Just had Performance Nissan in Duarte, CA do mine (replace the 3.3 FD w/ a 3.5 FD) and I have the invoice in front of me.

1) To install the replacement VLSD: 2.5 hrs labor = $233.88
2) To drain and refill w/ fresh diff fluid (Motul): $92 labor + $38.97 parts = $130.97

So total = $364.85

I'm sure I could have had the work done for less at an independent shop, but I felt more secure having the dealership do this particular job.

 

hell yeah, thanks alot man. Thats is a pretty good price to have a dealer do it. Since I have the base model I will need axle stubs I think.

 

This might be apples and oranges, the work seems to be for swapping complete pumpkins while OP I think is asking about opening up the pumpking and installing the VLSD in his current pumpking and reinstalling the pumpking.

If so you would need to add labor for doing the internal work.

 

You're right... 2 different things. Thought the OP was asking about a pumpkin swap.

Sorry if I misunderstood and answered the wrong question.

 

I could get rich swapping pumpkins at 233$. It took me and friend with 4 jackstands, a floor jack. A set of sockets, make sure you have a deep 17mm socket for the rear diff bolt. To swap that thing out takes, 25 minutes to pull it, along with exhaust removal. The install also took about 30 mins. 2.5 hours of labor is rape. With a lift it could be done even faster.

 

So with the base model I would have to get another pumpkin?

 

I have never done anything like that, I dont think I could just try it. I dont want my car apart and have no clue.

 

You have a base model? You need the axle stubs. Your best bet is to find somebody who had factory VLSD and maybe upgraded to a Nismo LSD or went to a Quaife and they have a spare set of axle stubs that are compatible with the VLSD.

 

A friend did the Quaife on a base model and didn't have to change anything else.

 

Quaife is designed as a drop-in for the base model open diff. If a person has VLSD and gets the Quaife, they need to their change axle stubs. So they would have a spare set of stubs that are VLSD compatible.

 

oh, thats cool. I have already got the stock VLSD and jim will hook me up with some stubs. I am still unsure about the pumpkin, what is it and do I need to be concerned with it?

 

The pumpkin is the exterior assembly. There shouldn't be any concerns with that. As long as your new VLSD is from a 6MT, you'll be straight.

 

hell yeah thanks man, thats what I thought. The VLSD is from a 6MT performance model. I spoke with my local dealership and they said as long as I supply all the parts they will just charge for labor, $80 an hour.

 

$364 to install
$80 for LSD stub axles
$?? cost for bearings
$??? cost to buy VLSD core
________________________
What's your total cost going to be?

Doing oem VLSD swaps with parts does not add up cost wise given that you can buy sealed 3.5 vlsd diff's (the entire pumpkin) and do the swap yourself for less and not have to tie the car up in the shop or work hard to find a shop that actually has someone that knows what they are doing. I know, I was the first person to do a VLSD swap with parts. I learned the hard way how much you end up spending. In the end since it cost more then just doing a pumpkin swap, I could have gotten a much more effective LSD had I installed the Nismo LSD instead for not much more $$.

 

Well, I paid $100 for the LSD, $50 for the bearing, $150 for the stubs and its gonna be about $200 for the install from the dealer. So its gonna be about $500 total, what pumpkin set-up can I get for that? I didnt know you can just swap out a whole pumpkin set up. Which pumpkin setup did you get? How difficult is it to install? Do you just have to bolt up with drive shaft and axles?

 

Anyone know a good pumpkin kit??

 

I bought my LSD diff out of a junkyard for 250$ shipped. There is no reason to swap the internals of a diff when your using stock parts when you can get the entire diff out of a wrecked car for so cheap. There is even a how to on the forums, with the extact tools you need and pictures on how to take the thing out. 500$ for it is not so good.

 

I looked through the DIY, where is this thread your talkin' about?

 

Anyone know where the DIY thread is on the pumpkin?? I was looking at it, It looks like all you have to do is unbolt the drive shaft and the axles and the two large bolts holding it up. Am I missing anything??