english halfshafts (capri)

[jimmyted]

All this lsd talk recently has got me looking into them, but seem to have immediately hit a slight obstacle. I’ve searched for ages online but cannot seem to find an answer to my question –



I’ve got the original 3.77 English axle currently fitted to my Capri. I’m on the lookout for a decent 4.1 to swap it with, possibly with an LSD unit. Anyway, from what I gather the Capri English axle differs from that of the escort being that it is approx 4” wider – or so I’ve read.


But the thing I can’t clear up is the difference in the half shafts. I presume they’re longer, but Burtons catalogue also suggests the number of spines varies? Their LSD’s listed for English axle’d Capris are 16 spline, in contrast to the Escort, which is 22. Can anybody confirm whether this is correct or not?



The other thing which is confusing me is this whole converting the English axle to use Atlas half shafts thing (which ARE 16 spline). Hope that makes sense!



Anyone shed any light?



Thanks in advance.



Jim

[jimmyted]

maybe I should have put this is 'Running Gear.' Feel free to move thread if you want..

[freddy686868]

Basically if you have a 52" english axle you can put engine axle wheel bearings on standard 16t atlas half shafts and use them aslong as you change the lsd side gears ans machine the lsd casing for 16t half shaft. Or you can buy the uprated 2 piece 16t atlas half shafts whixh are stronger again.

[jimmyted]

Thanks freddy. Useful info, & definitely an option. However, I’d rather keep the English shafts if possible. That is, providing they aren’t an odd number of splines, & super difficult to get hold of, should one fail. There’s only a mildly tuned pinto at the other end.

I guess what I really need to know first is, how many splines on my current shafts.. preferably without having to remove one!

[GP4]

There’s only a mildly tuned pinto at the other end.

A mildly aggrevated kitten under the bonnet could snap a standard Capri English shaft. They're not exactly built to take abuse in Escort length...make then 2" longer and the problem is exaggerated. Your axle is fairly rare but for some bizarre reason a few folk like them...however they are built to go under a Capri with about 25 bhp of boggo 1.6 OHC propelling it, and that's about all they're good for IMHO.

My advice would be sell the axle casing, shafts and diff seperately. The 3.77 is Mk.1 Mexico ratio so should get around £200 for it if it's in good condition...I normally do. Shafts often around £100 a pair as they are rare. Then buy an Atlas...even a bog standard one is infinitely stronger than what you have now. Don't waste money on shaft conversions...cash down the drain. The English has smaller pinion gears and internals in general, smaller crownwheel and pinion etc and will always be weaker than an Atlas...so pointless fitting stronger shafts when all that will happen is you'll break something further down the driveline.

Wide English shafts are not exactly easy to get hold of should you break one...and they're 22 spline same as Escort shafts.

[jimmyted]

Thanks for the advice GP4. In my axles defence it has stood up to a lot of abuse over the last few years. My attitude towards it has been - I have no doubt the atlas is a much stronger unit, but until the English starts letting me down, I’m keeping it under there. I also like the fact different ratios are available, & relatively easy to change.

At least that was my school of thought until I started looking at splashing out on an LSD! Now I’m not sure. Is a plate type LSD much harder on diff components as opposed to open?

I don’t plan on using slicks down santa pod and launching at 6k any time soon..if that helps!

[BIG-G]

Build it right first time as the old saying buy cheap but twice and that sums me as I've made some mistakes not buying smart

[freddy686868]

I have an Anglia van axle under the back of my escort and the total length of that is 46 inches and I done a shaft on that. Your shafts are much longer/weaker than mine I would really look into a standard atlas with a diff or putting the 2 piece atlas shafts in the English axle if you really want to keep it. It just when my half shaft went in my plated diff it nearly wrote it off.