Escort MK1 English axle

[GT Kevin]

Hi All
I have a mk1 Escort With a 1600 xflow Bolted to a type 9 5speed box Im going to rebuild the rear axle What would be a good diff ratio to have? The car is used for normal road use
I was going to fit a exchange unit Any ideas who do these

Edited by GT Kevin on Saturday 2nd January 18:40

[Escort2dr]

3.89 or 3.54. I personally think 4.1 is too high. Ratios on most type 9s are pretty cack TBH.

ETA: no idea who does recon units - you could try ebay or just get one rebuilt. Having said that, the last diff I bought (2009) was £50 and just needed a new seal - perfectly quiet, and not much cash if it's not a good one.

Edited by Escort2dr on Saturday 2nd January 23:19

[Mr2Mike]

If you can afford it go to BGH and get a Type 9 box re-manufactured with decent ratios. It makes a big difference on lighter cars where 1st is virtually redundant on a standard type 9.

Edited by Mr2Mike on Sunday 3rd January 18:07

[Jalopnik]

Escort2dr said:

3.89 or 3.54. I personally think 4.1 is too high. Ratios on most type 9s are pretty cack TBH.

ETA: no idea who does recon units - you could try ebay or just get one rebuilt. Having said that, the last diff I bought (2009) was £50 and just needed a new seal - perfectly quiet, and not much cash if it's not a good one.

Edited by Escort2dr on Saturday 2nd January 23:19

Would have thought that a 3.77:1 would have been better as that's what the Mexico's had.

[Escort2dr]

Jalopnik said:

Escort2dr said:

3.89 or 3.54. I personally think 4.1 is too high. Ratios on most type 9s are pretty cack TBH.

ETA: no idea who does recon units - you could try ebay or just get one rebuilt. Having said that, the last diff I bought (2009) was £50 and just needed a new seal - perfectly quiet, and not much cash if it's not a good one.

Edited by Escort2dr on Saturday 2nd January 23:19

Would have thought that a 3.77:1 would have been better as that's what the Mexico's had.

BUT they weren't fitted with 5-speed type-9s.

[Jalopnik]

Escort2dr said:

Jalopnik said:

Escort2dr said:

3.89 or 3.54. I personally think 4.1 is too high. Ratios on most type 9s are pretty cack TBH.

ETA: no idea who does recon units - you could try ebay or just get one rebuilt. Having said that, the last diff I bought (2009) was £50 and just needed a new seal - perfectly quiet, and not much cash if it's not a good one.

Edited by Escort2dr on Saturday 2nd January 23:19

Would have thought that a 3.77:1 would have been better as that's what the Mexico's had.

BUT they weren't fitted with 5-speed type-9s.

True, but the only reason for fitting a stock 5-speed type-9 would surely be for the overdrive 5th for lower revs on the motorway. The other gears are, as you say, pretty cack and for performance driving you'd be better off with a 2000E type 4-speed wouldn't you?

[aeropilot]

Jalopnik said:

Escort2dr said:

Jalopnik said:

Escort2dr said:

3.89 or 3.54. I personally think 4.1 is too high. Ratios on most type 9s are pretty cack TBH.

ETA: no idea who does recon units - you could try ebay or just get one rebuilt. Having said that, the last diff I bought (2009) was £50 and just needed a new seal - perfectly quiet, and not much cash if it's not a good one.

Edited by Escort2dr on Saturday 2nd January 23:19

Would have thought that a 3.77:1 would have been better as that's what the Mexico's had.

BUT they weren't fitted with 5-speed type-9s.

True, but the only reason for fitting a stock 5-speed type-9 would surely be for the overdrive 5th for lower revs on the motorway. The other gears are, as you say, pretty cack and for performance driving you'd be better off with a 2000E type 4-speed wouldn't you?

I'd agree with this. If running a torquier Pinto as per the RS2, then the 3.54 with an overdriven 5th would be OK, I've driven a number of 5sp RS2000's with that setup and they are OK for road use.
With a X-Flow, as said, I'd be tempted to keep to the 3.77 Mex ratio with the overdriven 5th, just for the peppier acceleration.
The perfect solution would be an old fashioned overdrive unit on the back of the wonderful 2000E box though, as that's still the sweetest gearbox ever. Pity Quaife never really continued the development of it's 'Range Change' unit that it sold in the late 1970's.

[GT Kevin]

Thanks for all your replies! But forgot to say that the engine is not stock its a 1640cc high lift cam Etc has plenty of power cost about 3k to build Its just the back axle is a little noisey
Looks like 3.77 ratio is the one to go for ?

Edited by GT Kevin on Tuesday 5th January 09:58

Edited by GT Kevin on Tuesday 5th January 10:01

[Excelsior]

I have a secondhand but recently rebuilt Quaife ATB for an Eng axle if you fancy one.....