Rear Axle swap??? non transit!! - help needed!!

[Luke]

Has anyone fitted a non transit axle to a transit

Ive hit a bit of a problem with my rear alloys - there too wide
So its looking like im going to have to change the axle!!! my transit one is 1760mm (i think?? but will have to re measure), but gives a rough idea of the width i need!! stud patten isnt a problem!!!

anyone any idea's what im after is an axle ratio around 3.75 ish.
somthing that lasts for ever and therfore cheap 2nd hand!!!

Toyota Hilux Chevy nissan pickup vauxhall brava

I did consider Jag IRS but really cant be bothered at the moment - very nice but i'd prefer simplicity for once in my life!!!

So any suggestions - lets hear em!!!

[Sundowner]

I dont think you'll have any luck with the toyota/nissan units
Their extreamly strong diffs but way too narrow for a transit

Widest Hilux/tacoma/t100 diff is 1695mm fitted to 93-98 Hilux and the highest ratio you can get is 4.11 but Ritchmond Gear do a 3.7 gear set for them

The 9" thats in my van is an XLT transit diff but i think its the same width as a Bronco unit

[Luke]

Cheers Sundowner!! I'll have to get a definate mesurement of the width i need!!!
also if i can get away with re-drilling the studs i wont need adapters!!! but if i do they will add 40mm
also the possability of a rear disk conversion would be nice!!!

i was thinking about a Volvo one but mabe same problem too narrow???

Whats the width of your XLT or a Bronco one???

[ovlov]

Wouldnt go with a brava axle luke we've had three Brava's and every one's had diff probs. Try an early Volvo 240 series good axles and fitted with discs

[Sundowner]

OK just measured the diff in my van

Measurement is from flange to flange with drums fitted
came in at 1656mm (65in)

So now i know that its NOT from a bronco as they are 58in but from a
73-86 3/4 ton E-150 ford van

[Luke]

Promising - just looked it up on the web

type 1030 come in 3.54:1, 3.73:1, 3.91:1, 4.10:1 or 4.30:1
type 1031 come in 3.15:1, 3.31:1, 3.54:1, 3.73:1 or 3.91:1

good choice of ratios there!!!

If I'm correct the wheel face to face is 54".

but its only 1372mm wide

I'll definaltly have to measure mine!! looking at this it seems like there is a lot of manufacturers use the same axle the volvo one is a dana 30 same as used in the jeep wrangler!!!

[Luke]

OK just measured the diff in my van

Measurement is from flange to flange with drums fitted
came in at 1656mm (65in)

So now i know that its NOT from a bronco as they are 58in but from a
73-86 3/4 ton E-150 ford van

just noticed your post Sundowner!!
i'll measure mine tommorrow thinking about it, it might be 1650mm i need not 1750mm
ford E150 hmmmm there non too common over here!!!

[Luke]

Ok sorry i wrote the wrong width down!!!
My mk1axle is 1668mm wide there is 110mm to the arch my wheels are 121mm offset!!

so ideally i need an axle with a width of 1640mm providing i can re-drill the studs rather than making adapters!!!

[tranorak]

Luke ~ I may be able to help you out here, I'll need to measure up to be sure but I have a narrowed Zephyr axle (from my mates Hotrod ). The good news is it takes a transit diff and for ease of parts availability he used transit hubs so no worries about stud patterns, its all bog standard transit . You may need to move the spring saddles to transit spec. The Hotrod used Mk2 transit wheels with the rims reversed for a deeper dish. He would've used a transit axle but preferred the looks of the Zephyr axle. Anyway I'll measure up and get back to you....

[Luke]

Cheers mate!!! the only problem is im not using transit wheels - im either fitting adapters to my new pcd (112) or my preferred option redrilling the hubs!!

so are all zepher axles transit diff??

[tranorak]

Ok I thought it would be tranny stud pattern you were after . Old Volvo axles have the reputation of being indestructible, Hotrodders and dragracers love em .

As for diff swopping, my mate tells me Zephyr stuff fits tranny (Mk1 and probably 2 but dunno about modern stuff) and vice versa. Tranny has a stronger cage and lower gearing. The diff in that axle has Transit cage and Zephyr gears for full strength and a higher top speed so I plan to slip that diff in my van as it wont need low gearing again, being retired from active duty now. Present diff whines so nothing to lose

And if you're axle swopping, the classic thing to do is end up with 4 reverse gears and one forward, but dont despair, turn the axle the other way up, weld your spring saddles back on and its fixed

[Luke]

the classic thing to do is end up with 4 reverse gears and one forward, but dont despair, turn the axle the other way up, weld your spring saddles back on and its fixed

Yeah knew a bloke who fitted a honda vtec engine in his ford - had that problem!! honda engine's run anticlockwise!!!

[Luke]

Isuzu trooper 1285 mm too narrow!!

anyone else!!!

[Luke]

measured up a Pajero axle today roughly 1504mm face to face - too narrow for me as i'd need 68mm spacers

but mabe of use to somone who wants to fill the arches with monster wheels

[kev 3dr]

how about a ford 9" axle of a american car or van ?