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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - 1987 Ford Capri Rear Axle 2.8

Hi all,
I apologise if i am covering old ground, but has anybody had any experience with the ford capri 2.8 rear axle. Will it be a good alternative to the standerd 3.07.
Thanks Graham
Graham Young

Graham,
I am a bit confused by the info you are stating.. by 2.8 do you mean that capri rear has 2.8 ratio or maybe an axle from a 2.8L capri?? Either way I would stray away from an axle out of a capri ( if it is the capri which is like a ford mustang) as they are a small 7.5" and not known for durability..

I guess I would say if you are going to go through the trouble of customizing a rear end to fit your MG make sure it is one that you will not ever have to fix or replace again.. go ford 8, 8.8 or 9" and you will never have to look back..
Larry Embrey

Graham,

I thought about the Capri rear end as it used 'old' technology and might even fit. I had some problems finding gear ratios and width information tho. How much power did the 2.8 put out 130? bhp?

Frank
frank swinton

Hi Larry, Frank.
Sorry for being a bit vague, the axle is from a 2.8ltr ford capri the ratio is 3.08-1 with LSD, I have to admit that i see plenty of referance to 8,8.8,9" rear ends from fords but i have no idea what the sizes stand for, and where would i find such an axle [what uk car]?
Frank i have recieved an email from the seller he says that the axle should be good for 250bhp the capri [he says] has 150bhp, he also says that he has another one in his other capri a 3.7ltr Essex v6 286 lb/ft of torque and has had no problems after 35,000 miles.
Thanks again Larry, Frank. Any more feedback would be greatly appreciated
Graham
Graham Young

The size refers to the size of the ring gear I believe. I am not familiar at all with UK vehicles so I am affraid I cannot help any further on what cars to look for.
Larry Embrey

The Capri axle is far to wide, get a 8" ford axle from currie enterprises USA the workmanship is first class.
Dave Lowe

Hi Dave,
Thanks for your input, Could you please expand a bit on your reccomendation, ratio,lsd,price, etc, Are you using one of these axles yourself? And of course a telephone number, or address.
Thanks Graham.
Graham Young

Graham, 10 seconds with a search engine turned up www.currieenterprises.com - I reckon even you could have guessed that :-) and it will lead you to most of the info you seek.
HTH
David

Thanks Dave.

Graham.
gt young

Currie can supply you with 8, 9, or 8.8" complete rear ends. You will have to do your own leaf spring mounts I believe, but otherwise they will be ready to go.

I chose to go 8.8 because all the late model mustangs use that rear end, so "hop up" or aftermarket improved bits are readily available very easily here in the US.
Larry Embrey

Hi Larry,
Thanks for your reply, Do you have an idea of approximate cost? As i will have to make a decision on the capri rear end soon [i know you are not impressed with this axle] in theory it should be ok although i will have to have it shortened, any further comments would be welcome.
Thanks again Graham.
Graham Young

I really have no idea. I got my 8.8 free and will be doing the customizing myself, so I never called them. Hit thier website and drop them an email, I heard they are very prompt in responding..

No offense intended to the 7.5 I just hang with a bunch of mucle car guys and they always throw them out for something stronger..
Larry Embrey

Graham,

Have you found someone that can shorten the capri axle? If you have then it might be as well to look at putting the rover SD1 axle in there instead.....finding someone to shorten it might be the bigger hurdle.

Frank

frank swinton

Frank,
No i havn't found anybody that can shorten the axle, to be honest i would have thought that it wouldn't be too difficult, I would have thought that the only thing that you could not do yourself is re-splining the half shafts [or am i being a bit too simplistic]?
Looks like for now i will stick with the 3.9-1 as i can't make a decision on which way to go, If money wasn't an issue then i would buy the the 3.07-1 with LSD from the MG Owners £1,400 OUCH!!!!
Thanks again Frank,Larry,Dave.


ps
Any further suggestions or thoughts will still be appreciated.

Graham.
Graham Young

Graham,
If you have the knowledge and tools you can do everything, even splining (I said tools..) I have guys where I work that have done thier own axles, we regularly make parts that have to be accurate down to .001" so I am not concerned about cutting the housing nor the axles. It is just steel after all. You just have to be able to measure out everything accurately, cut them with the same accuracy, then weld up the housing.. I know simple in concept but it is the truth. If you are a machinist, know a machinist or ar just good mechanically there is no reason you can't do some of it yourself.if you are taking more than 1" off the axle shafts then you are really in good shape as you can take the piece you cut off and say this is what you need the new end to look like.. I will be doing that as mine uses C-clips.

I plan to get my free 8.8 all cleaned up 1st, then re-assemble to get a measuerement on what I am starting with when ready to run. Then I will measure up my stock unit and figure out what I ned to do to the 8.8 to get the pinion to wheel surface to match on each end and also cross check that the over-all is the correct 52"

I have heard a few people mention going to 52.5" I will take a look at this also. I know my rear end is 1/8" off to the right side so my left rear wheel is 1/8" closer to the bump stop than the right side, I will be measuring up the stock axle to find out if it is chassis (99% sure it is) or the axle itself, then I will make sure to set the perches on the new unit to re-center things. While I measure up the stock unit I will be checking the outboard clearances with the 205 tire and wheel I have in the garage.. maybe going to 52.5" will give me room enough to up a size to 215 without flaring the wheel wells.. heh one can only hope!
Larry Embrey

Larry-

I was at a show a couple of weeks ago, and there was a company there called 'Mittler Brothers' who supplies the hot rod/racing community

Their catalog lists something called a 'rear end narrowing kit' that is a bar and what they call 'line up blocks'. I'm not eneough of a machinist to know if you could use this for the housing, but the website is www.mitlerbros.com

Phil
Phil

Phil,
Thanks for the info. The 8.8 I got could not be simpler to shorten though. drill 4 spot welds per tube and the axle tubes will come out. Then measure and cut to new length and slide back in the replace spot welds.
Larry Embrey

Phil,Checked that link, looks like some good stuff. That kit they talked about is a actually a tool for making sure you get the ends of the housing on square it fou cut your tubes in the middle.
Larry Embrey

Graham,

I had my SD1 axle shortened, and resplined about 4 years ago by the people recomended by Roger Parker on the V8 conversion webpage, they did a ggopd job at a reasonable price, but the splines are starting to twist, and i really will have to invest in new half shafts this winter.

Where are you in Lancashire, I'm in Blackpool if you want to inspect the axle, and Terry Brown at Freckleton Rovers is sure to have SD1 axles with various ratios, he may even know someone local who can do the work.

Mike
Michael barnfather

Graham,

For shortening axle try
Andy Robinson
Losandes
Reading Road
Turgis Green
Hook, Hants RG27 0AE
Tel 01256 880589
Fax 01256 883057


Can also try Hauser Racing - Rear axle specialists

Tel 01933 312735
www.hauserracing.com

Paul


Paul

Larry,Micheal,Paul.
Larry thanks for the information,I feel that when i decide which axle to go for [nobody has spoke up in defence of the capri axle, enough said!!] that i feel confident enough to have a go myself at shortening whichever axle i decide to go for [except the half shafts].
I hope your 8.8 axle works out for you and you are able to get those 205 tires [tyres] to fit, good luck larry,and thanks again for your input, it is much appreciated.
Micheal,the SD1 axle seems to be the popular choice so that might be the axle that i finally opt for, if so i will take you up on your offer and come over to Blackpool and have a look at your set up [i will probably come over anyway] i only live in Accrington about 30 miles. what sort of BHP are you putting out to twist the half shafts?
Terry Brown at Freckleton Rovers must be woth a phone call, i will give them a call and see what they have to offer. I have got your email address, i will drop you a line when i decide what i am doing.
Thanks for the information something to chew over.
Paul,thanks for the address for the axle shortening i will give them a ring when i decide which axle to go for.
HAS NOBODY A GOOD WORD TO SAY ABOUT THE CAPRI AXLE!!!
Thanks again for all your support.

Graham.
Graham Young

I just want to share what I have seen and head Graham, and hope it helps others avoid problems when possible.

Those 205's do fit quite well!! I have a single 205 on my stock spare wheel and ran it a few days on each corner of the car, never a rub!!! Has got me feeling gutsy, I may try a 215 now!!

Larry
Larry Embrey

Graham,

OK E Mail me and I'll send directions.

I've got a SD1 vitesse engine, so it's about 200hp, The cam's set for more torque though, and I guess that's whats done it.

I'm taking the halfshafts out this winter (they've done about 16K I guess )and taking Paul's advice and having stronger shafts made.

Mike

Michael barnfather

Michael,
Good point, very good point. Like most people we tend to think that HP is the key and what damages things. Torque and HP are linked to a certain extent, but come at very different times in your engines RPM range. It takes torque to move mass.

Torque is what breaks parts the most. I heard a good summary for a local car guy. Torque moves you car the 1st 100ft, horsepower takes over after that. Now that known, your car sees the most stress at "launch" when it takes the most energy to get the car rolling. That combined with a torquey engine and you have breakage issues. Horsepower typically comes on up in higher RPM rabges, say 2500-6000rpm. by the time you hit this RPM range your car is already movig along, so the stress level is a little bit less than from a standing start.
Larry Embrey

Graham,I had a 8" ford axle narrowed in the U.K.by a well known supposed drag car builder I paid £200 to have it narrowed and it was an abortion . I sent suspension brackets to curries,they supplied an 8" axle housing retubed it to my specs,it cost $140 for this and $50 to align and weld on my brackets,the whole lot was then lightly blasted,not to remove rust,there wasnt any,but to give a uniform appearance!I have infact a like new axle housing and it would not take a lot of work if I wanted it chrome plated !!! I used the halfshafts from the narrowed axle. You can get loads of ratios for the 8" the diff is a front mounted unit that swaps complete in no time,the two people Paul mentioned are good but anyone who is good in the u.k. has a long wating list, to narrow an axle you need a proper jig to hold everything in place and in line whilst welding even welding on leaf spring brackets to an existing axle can distort it badly currie even has a set up to straighten bent axle housings Finaly the 8.8 axle is good but you have more chance in the u,k of getting spare diffs for the 8"
Dave....
Dave Lowe

Postscript... A friend had a 2.8 capri axle in his capri that had a 350 small block chevy in it ,he used it mostly for drag racing but it was road legal.It used to do 11 second 1/4 mile times...the axle never broke even with slick tyres,there graham is that a good word ?.... Dave
Dave Lowe

Hi all,
Dave plenty of food for thought there, the supply of an axle housing and welding of your brackets by curries sounds very reasonable.
Which differential unit have you used in the axle? Thanks for at least one positive comment on the capri axle, although it has got me back in the land of "don't know". I understand where Larry is coming from when he says that is muscle car mates "throw out the 7.5" but those guys are in a completely different league to me, Mine only developes 180BHP nowhere near the 300 or so that Larry and his mates are playing with [i have gone green with envy] i have no idea how much torque my car develops though.

I certainly think though that Currie enterprises are worth at least a phone call, I just hate to see that Capri axle slip through my hands [hell i have been terrible for making decisions lately must be my age 48].

Thanks again boys for all your help, Micheal i will come to Blackpool anyway to have a look your MG nomatter what i decide [that's if i ever do decide].

Graham
Graham Young

Hi all again.
Decision made the Capri axle has been sold [you did't buy it Larry did you? HA, HA, just kidding]. so looks like it is down to two options SD1 and Currie Enterprises.
Thanks Graham
Graham Young

Graham,

Back in the old days SD1 axles were shortened in batches keeping cost down.
Today it may cost £400 to shorten axles £400 for uprated halfshafts and £600 for LSD. For this price you can pick up a V8 axle from MG Owners and its plug and play.

Paul
Paul

Paul,
You have a point.

I went down to see Terry Brown yesterday on business, he'se still talking about building a disk brake rear axle (been on about it for years).

There must be a market for converted SD1 axles, particularly when you consider what MGOC charge for their V8 axles, but he does'nt have the facilities to carry out the work himself, I will try to persuade him to make enquiries about this, and see if we can get prices down below your estimates

Mike
Michael barnfather

Paul why would you pick up a V8 axle for? apart from the gear ratio they are the same as 4 cyl. ones and blow up just as easy! I have the broken pinion shaft and planet gears and a brand new chromed diff cover that looks as if it has been opened top to bottom with a can opener, all this happened at 40 mph on the A22 one Sunday summers evening.Graham if you insist on going the SD1 route try Nick Butler I imagine he has a web site,and I know he has narrowed SD1 axles in the past,last let me just say CURRIES!!!!!!!!
Dave
Dave Lowe

Dave, Point taken,

Thanks Graham.
Graham Young

Dave,

I,m not aware that a B axle (V8 version ) is that tempremental when it comes to road use. The MG Owners used it for their 4.6. The weak areas are prop and gearbox and then if racing perhaps halfshafts.

Do you know what sort of cost would be involved with CURRIES.

Mike,

I phoned Terry the other day and suggested talking to Tim at frontline to progress rear discs. May also mention to him Hi Spec.

Paul
Paul

Paul
If you go to Curries website, click on custom rearends ,click on 8",and go from there.E mail them your needs and they will tell you the postal costs, but the customs also want duty when it arrives in the u.k As to the MGB axle, my halfshafts were twisted at the splines where they enter the diff.I had a rover 3.5 propshaft with a simple adaptor onto the B axle,(5 speed Rover box).
Dave
Dave Lowe

Dave,
Thanks
Found the Curries site, I need new SD1 halfshafts this winter, will get a price and post it on this site

Mike
Michael barnfather

This thread was discussed between 01/10/2002 and 11/10/2002

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