Gale Banks is one of the most brilliant minds that hot rodding has ever known. He’s succeeded virtually every single area imaginable. While we know him for this diesel work over the last 20 years, the guy has set a load of records in Bonneville, he had a twin turbocharged top fuel dragster in the 1980s, and his crowning achievement has been the development of an engine platform for US military vehicles.
Not that you were lacking in Gale Banks knowledge but that kind of sets the table for what you will see below. These are four fascinating videos that Banks stars in that tackle an interesting topic. Are aftermarket differential covers worth it? There are a load of them on the market with slightly different designs and shapes but are they actually helping? The prevailing sales line with these covers is that increased fluid capacity is a good thing and that they allow for easier fluid changes, etc. BUT, do they actually work or even more shockingly, are they actually harming the performance of your truck?
Banks has no dog in the rear differential cover fight. He is not trying to prove that his is better. He is simply making the video to test out how they work against a stock cover. Its not a Banks Power sales pitch, it is a brilliant guy exploring a topic that we have never heard of anyone checking out at this level before.
Wow, fascinating is right!
Thank you Mr. Banks for doing this. Can’t wait for the dyno results.
I’m interested in seeing those too – I had initially thought that the cover wouldn’t make a huge difference, but the fluid flow shows the shape plays more of a role than I thought.
First class information and video, extremely informative!
Can\’t wait to see the end results.
Look at the shape of 1965-1970 Chevrolet 12 and 10 bolts. You can clearly see that the shape of the cover plays an important part in the function of the rear end.
I e got a 3/8 thick cover on a 14 bolt. It holds more oil, has a drain plug and runs hotter than the factory one. It also generates more pressure in the axle which at speeds above 60mph forces the oil out the vent tube until it’s about a pint low. The heat may be due to running a Detroit as well. I’m not sure.
Very good job, I wish there were more stories like this with good information for us who want to know how and why of things.
Thank you, your never to old to learn, your instructional video, Is a eye opener.A truly excellent series.
I’m fascinated by this experiment! I wonder what similar testing to a drop out diff (Ford 9″ or Mopar 8.75″) would show? With fabricated housings, would the geometry have similar effects?