Wavetrac

[River_Rat]

I believe he is getting the Vermont Tuner compressor wheel upgrade. stock manifold.

 

[Preloader]

That is correct. Like I've said, there aren't many good aftermarket turbo applications to suit our little 1.4L.

Too big and you lose the bottom half for daily driveability. VTuner enlarges the compressor opening, swaps a slightly bigger wheel in and modifies the turbine.
No need for a one off manifold or even an external blowoff.

Now if I was building a drag-only non street Sonic, I'd be all over a T28 and a valvetrain for 9k revs.

Back on topic:
The LSD should benefit the 60' by making the power are more realistic 2WD as opposed to the almost 1WD stock diff.

 

[BoostedSnail]

That is correct. Like I've said, there aren't many good aftermarket turbo applications to suit our little 1.4L.

Too big and you lose the bottom half for daily driveability. VTuner enlarges the compressor opening, swaps a slightly bigger wheel in and modifies the turbine.
No need for a one off manifold or even an external blowoff.

Now if I was building a drag-only non street Sonic, I'd be all over a T28 and a valvetrain for 9k revs.

Back on topic:
The LSD should benefit the 60' by making the power are more realistic 2WD as opposed to the almost 1WD stock diff.

yah its going to be sick

 

[Preloader]

I'm getting anxious to get the LSD in. With the MZ0 and race clutch/fly, it has become increasingly hard to take off from a stop without spinning the front right tire.

I hope the LSD makes that a little more manageable.

 

[laborsmith]

I have not spun a tire since installing the LSD on dry or rain dampened pavement. I did several times before the install. I have on snow over ice covered roads but not as much after as before. Sticky tires and LSD and you will feel the difference.

Now you are putting more power to the ground than I am so you might spin if you work at it, but it will be both wheels spinning!


Laborsmith

 

[Preloader]

This is what I was hoping to hear, thanks for the report LS.

My initial interest was track related, but then I started to feel like I'll find much more value in this mod if it can also restore some of the daily driving characteristics to my car.

This thing is almost a chore to drive in gridlock. I love it when I'm joy riding, but when driving for utility like commuting in stop and go traffic it's exhausting trying to get a non-chirp take-off from a stop.

-because racecar (been a while since that's been said, but totally relevant to the conclusion of this post)

 

[wingman]

I am sure this is a great products but the price seems a little steep. Back when I had my tj, I got f/r Detroit's for around 11-1200 for parts. Rear end was full locker, front was lsd. Installation was about the same as parts though.....

 

[Preloader]

I got them down to $875 for the diff, and installation will be free.

034 motorsports in Fremont, Jeremy, can hook it up.

 

[sx sonic]

I'm getting anxious to get the LSD in. With the MZ0 and race clutch/fly, it has become increasingly hard to take off from a stop without spinning the front right tire.

I hope the LSD makes that a little more manageable.

Have you tried a no throttle takeoff? It's a sure fire way to a no chirp launch

I've been using this method for 2nd gear take offs when I'm hypermiling or trying to keep the noise down for when the neighborhood is sleeping.

 

[Preloader]

You'll find that with a lighter single mass flywheel, that will stall the motor.opcorn:

 

[Preloader]

Finally picked it up. I also got a sweet tour of 034 Motorsports. While they specialize in Euro, audi's and VW mostly, they have a full facility and can make any custom tuning part imaginable.

Wavetrac will go in Friday, I've got a lot on my plate tomorrow.:blankface:

 

[sonic24740]

Finally picked it up. I also got a sweet tour of 034 Motorsports. While they specialize in Euro, audi's and VW mostly, they have a full facility and can make any custom tuning part imaginable.

Wavetrac will go in Friday, I've got a lot on my plate tomorrow.:blankface:

I am so jealous.. I want one....

 

[SPOTWORK]

So the wavetrac is basically positrac with a fancy name, correct?

 

[Preloader]

That's a pretty close analogy.

The stock open diff puts equal torque to both wheels. If one wheel slips it would take additional torque to the other wheel to assist in acceleration, which the open diff is not capable of. The Wavetrac will "lock" up the output to both when one side slips, effectively increasing torque to the side that is gripping.

The biggest benefit of this will be traction while accelerating through turns. But there may be just a slight benefit when unequal traction is encountered in a straight line launch.

 

[laborsmith]

So the wavetrac is basically positrac with a fancy name, correct?

Cute. WaveTrac has been an offered upgrade for the 5th Gen Camaro V8 for a while now and recently, probably as a result of Corvette C5/C6 owners noticing the results, Wavetrac is now offered to them as well.

Since the V8 Camaros and the C5 and C6 Corvettes roll off the assembly line with Eaton based positrac differentials, there is a question begging for an answer.

But I am not smart enough to construct the question and I will leave it to those with knowledge to provide the answer once the question is formulated.

See how nice I am when I want to be!


Laborsmith

 

[SPOTWORK]

Ok, under load posi locks up and under normal driving conditions it acts like a normal diff. What's so different about wavetrac. Just the lockup while cornering

 

[Preloader]

A limited slip differential (LSD) or anti-spin is another type of traction aiding device that uses a mechanical system that activates under centrifugal force to positively lock the left and right spider gears together when one wheel spins a certain amount faster than the other. This type behaves as an open differential unless one wheel begins to spin and exceeds that threshold. While positraction units can be of varying strength, some of them with high enough friction to cause an inside tire to spin or outside tire to drag in turns like a spooled differential, the LSD will remain open unless enough torque is applied to cause one wheel to lose traction and spin, at which point it will engage. A LSD can use clutches like a posi when engaged, or may also be a solid mechanical connection like a locker or spool. It is called limited slip because it does just that; it limits the amount that one wheel can "slip" (spin).

From Wiki.

 

[laborsmith]

That and in addition the WaveTrac has a clutch plate in addition to the gears, which means it functions much like a torsen differential, per the Wiki quite above, and like a differential using plates. The clutch plates are not normally used in a street (daily driver) application because of their adverse effect on such things as turning into a shopping mall parking space.

All this to say the WaveTrac functions as a hybrid of the Eaton positrac and the drag racers clutch plate differentials AND allows the driving experience of a normal open or posi differential. Is it worth the cost? Of course not, otherwise people such as myself would never consider using it.

Does it work as advertised? You betcha!

Is it good for 99.9% of the Sonics produced? Expense not a consideration, of curse, but expense considered, I doubt it.

Given a choice between a Quaife ATB, an Eaton positrac, or a WaveTrac hybrid, which would I choose? Only careful readers of this thread know.


Laborsmith

 

[Preloader]

Is it worth the cost? Of course not, otherwise people such as myself would never consider using it.

Laborsmith

Ha. This is why you kick ass Labor, I understand too well what you mean.

 

[firstorbit84]

I thought new mustang gt's came stock with a clutch pack LSD?