I've gone through two differentials now - the 3.54:1 R180 I originally had in it howled from day one, and I replaced it with a stock 510 3.9:1 R160 that lasted about seven months, but man did it sure add to the feel of power! After that diff started making a rattling I initially thought was the tranny (and even replacing the tranny due to this noise), I put in a Subaru R160 LSD diff with a ratio of 3.7:1. This diff makes all the difference in the world! I can use full throttle in first and not break the tires loose just by leaning into into the throttle. The car comes out of corners MUCH harder now, as well - funny how traction can do that
Many itmes have been made operational in the last year - I have a good heater, temp gauge & turn signals. The front struts have been replaced - no more leaking strut or inconsistant handling. There is also no more front tire rub - going to 280ZXT "swastika" wheels cured that problem.
The car - other than the aforementioned differential problems, has been 100% reliable - never has the car stalled, not started, left me stranded or in doubt of making to any location I've been going to. Basically, everything I built it for! Mileage has been as high as 30mpg (all-highway with the 3.54.1) to a low of 17mpg (city), and averages about 23mpg in my normal mix of driving. With the 3.7:1, highway mileage is 26-27mpg at 70mph.
Several runs down the 'strip have netted a best time of 13.971@99.75 - this was with the open 3.9:1. With the Subaru 3.7:1 and improved intake plumbing (no more J30 intake plumbing), my best time is 14.199@98mph. The car runs consistant 14.3's easily.
The car has survived a three trips to the dragstrip, two autocrosses, and one track day with no hiccups, incidents, or problems whatsoever! The car is exactly what I inteneded - a 100% reliable daily driver. .