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Blue Torch Fabworks Kryptonite Differential Cover, Ford 8.8"
Reviews Views Date of last review
2 4630 Thu May 4, 2006
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Recommended By Average Price Average Rating
100% of reviewers $140.00 9.0
4665IMG_1757_sized.jpg


supersize

supersize

Description: The Kryptonite diff covers for the Ford 8.8" rear end is fabbed from 1/4" steel plate with a 3/8" steel ring for the base. Considering that the truck we're putting it on is a dual purpose, daily driver and sometimes trail rig, this is overkill protection! If it's good enough for a rock crawler, it's good enough for my SUV. It IS worth it, though. Think about the money you drop into your ring and pinion, or your locker. How would you like to destroy those parts by dropping your diff onto a ledge? Or peeling the stock sheet metal cover off and dropping gear oil all over the trail, leaving you stranded? At under $140, this is cheap insurance.

The BTF Kryptonite cover is beautiful to behold, especially if you are a gearhead! BTF laser cuts the plate steel, then folds and welds it into shape. Each diff cover comes unpainted, and includes new 12-point bolts and washers for installation. In the pictures below, from left to right, we see the inside, the welding detail, and the overall exterior. The unit is shipped with a thin coat of oil on it for rust protection, which picks up a bit of lint in shipment, but that's no big deal.

After cleaning the cover with brake cleaner, I hit it with some 80 grit sandpaper in order rough up the surface for paint adhesion. I then painted it with a gray hammertone paint, which contrasted nicely with the black hammertone that I used on the axle. After letting that cure for a few days, on it went.

Looking for a cover for your application? See the Blue Torch Fabworks' web site, they have just about everything.
Keywords: differential cover


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bplein
Wannabe Elite Explorer


Registered: February 2001
Posts: 117
Review Date: Tue March 7, 2006 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $140.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Strong, well built
Cons: Heavy, but we like them that way!

If you take your Explorer offroad, consider getting a decent differential cover. Chrome looks pretty, but it doesn't keep you from peeling the cover off on some rock.

This is ARMOR for your differential. Why put $200+ into a locker or new ring and pinion and then blow it out by using your old cover?

------------------------------
Bill Plein
'97 XLT 4.0 SOHC 4" Superlift, rear Powertrax locker, BTF diff cover, ART front rotors.
2005 Mustang GT with a custom tune, 320+HP
Mini-14 Forums and more! and more!

 
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TwoToneX
my pockets hurt


Registered: August 2001
Posts: 2543
Review Date: Thu May 4, 2006 Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $140.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: strong, looks good
Cons: less than perfect craftmanship

All in all, it's a great diff cover. Nothing too agressive and large, and looks good on there while providing great protection. Like bplein said, why spend so much on gears/lockers and then cover it with a crappy plastic diff cover? I don't know how much it might interfere with the rear swaybar as I had removed mine already, but it really doesn't take up a whole lot more space than stock.

My only qualm was that some of the holes were drilled terribly, leaving metal on the inside where it needs to be flush for a good seal, which is part of the reason I bought it (stock was leaking, why not upgrade and replace?). After a little sanding the cover went on great (although watch out for the 12 point bolts they include...had to buy a new socket ). It was disappointing about the holes, but the durability and toughness should be more than adequate for this DD/weekend wheeler. Looks great painted too.

------------------------------
6 tire doty
'90 XLT 4x4 "Big Ugly"
mug
"Oh...and go Broncos.
Yeah, go Broncos."

 
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