I'm re-building a sylva striker and am unsure which diff-gearbox combination to use. I'm planning to use a tuned x flow (can't afford anything else at the mo) and a english axle out of a 1.6 escort. Ive got 3 box's to chose from. A type 9, type 2 and type 3 all standard. Can't afford a close ratio gear kit. I can splash out on a secondhand diff and thats about it. Any ideas.
Cheers Chris

Description

Description
[Edited on 19/10/11 by cfc999]

[Edited on 19/10/11 by cfc999]

The type 9 will have......
1st 3.6
2nd 1.97
3rd 1.37
4th 1
5th 0.82

You now need to find the other boxes gear ratios and the diff ratios plus tyre rolling radius to work out which gives you what in each gear.
Some of the earlier boxes has longer 1st gears (which is good) and t'he escort diff rątios could be short but i suspect 3.7

My first car had 1.6 Escort mechanicals (bored to 1.7). The standard diff for a 1.6 mark 2 is a 3.54 which combined with the correct Type 2 "sport" box is a superb combination. Problem is so many cars have been modded over the years you are never quite sure what you are getting. The box I got looked like a sport type 2 with the correct one piece tailcasing but the internals were standard 1.1/1.3. Mate got me a box that had the right sport internals and a standard 2 piece tailcasing, 1.3 sport apparantly. The "sport" ratios are great for the road they are 3.37:1, 1.99:1, 1.42:1 1:1, (the standard ratios are 3.66:1, 2.18:1, 1.42:1,1:1) the 3.3:1 first with the 3.54 diff is a really great ratio for quick getaways in a light car. The gap between 3rd and 4th worried me on paper but was never a problem on the road.

Car now has a 2.0 Zetec, BGH 5 speed with a 3.9 diff, cruises a bit better but IMHO a light car with a decent x-flow does not need more than 4 gears.

Forget the type 3, waste of time. Type E (Cortina 2 litre box) is superb, got one in the garage for a rainy day, maybe in a Striker, great car. The type 9 is not a bad box but the change is poor compared to the Type 2 and its bloody heavy, even with the alloy bellhousing I bought.

Paul