wards, with respect don't put words in my mouth, I know about the test bar stuff. About the only way I could perhaps convey to you that this is the case is by saying (and I'm sure you will have seen this, but likely anyone without experience with this sort of work hasn't) that it's not unusual on bw diffs _before_ any shortening or work has taken place, esp if they've been in a relatively heavy car, that they are no longer actually straight but can tend to have a slight bend, with the outsides being 'forward' vs the centre if that makes sense (I'll do a diagram if not)



, I know about the potential for warpage, but it also depends on the extent to which it has to be altered in order to shorten it, and there's certainly (not that that is being discussed here) some difference between shortening and doing a complete sheet metal housing, or re-inforcing a housing with bracing along the back of the diff as is done to some ford 9" housings. I also made absolutely no reference to a stick welder, so I don't think it's fair to criticise me for allegedly thinking something that I categorically did not think. Just for the record, it'd be a couple of tack welds as necessary (and re-checking before proceeding) with a mig, and then tig for the rest. Not that that is exactly a government secret. If the person didn't have use (and ability) with a tig welder, I'd 'maybe' in some cases believe it's possible to do it with a mig, maybe. But a stick welder? Not in this lifetime.

I'm not suggesting you aren't good at what you do, so please take this in context. I am aware of more than a couple of people who have done this themselves and the cars are still going strong some years down the track. They had access to decent lathes and milling machines that allowed them to make jigs and bars in order to make it straight and make sure it ended up straight afer welding. I'm also aware of more than one diff shop who do some atrocious work (and I am certainly not putting you in that boat) and continue to do business none the less.

You're not bursting my bubble. I would hope I'm not bursting yours if I was to simply say that whilst it might not be a good idea for homer simpson to try and diy this, people with fitting and turning or similar backgrounds won't exactly struggle to do it.

I hope this has come across politely enough, I'm just saying that you have mis-interpreted and partly mis-represented where I was coming from, and have made some incorrect assumptions about my knowledge on the issue. Now perhaps that's because I didn't write a 10,000 word post covering all possible questions (ironically that's why some of my posts on other forums have stretched beyond a page or two - because any time I left out the smallest detail someone would nit pick it) that might arise. Can't help that, I just don't have the time for it much these days. SO if that's made it look like my earlier post was in that context, no dramas.

I don't take offence to what you've said, and I hope I haven't caused any with my reply.