Which differential for a scratchbuild?

[Mark IV]

8.8" , 3:73 open diff

[120mm]

Well, the verdict is back from the jury in my head, and the answer is: I am going with a reproduction Salisbury diff.

When I really looked into my own reasoning for doing a) a 289 leaf spring Cobra and b) building from scratch, I realized that it mattered to me that the rear diff should mount just like an original car, and the Salisbury is the most elegant solution for that.

There are three sources for reproduction Salisbury rear diffs that I have discovered. Kirkham, Hawk Cars and Mike McCluskey. The price for these items are somewhat steep, but that is just the cost of building a leaf spring Cobra, imo.

In the end, I live just down the road from Hurricane Motorsports, and if I really wanted a coil spring car using modern adapted parts, I could just buy one of their kits and build it out a lot quicker and cheaper.

Thanks for all the advice; it really helped me discover what I really wanted in my build.

Drew

[MAStuart]

Any chance you got a price from Hawk cars. I believe you can get them in iron from them. I myself would be up for one in a bare iron case.

[120mm]

Originally Posted by MAStuart

Any chance you got a price from Hawk cars. I believe you can get them in iron from them. I myself would be up for one in a bare iron case.

1995 GBP. Which turns into $2653 at today's exchange rate of 1:33. That's for the bare iron case.

[LMH]

It seems to me that North Devon Metalcraft was a source for 4HU differential cases a while back. I'm not 100% sure of that but you might send them an email and find out.
Home

Larry

[Tom Kirkham]

Another source for diffs:
Cobra diff housing - iron and ally cover #
Note: there are a lot of pieces missing...

They also sell original spec comp brakes.

[120mm]

Originally Posted by Tom Kirkham

Another source for diffs:
Cobra diff housing - iron and ally cover #
Note: there are a lot of pieces missing...

They also sell original spec comp brakes.

At least as far as I'm concerned, one of your alloy ones painted black would be sufficient.

[db replicas]

I'm playing around with producing orig. diff cases.
More info on my Facebook page. :-)

[MAStuart]

Dave what would a bare case ship to the us cost? How close to an original do they look if the were side by side.

Mark

[db replicas]

Hi Mark.
The casting pattern was copied from an original.
I don't know the final price fore the machining yet.
Hopefully have more info in the next week or so. ;-)

[MAStuart]

Please post when you get a price. Also what other parts to you have.

[oldboy001]

I installed a Ford Explorer 8.8" IRS differential in my build (HiTech 427 Cobra Frame). Took a little experimentation, but if fits nicely. I went a little over board and used Porsche 933 CVs (33 spline half shafts) on the diff side and upright side (Original 427 uprights). Fabricated the IRS stub axels and modified the 427 stub axel flange (upright side) to accept the 933 CVs. Waiting for my Axels.

Scott

427 Cobra Frame & Suspension
289 fiberglass USRRC Body
Boss 302, EFI, 5 Speed

[MAStuart]

Scott could you elaborate a little on your stub axles. What material are they made of. Did you machine them ? If so do you have any pictures of the process?

[oldboy001]

Yes, I have pictures of everything. It will take me some time to sort through them and describe the process. I will try to post over the weekend.

Scott

[eschaider]

Ford came out with a new set of IRS half shafts a couple years ago that use the larger Porsche CV joints with their 8.8" center. The axles use a new larger set of stub shafts to accommodate the larger Porsche CV joint, probably similar to what you had to custom manufacture, Scott.

The pic of the stub shafts was too big to put in the thread so here is a link to a pic of the stubs;

https://gforce1320.com/wp-content/up...OR10104A-2.jpg

GForce offers the complete aftermarket package including boots, CV's and axles. While they provide versions for OEM applications they will also make the axle shafts any length you require so they can easily be sized to fit our cars.

Depending on the spline count in your rear drive hubs you may or may not have to have them install different drive splines on the wheel side of the axle.

This is a pic of the complete package including the larger 8.8 stub shafts for the Porsche CV's;



Hope this is helpful for anyone contemplating this sort of upgrade.


Ed

[db replicas]

Getting closer.
Going off the be built up next week. 😊

[db replicas]

All built up and working. :-)
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/atta...1&d=1532290328

This one is built up using all Jaguar Salisbury internals.
(Original Cobra guts fit too...
. Just a LOT more expensive)

Sorry about the orientation.