loctite is recommended as a permanent solution.

Also, I think I remember that you need to heat Red Loctite up to 400 degrees fahreneit/celcius (Either way it's a lot.) in order to break the seal.

this is so frustrating, i had a center diff on my ebay watch list and its gone and i cannot find any more.

anybody know the gear ratio in the cen diffs, front/rear? also, what is the arena's ratios incase i need a gear change there?

I use the slider shaft with mine and I don't see any wear with it. If I'm not mistaking the diffs are 26/9 or something like that.

so how did you get the slider to adapt to a center diff? or did you just use a cen center diff? my diff i already had was like 1mm away from the cen output to fit in it.

here are a few pic from tearing down a bit and cleaning.
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../Photo0172.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../Photo0173.jpg

here is a mock up of posible mounting options

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../Photo0175.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../Photo0176.jpg
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1.../Photo0177.jpg

I gave up on my conversion because I couldn't get the parts for the dogbone installation. If, as you say, the slider will hold up under brushless I will start again.

I love those tires btw. Are those regular badlands?

yes, the truck came with the stock 7.7s but i wanted to loose weight. these are ofna full offset wheels and standard mt badlands. i've had them for a long time but never really used them. i love the mean stance it gave the truck.