Need some help on twin wheel rear axles

[feuerfrei]

I have a Mk2 Transit that originally had a 2.0 Pinto with a 4 speed gearbox but it now has a 2.9i 12v Cologne engine with a A4LDe automatic gearbox.

The van still has the original six stud twin wheel rear axle with the 5.83 diff ratio which of course causes the issue of high RPM at a relatively low speed. I am looking for a solution.

At this point I think there are two options:

1) Fit a crown wheel and pinion from another twin wheel Mk2 of Mk3 axle with a longer diff ratio.

2) Swap the complete rear axle for another six stud twin wheel axle from maybe a later model Transit.

Looking for a crown wheel and pinion proofs to be a bit hard to find in The Netherlands. Also, I don't have any experience swapping the crown wheel and pinion so I'd rather swap the whole axle. (Maybe having to move shockmounts on the axle is easier for me.)

My axle is the type with the lid on the rear. Don't know the correct name for it.

The Scorpio (Granada) I used as donor car had a 3.36 diff.


Any ideas? I think I need something in the range of 3.8 or 4.

[DodgeRover]

4.63 is the quickest diff you will find commonly for a twin wheeler, later diff centers can be made to fit though. There is a post on here somewhere about doing it.

[Luke]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=111158&p=936115

[Ralph.9]

I have a 4.63 MK2 6 stud axle that belongs to a customer of mine that he wants me to sell for him.

[feuerfrei]

I have a 4.63 MK2 6 stud axle that belongs to a customer of mine that he wants me to sell for him.

That would be great. How much does your customer want for it?

[feuerfrei]

https://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=111158&p=936115

Thanks. I've read that topic and have been looking for an axle or a complete MK6 van but over here in The Netherlands it seems 85% of all MK6's sold are FWD. I've been told the only RDW version that was sold here is the 2.4 Diesel. Is that also the case in the UK?

Another thingy: a lot of vans are being exported to eastern Europe when they fail the APK (MOT)

[Tranny76]

Looking for a crown wheel and pinion proofs to be a bit hard to find in The Netherlands.....die you there is a specialist in Drenthe. His name is Dirk and het owns Fordtransitgarage.nl maybe you can give him a call. Greets Jorrit

Verstuurd vanaf mijn TA-1021 met Tapatalk

[feuerfrei]

Hi Jorrit,
Yes I know Dirk. In the meantime I bought a 4.63 axle from him which I am now in the process of fitting. Thanks for the advice!

Marcel

[bj928]

can't you use a mk7 or 8 axle and change the spring perch, the american mk8 twin wheel axle is available with ratios to 3.08, 3.31, 3.55, 3.73 and so on and multiple lsd options by many different companies, the america axle is the ford 9.75, same one fitted in a lot of the pickups, but made for transit with transit stud pattern, twin wheel or single

[conrod]

can't you use a mk7 or 8 axle and change the spring perch, the american mk8 twin wheel axle is available with ratios to 3.08, 3.31, 3.55, 3.73 and so on and multiple lsd options by many different companies, the america axle is the ford 9.75, same one fitted in a lot of the pickups, but made for transit with transit stud pattern, twin wheel or single

I am in the process of fitting a mk7 rear axle to my Mk2, with 3.5 ratio. But apart from the different mounts, and stud pattern to the Mk2, it is too wide, and will need to be narrowed 30-50mm each side.

[bj928]

i had heard the mk8 was wider, didn't know the mk7 was as well, i'm hoping to put a mk8 axle on my swb, hope its not to wide.

[conrod]

Pretty sure you will find it is wider, even on the SWB version. Both the SWB and LWB axle are full floaters, with the axle flange passing right through the hub, and secured by 8 bolts, about M14 IIRC.

I am going to cut the axle tubes and shorten the housing to the width I require. For the axle shafts, they don't have a ton of spare spline on them, about 15mm or so. So I will trim that amount off, and make up the rest by machining a spacer and sliding it in between the axle flange the rear hub and fitting longer bolts.

[bj928]

I'm not sure, but I think the American transit runs a different axle, it's a Ford 9.75 same as the f150, but with transit 5x160, very strong and available as factory lsd

[conrod]

ah, that would make sense, local content and all of that. AFAIK you cannot get an LSD for the UK Mk8 axles. But I still think you will find the axle width too wide, after all the van bodies are essentially the same between the UK and US vans.

[bj928]

i'm working in the states at the moment, and planning on shipping an engine back for my mk6, an ecoboost v6 (same as guy martin used) and will add a mk8 lsd axle to the crate, so we will all know then whats involved in fitting and will know the width for sure, a couple of inches wider i can live with, will have to see