2.73 Gears

[Randell Magtoto]

Ihave the standard 12 bolt 2.73 gears. I can't seem to find a posi unit that would seem to swap out with the same gear ratio. Do I have to go a higher ratio and, if so, will it fit in the same axle housing? Anyone done this before? Finally, what is the gear oil capacity on the rear differential? I put in about 2 quarts (a little bit down my arm too) before it started leaking out.

Unfortunatly I don't think anyone makes a 2 series carrier any more. Which means you would have to change gears also, I think 3.08 is the highest available for the 12 bolt. Consensus seems to be that the 3.31's are the best all around choice for a driver. I believe you can go as low as a 3.90, but that is pretty much short trips or track only, you'll be turning a lot of rpm's. Lube capacity is just over 2 quarts but that includes what is in the axle tubes which never drains. When changing it you'll put in just under 2 quarts. Drive it around with a few left and right turns then recheck it.

I have an original GM series 2 posi carrier. I have purchased all new internal steel clutches, side gears, spider gears, etc from Randy's Ring and Pinion. Carrier is clean and crack free. Internal parts are new in their boxes. Would need outer case bearings. If your serious about keeping 2.73s and going posi, this would be the unit for you. $300 plus shipping and it's yours. - Dave

TRITON UPDATE

Nicole Spangler currently leads the team with a .375 batting average with seven doubles and 12 RBI. Callie Grant, a .361 hitter this season, has a team high 22 hits. Caitlin Brown has a team best .508 slugging percentage, 14 RBI and two homeruns. Emily McQuaid has a team high seven stolen bases, while Kirsten Willmon is 6-for-7. Kayla Hensel is 8-3 on the year with a 2.97 ERA in a team high 13 appearnaces on the mound. Hensel has 19 strikeouts.

ABOUT CAL STATE EAST BAY

The Pioneers enter the weekend posting a 6-12 overall record and 4-8 record in CCAA play. CSUEB earned split series decisions with Cal State Monterey Bay and No. 18 Sonoma State after opening conference play dropping a 0-4 series to Humboldt State on Feb. 15-16.

As a team, the Pioneers are hitting .288. Taryn Thomas, currently on a seven-game hitting streak, is the Pioneers top hitter with a .365 batting average. Chelsie Kakela is hitting .240 with three doubles and two triples. Shaunna Purkey leads the Pioneers with six stolen bases, including a big steal in the bottom of the 10th inning in a Pioneer victory over Cal State Monterey Bay last Saturday. Pitcher Lauren Zweigle is 5-7 with a 2.73 ERA in 15 appearances. Zweigle has 76 strikeouts.

AROUND THE CCAA

The Tritons made positive movement in the CCAA standings after going 3-1 this past weekend with Cal State Monterey Bay. UCSD is currently second with a 8-4 record, coming in right behind Cal State Dominguez Hills at 6-2 with a .750 winning percentage. The Tritons have shown their quickness in the field as they lead the CCAA in both assists (199) and double plays (20).

LIVE STATS

Remember, for those who can't make the games, live stats for all Triton home softball games (and most road games) are available online at www.UCSDtritons.com. Simply click on the live stats icon given by each game on the Triton softball schedule page.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS

Junior Caitlin Brown popped her 13th career homerun, and second of the season, in game three with Cal State Monterey Bay on Mar. 2. The catcher currently sits at the number five spot on the programs record list. Brown is on track to make moves up the list as she currently sits behind 1986 graduate Pam Hardaway with 14. Jenny Maze (2005-08) owns the program record with 35 career home runs... Nicole Spangler is posting chart climbing numbers with seven double on the season. At this rate, Spangler will easily reach the programs Individual Single Season top ten list with no. 10 coming in at 13. The record holder, Kim Aggabao hit 23 in 2004.

HAVE MERCY

The Tritons have already won two conference matches in run rule fashion, both in the Cal State San Bernardino series. Last season, UCSD was able to accomplish this feat nine times throughout regular and post season play.

FIRST HONORS ROLL IN

Honors continue to roll in for UCSD as Hensel earned her second Worth/CCAA Pitcher of the Week award on Monday, Mar. 4 for her performances against Cal State Monterey Bay. The Tritons received their first honors of the season with back-to-back CCAA accolades as Nicole Spangler earned Player of the Week on Feb. 4 for going 7-for-11 at the plate, good for a .636 average, while tallying three doubles, four runs scored and seven runs batted in. She had at least one hit and one RBI in all four games and also drew a pair of walks against Western Oregon. Hensel earned her first conference honor the following week, on Feb. 11 for her performances with Cal State San Bernardino.

GET SOCIAL

There are now more ways than ever to follow the Tritons. You've always got UCSDtritons.com at your fingertips, but our social media scene continues to grow. Get instant updates on Twitter and like us on Facebook. For a more visual approach, watch our YouTube channel. Follow the Tritons all year long on social media! Also, get the inside track on all things UCSD softball by following head coach Patti Gerckens on Twitter (@PGerckensUCSDsb)

GEAR HERE

UC San Diego Athletics is excited to announce the launch of UCSDTritonsGear.com, which provides a web-based, on-demand option for UCSD athletic apparel and merchandise. Fans have access to over 600 products, including special event and championship gear.

Even if the bailout ultimately works to unlock credit markets, it would potentially take time. Institutions that sell their bad assets to the government could have to sell those securities at a huge discount, resulting in large writedowns. As a result, experts say it may be months after the legislation is enacted until banks start to see some relief.

The 3-month Libor rate, or the London interbank offered rate, rose to 4.33%, up from 4.21% on Thursday, its highest level since January. The measure is a daily average of what banks charge other banks to lend money in London.

The difference between that measure and the Overnight Index Swaps rate rose to an all-time record 2.73 percentage points, up from 2.55 points Thursday, according to data reported by Bloomberg.com. The Libor-OIS "spread" measures how much cash is available for lending between banks, and is used by banks to determine lending rates. The bigger the spread, the less cash is available for lending.

Historically, the typical Libor-OIS spread is about 0.11 percentage points, but it has averaged 1.66 points since the crisis began on Wall Street in mid-September, according to Merrill Lynch economist Drew Matus.

Another credit market indicator, the "TED spread," rose to yet another record high of 3.88 percentage points. The higher the spread, the more likely banks are risk averse. The TED spread was only 1.04 points on Sept. 5.

The TED spread measures the difference between 3-month Libor and the yield on the 3-month Treasury , considered by many investors to be the safest investment. The spread is a key indicator of banks' willingness to lend to one another.

With a wrench in the financial system's gears, many customers who need a loan to finance a home, car or tuition aren't able to get the credit they need. Others who can get a loan have to pay high interest rates. Frozen credit also affects companies' ability to make payroll, which can result in layoffs.

With credit tighter than ever, investors fear that the economy will continue to slump into a recession. Signs of a prolonged slowdown are evident. For instance, the U.S. Department of Labor is reported that the economy shed 159,000 jobs in September - the highest drop in employment since 2002.

"There's a growing unease about the recession," said Scott Anderson, senior economist with Wells Fargo. "It's pretty clear from the economic data from the past few days that the economic downturn has gotten worse in U.S. and globally."

The U.S. central bank uses its rate-cutting tool to encourage lending in an attempt to boost the economy. However, rate cuts tend to be inflationary, and bond investors worry that their assets will devalue over time as the dollar sinks.

"There is growing speculation that the Fed might cut rates," said Cardillo. "There's no inflation problem right now, but there may be down the road as the printing presses will be running at full speed."

Bond prices were down for the majority of the day Friday, as rumors of a rate cut took hold and stocks rose in anticipation of the House vote. But after the afternoon vote, the stock market refocused on the struggling economy and most Treasurys began to rise.

The "2-10 yield spread," or the difference between the 10-year and 2-year yields, fell to 1.97 percentage points from 2.02 points right before the bill was signed. That suggests a very slight easing of credit, as short term money is being made available at lower rates. But experts warned that it is way too early to declare victory for the credit markets.

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