What Axle for the RX323 ?

[travellinbob]

Its funny you should say jag rear end mike as the wheels i have are a jag stud pattern. Its like karma or something!

[kiwimazda]

Those dims for the locked diff i have is from disc to disc  1450mm
cheers
brian

[MikeLMR]

just been out for a measure of the 323 and I reckon its got a 1310mm rear track which condsidering the wheels are -20mm offset gives me an axle width of 1350ish

I guess thats why RX7 axles aren\'t a common swap into Rx3\'s and the like

[travellinbob]

Cough, cough..tubb it, cough, cough... Sorry? somebody say something??!

[MikeLMR]

but that just makes things worse .. then I need a really short REAAAALY strong axle and huuuge tyres and .... etc. the list just boggles my mind !

I\'ve been doing a little research (well a lot ! ) and I think 323,rx3 and 808 axles are offset too which makes replacing a little more tricky too as rx7\'s etc. have a centred diff

[travellinbob]

How wide is a turbo II rear end? I know IRS is a pain to fit to a non-IRS car but might be worth looking at?
 I know my english axle owes me about £260 in the moggy. That is without the new prop shaft. So Maybe a cheapish hilux diff and then shorten the axles, fabricate your own mounts onto the casing instead of paying for them like me and it might not owe you as much?
 michael.

[MikeLMR]

right now the only thing I wouldn\'t DIY is the halfshafts, I was thinking of having a go at doing the rest ourselves. If I went for an escort axle I would\'t need to shorten it so nothing but time and materials would be needed. That and a decent lsd axle to start with.

for those looking for idea\'s i\'ve also come up with some other options.

Isuzu Piazza turbo - LSD and 4.5" PCD no sure on strength, but the chevette guys use them all the time
Reliant Scimitar (only some models) - narrow jag 4HA axle - also with 4.5" PCD, I\'ve not worked out if the jag IRS diffs will interchange as thats a really cheap source of strong diffs.
Volvo 240 - needs narrowing and LSD is uncommon
Hilux - needs narrowing and LSD is uncommon

I\'m not keen on IRS, I\'d probably end up changing the fuel tank and other major mods

[Richard]

Have you actually measured the 323 axle Mike as regards offset diff?
I \'m pretty sure the pinion is in the centre of the axle, its just that the diff casing is offset.
It looked offset to me when I did my 323, and laterly  the 1000, but the Ford diffs line up no problem - no crazy prop angles .

IIRC the 323 is 54 inches flange to flange and an english is 52 inches flange to flange, which is why I ran 1 inch spacers on it.

I actually put an English in the 1000,but ended up running different offset wheels on the rear as it was wider than the original :2Rolleyes It took a while to find the right casing

The 1000 is 51 flange to flange  :rolleyes: so an Anglia van casing was needed as  opposed to saloon which is 50 inches.

A tape measure is a very important piece of kit :yes  :Giggle

Rich

[MikeLMR]

I\'d not measured the pinion, just looked under and had a measure across the drums. I\'m thinking an english axle might be the best option as some of the alternatives are getting rather expensive.

as usual i\'ll have probably changed my mind by the time I find somthing to suit

[Kaptainbalistik]

Ok, Use a Narrow (early) Hilux diff, There is a good choice of insane gear ratios, And it uses 30 spline axles (Very important in a rotary rallycar) the LSD isnt that Uncommon. (You just got to know where to look)

The other Option Is to use a Mazda B1600 / E2200 diff ( Narrow diff as well) The B2600 4x4 LSD fits, the Diff, The Input flange needs about 10mm off the Circumference and to be redrilled, But the spigot Fits the standard tailshaft. (Will also mean the STD tailshaft fits JUST). Full floating and 30 spline axles.

Drilling out the bearing Dust shield rivets gives you a 110 pcd 4 bolt flange. (Nice how they did that).

After spitting out several Std Mazda axles axles in one year , You need big axles.
(So I would rule out the ford Diff).

I can Email some pictures If you like.

Also, There is no bearing float, so brake knock off is eliminated. (Big problem with the rx7 diff due to axle flex. Also, the damm bearing Retainers creep on the Mazda diffs. B1600/2600 Axles have Screw on retainers so the problem doesnt happen.

They will also survive a 9 second pass down the Quarter, So will the Hilux diff.
My B1600 diff has been in the car for 2 seasons, and  hasn\'t given the slightest problem.

Diff ratio ,Hm, What size wheels and what RPM are you going to be Using.

[MikeLMR]

not sure where I would find a B1600 axle though ??

I\'m not sure how much a hilux diff would cost to get narrowed A lot I\'m guessing ? ... is it a DIY job with some basic tools (lathe, drill press, welder etc.) or is it a specialist job thats no way attempted at home ?

What about the LSD how much and where do they come from ?

This car won\'t be a rally car, its just going to be abused and used for whatever I can, so it will see strip/road/airfield/track?!?  I will use whatever rev\'s a standard 13b will take and the tyres are 185/60R13\'s but a narrow axle would probably result in an investment in some wider rims (within reason)

[Richard]

Mike this maybe worth keeping an eye on

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-ATLAS-AXLE-NARROW-4-11-DIFF-ESCORT-MK1-MK2_W0QQitemZ8049437658QQcategoryZ27377QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

It says small diff type so not sure whether an LSD would be available, but  would imagine both the diff and shafts would be strong enough

Rich

[MikeLMR]

thanks rich, been trawling ebay looking at all sorts of axles lately

[MikeLMR]

do you think i\'d break this one

[Richard]

Wow 4 wheel steering - bet nobodys done that to a 323 before:cool

A bit of a drawback is that you\'ll have to go tubbed tho\' - I recon alloys will be quite big:Giggle.

Rich