Just installed the 3.90 3rd member from VAS

[RoyBatty]

No regrets. Original ratio was the 4.30.
After shearing teeth from my second pinion in two years, I decided to go ahead and spring for new parts, instead of grabbing more used parts from a pick n pull.
Installed new axle bearings in the process.
Speedo is slower than actual by approx 5 mph on average, according to my phone gps speedo app.
80 mph now shows 3700 rpm on the tach, which could have some error to it. But that is compared to 80 coming in at just over 4000 rpm with the original diff.
Car seems to have lost nothing in driveability and in my opinion, it seems to be more fun to use the gears on the twistys as it feels as though you can stretch things out a bit further.
If you find yourself in need of one of these, I say do it.

[PittsburghKevin]

How much hp does your engine have? is it stock?

[RoyBatty]

Never have checked it for output.
Mine is a '75 desmogged.
Stock exhaust, minus the catalytic converter. EMPI 32/36 carb from Allisons. Pertronix ignition module.
I plan to install a factory 4-2-1 exhaust and dual webers in the near future.

[RoyBatty]

Ok so after about 100 miles of use I start to heara high pitched whine from the rear of the car.
I called VAS to discuss getting an exchange unit on the way as the noise was plainly coming from the new 3rd member. No such luck.They insisted that it has to be from another source and that ib needed to disassemble fori inspection and call back with my findings.
What I found was that the hardened surfaces of the gears appeared to be worn thru and the surface of the gear teeth was down to bare unhardened metal. The top of the drive side of each tooth on the ring gear was feathered to a sharp edge.
They are implying that I did something wrong and will not send me an exchange. Instead they said I should shop elsewhere and they will give me a refund.
I'm not real happy right now.

[lanciahf]

Listen! take the refund and run, probably a Lada unit. Repeat take the refund and run.......

[Exit98]

Roy,

That stinks. It's not just the $ but the time you spend.

I put a used 3.90 off one of George's parts cars in mine about 2 years ago after my original 4.10 gave up the ghost. Very happy and no issues. Sure it could fail tomorrow but I'd just do it again.

[focodave]

Listen! take the refund and run, probably a Lada unit. Repeat take the refund and run.......

Not trying to be a wise-guy or anything, but I am just asking for my own edumication:
Are you insinuating that Lada parts are inferior due to different metal composition and manufacturing techniques/quality-control?

Dave

[surfingfreeman]

Yes! lada parts SUCK!

[focodave]

Yes! lada parts SUCK!

But how so?
I mean, a lot of people say Fiats suck. I don't think so, but that's what the general population thinks.
So what is it about Lada that sucks, specifically?

[surfingfreeman]

Poor QA/QC, I should clarify my disdain for Lada stems from a replacement ignition I installed which was a total nightmare, as it only caused intermittent failures and was difficult to isolate it back to the ignition as the source of the problem. That being said do a quick search for Lada on the site and see are there more positive or negative comments.
Mike

[Tobi]

I went through 2 Lada ignition switches but I think the problem there was that they should not have been sold by IAP for later
Fi cars.

[RoyBatty]

Vick has received the returned 3rd member as of 2:20 PM today.
Lets see how long til I get my refund eh?
BTW I found a '74 Spider being parted out at a yard here in Sacramento. Bought the whole rear axle assy for 200 bucks, brakes and all. Swapped that diff into my spider after some cleanup and cutting a new gasket.
Just got back from a 1oo mile round trip test drive. All is running quiet and dry.
So I will make this event no thanks to Jerry at VAS. I didn't get to register for putting my spider in the showing,
but I will go just to see the show.

[htchevyii]

Glad that you got it back together. I used to buy a fair amount of parts from Vicks, but there sure seems to be a lot of negative press since they changed hands. Autoricambi and Allison's have never steered me wrong. IAP seems a bit high, but they haven't done me wrong either.

[RoyBatty]

Made it

[RoyBatty]

Ok,Vick refunded me the full purchase price of the diff I returned.
Funny part of this story is that they claimed the returned unit was ok and asked me if I wanted it sent back!
My refund was in my account 72 hrs after I told them I'd rather not have that diff back.
I then ordered all parts needed to rebuild my original unit from Ramzi and Csaba at Auto Ricambi.
Using the online resources and my Haynes manual I completed the rebuild and setup in my garage with basic tools and some past mechanical experience.
130 quiet miles later all is well.
Ima happy hawappan. (Hawaiian/Italian)