Optima Mid Transmission Reliability

[OptimaFan]

The rear transmission gears seem to be a weak spot of the Optima Mid. Most cars I got second hand came with either a worn out diff gear, and center gear, or came with an extra new unused front diff housing, showing that the rear diff had already been replaced.

What is the best way to prevent this? Is the Thorp center gear much better than the stock one, and will this make the diff gear last much longer? And how about a belt conversion? So replacing the metal gear on the spur gear shaft by a pulley, that fits over the metal pin that goes through that shaft. And replace the gear half of the diff with one that fits a drive belt. It seems that only 3 custom parts would be needed, the pulley to replace the metal gear on the spur shaft, a short belt (maybe the one from the Lazer ZX-R might fit) and the new diff half to replace the gear half.

Has this already been attempted? Are there better options?