Alternatives to an Atlas axle?

[Ade B]

What live axle could happily take 400BHP+ of hard use?

Preferably one of similar dimensions to an Atlas.....

Also it would have to run a 4x108 PCD or be able to be converted to run this.

[X FLOW EDDY]

The jag 4HA axle is a cheep alternative if you can find one !! They were used in the works TR7 V8 rally cars of tony pond fame and in lotus talbot sunbeam works rally cars as well. A good place to find them is on Reliant simaters fitted with the 3L essex ford lump, they even come with a watts linkage as standerd on the reliant. They are a bit more weightey than an atlas but a chap i know has used one in his gp4 escort with a jondel n/a yb in it for 12 years and has never broken it yet !!

[Slammed]

8 inch ford ......

 

you can get them in 4 stud 4x108 pattern to and overall a much beefier axle

[PIG]

salisbury,hi-lux or volvo will all fit and work ok

[Beakster]

An American Ford axle (8/8.8/9") is the most obvious and probably best solution. Loads of info out there on fitting them to Capris and lots of cheap parts and diffs that can be fitted to them. Although not always easy or cheap to obtain in the UK like they are in the US.

 

Another option I have heard talked about over the years is Volvo axles. These can be had cheaply and easily in the UK. Here's a few threads I found from a google search:

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=39683

 

http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread. ... Rear-axles

 

http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread. ... Volvo-Axle

 

http://www.oldskoolford.co.uk/phpBB2/vi ... c251564d5c

[capri71]

Theres a 940 axle on the bay for 99 quid and a seller who does new eaton lsds for them for 140 deleivered If my 2.8 lsd ever busts, I know what I'll be doing

[Ade B]

Some interesting reading there!

 

What 8" Ford axle is 4x108?

 

Volvo option sounds good, especially as it's probably the cheapest and most plentiful.

[zephyrc]

early celica is narrow strong and fairly light

[V8ian]

Axles for the Capri that dont need much work to fit,

 

Ford Mustang 2, 8" axle, its about 1/2" wider than the Capri, came with 4 stud ford pattern, needs perches etc making but is about the easiest to fit,

 

Celica axle, NOT the early one, they are made of toffee, series 2 celica axle is stronger than the 8" but they are rocking horse poo to find, designated as a "F" type diff, its what I use in the cortina, I have seen 2 of these in the last 10 years, and they also need redrilling, but probably about the right width,

 

Scimitar 4HA, fooking strong, seems to be plenty about, easy to find ratios, but are a salsbury, so the diffs are a PIA to change.

 

Volvo, Again strong, easy to find and quite a few have LSDs dont know what models tho, probably need narrowing too,

[Messenjah]

if its a sailsbury axle is that the same as the ones found on landrovers ? and could you fit an air locking diff ?

 

???

[xrt_si]

Ade mate I've been looking into this a lot too for my new Cortina.

 

Leaning towards a Ford Explorer 8.8 diff (of which there are about 10 on ebay) and getting it narrowed with custom shafts.

[V8ian]

The explorer axle is offset with 2 different length shafts, I know it is possible to get another short shaft, and narrow one side of the casing, I think this brings it down to capri-ish size

[xrt_si]

The explorer axle is offset with 2 different length shafts, I know it is possible to get another short shaft, and narrow one side of the casing, I think this brings it down to capri-ish size

 

I've heard they do that a lot in the States, but still proves a problem with PCD. Custom shafts aren't THAT bad in price either.

[turnover]

bought my 8 inch in my escort from the states told them the width etc and had it made with lsd etc,allthough they didnt offset the pinion ,so i had to chop and shorten one side but they did send me a free driveshaft to suit for the hastle,will easily handle 400hp and works out cheap in my opinion

[Beakster]

The explorer axle is offset with 2 different length shafts, I know it is possible to get another short shaft, and narrow one side of the casing, I think this brings it down to capri-ish size

 

Big John fitted an Explorer axle to his Capri afew years back. Didn't shorten it or anything and made it work . Not saying its an ideal solution, but I reckon he made it work for pennies. Some info on these old theads here:

 

http://www.fordcapriforum.com/forum/vie ... 13&t=17550

 

http://www.fordcapriforum.com/forum/vie ... 13&t=17597

 

http://www.fordcapriforum.com/forum/vie ... =13&t=7284

[Ade B]

Ahh, Explorer has an LSD! Gotta be an open diff for me.

100% welded lock is the only way to go!

[xrt_si]

Ahh, Explorer has an LSD! Gotta be an open diff for me.

100% welded lock is the only way to go!

 

Not all have LSDs

 

Anyway sure you can pick up a spool really cheap?

[xrt_si]

bought my 8 inch in my escort from the states told them the width etc and had it made with lsd etc,allthough they didnt offset the pinion ,so i had to chop and shorten one side but they did send me a free driveshaft to suit for the hastle,will easily handle 400hp and works out cheap in my opinion

 

Roughly what kind of price was that if you don't mind me asking?

[Ade B]

Hmm, Explorer being only an inch wider and offset makes it sound like hassle.

Big cheap Volvo unit sounds tempting though! Especially if they can be redrilled for 4x108 easily enough...

[turnover]

bought my 8 inch in my escort from the states told them the width etc and had it made with lsd etc,allthough they didnt offset the pinion ,so i had to chop and shorten one side but they did send me a free driveshaft to suit for the hastle,will easily handle 400hp and works out cheap in my opinion

 

Roughly what kind of price was that if you don't mind me asking?

 

with the dreded import duty was about 1500 but duty was 275, big shafts lsd made to your spec alot cheeper than a floating atlas at £4000,i was just a bit woried that the atlas would break

[wilky]

i have an 8 inch fitted in my cortina .i do have some shafts out of a 52 inch

8 inch axle drilled for 4 stud ford if anyone wants them fitted with brandnew

bearings and thicker retaining plates

 

can't beat an 8 incher

[xrt_si]

Is there any easy source of 8"s in this country?

[wilky]

http://www.currieenterprises.com/cestor ... px?id=1664