Chevy & GMC Vans

the last couple of days i've been thinking how much torque/horsepower can our center diffs (it's a 4472 Borg Warner right?) take before they kick the bucket and is there anyway to increase their strength without swapping to a different type. I was thinking about other components too but the transfer case caught most of my attention since i know nothing about it right now

LiftedAWDAstro wrote: These are a very reliable case and will stand a lot of hp. These were also used in the turbo charged Cyclone and Typhoon trucks.

they did 280 hp and 350 lb/ft i think, would it hold up to 500 lb/ft engine

A lot of guys with Syclones/Typhoons are putting a lot more power through their cases than stock. I think they will live reasonably well with a lot more HP and torque if a person doesn't beat on them. I'm more concerned about the front and rear diffs.

I think the rear will be alright i won't hammer on it too much, the transmission i know will die but i want to get a Raptor one. i haven't thought too much about front diff, the C.Vs were on my mind though. i saw something saying the transfer case would hold up to 1,100 lb/ft of torque but haven't been able to confirm that anywhere yet

Not sure, didn't Peter just stick with the OEM AWD setup? and he had a fair bit of power going ( I could be wrong )

Peter swapped in a NP 241 manual shift transfer case. Matt is 100% correct. You WILL blow the front and/or rear diff long before the BW4472 goes due to power. Peter's ZZ502 has around 575 ft# torque and he destroyed at least 2 stock rear diffs without really trying. He twisted the alloy axle shafts in the 9" he swapped in as well and it is considerably stronger than the 7-5/8" stock diff.

i distinctly remember the twisted axles in ZZ. when you say he wrecked the rear diff was it the differential itself or tearing teeth off the gears? also did he ever change the front diff and axles or were they stock i don't remember hearing anything about them.

the only thing Peter did to the front diff was to swap in the S-10 axle disconnect and do a Posi-Lock cable to shift it. His van was RWD most of the time so the front axle almost never got the power to it.

Darren's van has a healthy 350 but I don't know the torque. there is a difference too...Darren is running MUCH smaller tires than Peter was. That alone makes a huge difference. Those big meaty 325's on ZZ would not lose traction very easily and that is why the busted rear diffs.

damn that comp must be fast i can barely edit a post and your all over the place. i completely forgot how big ZZ tires were i guess there is probably only one way to see if it'll handle it or not

How are you getting 500 HP/TQ? You'll blow the trans first...get pics!

i don't intend to hit 500TQ i'm hoping for around 425 (asking for a lot i know) and maybe around 380HP

You'll be fine with the 4472 and probably the diffs as well then.

i think so too thanks for the informative input again i still haven't put my rear diff in not until i get the backing plates