O.K. time to tell....

[bookwyse]

The things that concerns myself is how far forward the engine will have to be due to the position of the diff and front drive flanges. The Audi has a lot of engine sticking over the front and there is not that much room from the front wheels to the front of the Transit. There was a van many years ago that had a similar problems and had a horrible front end on it that was called the CODGE. I will try and sort some pcitures out of it.

Jeff

[mantav8]

The things that concerns myself is how far forward the engine will have to be due to the position of the diff and front drive flanges. The Audi has a lot of engine sticking over the front and there is not that much room from the front wheels to the front of the Transit. There was a van many years ago that had a similar problems and had a horrible front end on it that was called the CODGE. I will try and sort some pcitures out of it.

Jeff

Yeah please do,would be interesting!-I have a measurement of 860 approx from wheel centres to the front bumper.The engine front pulley to the front diff flanges is 690, so gives me around 170 to play with.I got to admit the rear diff problem is the killer,I have since found out it is the same ratio as the front-2.72 would be a lot of work to fit the Audi stuff as it's IRS,and would need widening no doubt.

Mmmmm...............could be plan B then........

[County4x4]

Could always work around Tranny front wishbones for the rear and adapt them. Just look at all the vans that used to end up with the old Jag IRS. A cage for the diff to hang the A-arms from, then use the Audi rear hubs. Simplistic rendition maybe but it should work, just depends on what sort of ride height you're looking for. Ground hugging track van will mean tons of work, but low slung speed hump clearing street sleeper should not be difficult.

As for the front end, that's a Doozie. A real headache. Could be done with a portal. Good but costly.

[mantav8]

Could always work around Tranny front wishbones for the rear and adapt them. Just look at all the vans that used to end up with the old Jag IRS. A cage for the diff to hang the A-arms from, then use the Audi rear hubs. Simplistic rendition maybe but it should work, just depends on what sort of ride height you're looking for. Ground hugging track van will mean tons of work, but low slung speed hump clearing street sleeper should not be difficult.

Like your thinking!-I love Jag rears so I'm off to suss what ratios are available, would be easier to fit the whole set-up.

[mantav8]

Just found this,but no cigar!
Here's a few stats if you like the idea of a Jag rearend: The XKE IRS from '61-70 was 53 1/4 inches wide and came with either 3.54 or 3.31 ratios. The V-12 '70-74 models increased in track to 56 inches with a 3.31 gear. All XJ6 units were 61 3/4 inches wide with 3.54 gears in the Series I ('69-73), 3.31 in the Series II ('73-79), and a super cruiser 2.88 in the Series III ('79-88). The S-Type ('60-69) was 56 inches wide and equipped with anything from a 3.31 to a 4.54 ratio, while the XJ40 introduced in '88 had a completely different non-interchangeable IRS. All XJ-S units were 61 3/4 inches wide with the early versions having a 3.31 ratio and the latter cars a 2.88.

[Luke]

i thought the rear would be the same but best to check incase there is any gearing in the transfer box oh well .............. ideas what about fitting the audi back end BUT dont bother with all the indipendant stuff (at least not untill later) lock it all together and mount it on the leafsprings kinda like a de dion back axle
i cant see it being that difficult to do and you could always swap over to full irs at a later date

have you got any pics of the back end

[Luke]

this is a pic of a de dion axle it shows the idea for those who dont know what one is

[mantav8]

Haven't got a pic of rear end, do you know the width of the standard rear Tranny axle?
Still looking into alternative beams

[darkbluevanman]

Find summat with similar wheelbase and track, cut off body and fit transit body... da dah!

[County4x4]

XJ6 Jag IRS really is an easy job to fit, it won't solve the front heavy motor problem, but like I said try portals fitted to the trans output, horizontal instead of vertical and you get to place the motor exactly where you want, expensive but worth it.

[County4x4]

i can't say what a standard Tranny rear is, as mine has twin rears, and likely to be a little narrower than a singles rear, but i do know the XJ6 fits nicely, so could be about the same, although the idea back then was go with the widest wheels and tyres you can fit so maybe the XJ6 IRS might be a bit short. ?????

[MONSTER 0NE]

Hi mantav8 your old van has been put on ebay today heres the link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FOED-TRANSIT-2-9- ... 2ead7c5a5c

[mantav8]

Sh*t!!!-just seen this.........AAARRggggghhh!
Only got online today,now back in the U.K.-I'll contact the Seller to see if it went,Bugger!