Winter Returned

[diyer2]

9 degrees 2 inches this morning.

[RyanbabZ71]

F Winter.  I am over this cold and snow

[diyer2]

Wednesday 7 inches, 11 degrees that morning.

[customboss]

47 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

Wednesday 7 inches, 11 degrees that morning.

We drift so much up here it’s hard to tell but we tested the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness in 1.5’ of snow and it was MORE stable than the Chevy Trail boss up here. 

[garagerog]

20 minutes ago, customboss said:

We drift so much up here it’s hard to tell but we tested the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness in 1.5’ of snow and it was MORE stable than the Chevy Trail boss up here. 

How do they compare in ground clearance?

[Atlas]

23 minutes ago, customboss said:

We drift so much up here it’s hard to tell but we tested the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness in 1.5’ of snow and it was MORE stable than the Chevy Trail boss up here. 

 

Do the modern Subies still have symmetrical AWD? IMO nothing beats those systems in slick conditions. VW/Audi used to have a similar setup from Torsen (Quattro/4Motion) but many of their models have gone to a part-time Haldex system and I don't think they're as good.

[customboss]

14 minutes ago, garagerog said:

How do they compare in ground clearance?

9.3” for Sube Wilderness 

10.8” TRAIL BOSS 

Edited December 5, 2025 by customboss

[customboss]

5 minutes ago, Atlas said:

 

Do the modern Subies still have symmetrical AWD? IMO nothing beats those systems in slick conditions. VW/Audi used to have a similar setup from Torsen (Quattro/4Motion) but many of their models have gone to a part-time Haldex system and I don't think they're as good.

Yes it’s friggin awesome and the lift the Wilderness gets is just enough. 

[garagerog]

13 minutes ago, customboss said:

9.3” for Sube Wilderness 

10.8” TRAIL BOSS 

9'3" should be plenty good enough. Years ago while deer hunting in the mtns. my BIL noticed in his rearview mirror differential marks in the fresh snow between his tire tracks (4WD Dodge) Time to turn around he remarked. Sage advice unless you're chained up all the way around.

Edited December 5, 2025 by garagerog

[customboss]

Up here we use snow to cool our differentials. 

[garagerog]

40 minutes ago, customboss said:

Up here we use snow to cool our differentials. 

Crossover comment related to the Nascar thread, prior to the latest generation of Cup cars, they actually had a cooler on what were essentially beefed up Ford 9" differentials, small pulley on a longer pinion shaft and belt drove a pump to a cooler. I would assume the trans-axles in the current Cup cars require much more cooling.

[customboss]

4 hours ago, garagerog said:

Crossover comment related to the Nascar thread, prior to the latest generation of Cup cars, they actually had a cooler on what were essentially beefed up Ford 9" differentials, small pulley on a longer pinion shaft and belt drove a pump to a cooler. I would assume the trans-axles in the current Cup cars require much more cooling.

Modern NASCAR teams typically use compact, pump-driven oil-to-air coolers mounted near the rear axle, built from stacked-plate motorsport cores (often Setrab-type) and plumbed with AN hose and scavenge pumps that circulate gear oil through the cooler and back into the differential housing.[setrabusa +1]
What “NASCAR approved” means
For national series (Cup/Xfinity/Trucks), “approved” generally means the cooler, lines, pump, and mounting comply with the current NASCAR rulebook and any series-specific technical bulletins, rather than being one specific spec part number. The NASCAR Weekly / Late Model type rule sets typically allow conventional closed rear ends and quick-change rears, and may or may not explicitly mention coolers, but any added systems must meet safety, material, and mounting requirements in the book.[lacrossespeedway +2]
Common hardware used
Teams usually assemble systems from proven racing components rather than buying a single “NASCAR kit.” Typical pieces are:[improvedracing +1]
•    Stacked-plate oil cooler (Setrab Proline Series 6/9/10 or similar, AN or M22 ports, aluminum construction).[setrab +2]
•    Small gear or spur pump driven off the rear axle, driveshaft, or electric motor, feeding hot gear oil forward through the cooler and returning to the housing or a vented catch tank.[appliedspeed +1]
•    PTFE or high-temp rubber -8AN to -12AN hoses with crimped fittings and proper abrasion protection, routed away from exhaust and sharp edges, with bulkhead fittings or clamps at the firewall and floor as required by NASCAR safety rules.[staffordmotorspeedway +1]
Sizing and layout
Coolers are chosen to handle roughly the 2–4 quarts of gear oil in a quick-change while keeping pressure drop manageable, so 10–20 row stacked-plate coolers are common. Mounting is usually at the rear of the car or in a low-pressure area with ducted airflow; road-course setups may get more cooler area or more aggressive ducting than short-oval cars because diff temps climb faster on long green runs.[theracingexperts +2]
3–5 parts sources worth a look
These are practical sources if you are trying to build a “NASCAR-style” diff cooler for your own car or a short-track stocker:
•    Setrab Proline Racing coolers – Broad range of stacked-plate cores with -AN/M22 ports and motorsport mounting options; widely used in pro racing including stock cars and sports cars.[setrabusa +2]
•    Improved Racing (Setrab distributors) – Sells Setrab diff/gear oil coolers, fittings, and thermostatic sandwich plates; product pages show specs and performance that make sizing easier.[improvedracing]
•    C&R / PWR Racing – Builds complete race cooling solutions and can supply custom or off-the-shelf oil coolers and plumbing designed around stock car layouts.[appliedspeed]
•    General race suppliers (e.g., Competition Motorsport, other road-race vendors) – Carry pumps, filters, and hose/fittings suitable for building a robust, tech-friendly diff cooler loop.[competitionmotorsport +1]
For something specifically acceptable under a particular NASCAR rule set (Cup vs local NASCAR-sanctioned weekly rules), the next step is to check that series’ current rulebook and talk with the tech director, then choose a small stacked-plate Setrab-style cooler, a quality pump, and AN plumbing sized to the gear oil volume and track type.
 

Perplexity 

[Grumpy Bear]

We now have more snow this year to date than all of last year. We've only hit zero a few days but it seems harsher this year. MRS. bought me a puffer coat. Toasty  She now has one as well. No idea they could be that warm. 

[customboss]

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

We now have more snow this year to date than all of last year. We've only hit zero a few days but it seems harsher this year. MRS. bought me a puffer coat. Toasty  She now has one as well. No idea they could be that warm. 

Go outside more and post less. Good medicine. Works for me. 

[Grumpy Bear]

Weather whiplash. Sub zero to near 50 F and rain, fog and wind. Melted the nearly 2 feet of snow in hours. Ice breaking up on the river below us and backing up water. Frozen ground not taking any isn't helping.  It' will refreeze by to night and back to an ice rink.