Mk1 to Mk2 axle swap or rather how not to.

[baconsdozen]

I think I saw somewhere on this forum that someone had found an adaptor plate to couple the rear flange of a Mk2 prop to a Mk 1 axle.(or maybe I dreamt the whole thing).I've just spent a few days grovelling under my Mk 1 V4 convering it to overdrive.I've used a cut and welded cross member from a Mk2 ambulance and spent many happy hours cotorting the down pipes round it.I used the front section of an ambulance prop (Mk 2 ) and mounted the center bearing further back I cut and welded the rear section of the original propshaft which was about 2 inches too long but although it all works and I've got six gears (little things please little minds) it vibrates badly,and I'm having problems finding a firm locally who can balance it.I want to try and use the Mk2 prop rear section and the existing rear axle,I'm sure I read somewhere that someone had done the same job using an adaptor.Does this ring a bell with anyone?

[madmark]

mate not shure luke will help! so you have put a mk2 v6 overdrive box onto the v4? did you use the v4 bellhouseing or v6 one???? i am asking as maybe i will put 2ltr v4 overdrive in mine at a later date if i can get all the parts! prop wise i should be ok as mine will take the mk2-3 prop beeing a twin wheeler! but i am not shure about the bellhousing????????

[baconsdozen]

Hello Mark.I used a V6 bellhousing (I think you'll find the V4 is the same) Not sure what the clutch cable was as I already had it but I think it was Mk 2.Mines a twin wheel as well and the Mk2 props don't match up with a Mk1 axle.You also have to "burn bridges" because the old gearbox mounting has to go as it fouls the top of the box.The exhausts are very fiddly,electrics are a doddle.When I get the last bit sorted (prop) I'll let you know if petrol consumption any better.

[FredTransit]

Kevin, what did you get the box out of? I know on the Mk2 the overdrive is a straight swap for the 4 speed, which is why they had some popularity. The prop is the same also. The only thing is on the luton (the OD prob came from a minibus) they are pants, so it came out again in favour of a 5 speed. Don't know about the V4 end of it though.

[baconsdozen]

Hello Fred.As far as I know the box came out of a Mk2 ambulance,I bought it from Ebay.I suppose if I am logical I should convert the whole thing to a diesel or even a pinto but I've a bit of a soft spot for the old V4's everyone rubbished them but in their day they were a half decent lump and small enogh to go into the transits original short bonnet.They also pull reasonably well at low revs.I might try and see if I can make some sort of attempt at balancing the prop by spinning it with a high powered bench grinder and trying the old trick with jubilee clips,I could do it on the van I suppose but I've spent enogh time under it to last me for a whil and I don't want to take a chance on knocking the diff bearings out.
All the best
kevin.

[Luke]

When i was doing my mk1 camper i found the prop mount pcd's on the rear axle to be different so i swapped the mounting flange with a mk2 axle i had spare, it was a strait swap but the only thing i wasnt sure it was the origanal axle on the mk1 it may have been a mk2 im not sure how to tell!
Hope this helps

[baconsdozen]

Thanks for that Luke.I've a feeling the twin wheel axles are different Mk2 to Mk1 but might be worth a trawl of the scrap yards although I've yet to find a helpfull one round here.(Long gone are the days when you could crawl under and over bits of rusty van in a yard to your hearts delight the Health and Safety wimps have done away with so much that used to be fun).I've rigged up a temporary propshaft balancing tester and whizzed a SWB prop up to about 5000 rpm on it (would equate to about 90 mph!!) I'll be making the thing a bit more permanent,donning crash helmet and goggles and having a go with my cut and shut prop later on.
All the best
Kevin.

[madmark]

i think my mk1 is more or less mk2 parts beeing as it is 1976 ,i have the bolt up crossmember for the gearbox not the big nut type ,and i am shure a mk2 prop will go on no proplem if i need to change it!

[Gunslinger]

ok ... .let me see if i have this right ..... (forget the length issue for now)

you have a mk1 axle and want to fit a mk2 prop too it right ?

ok ... i am assuming that you have first checked the obvious.... that they are different, assuming this then you have a couple of options without introducing any additional plates that will change the length of prop required and centre bearing mounting point.

1) swap the axle flanges as already suggested, i would at this point look at a mk3 axle flange as i have a feeling these are the same as the mk2 ( i have both of these and will have a look next time i am working on mine and see if i can confirm this for you)

2) take the prop somewhere that has a hydraulic press and press out the last joint on the 2 props you have and then swap an re-press back together as required, thus giving you the mk1 prop flange on the end of the mk2 prop.

3) have another go at cutting and welding the prop, but this time use the back end from the mk1 prop