TRANSMISSION
Both the 997 and 1200 cars came with a four-speed ‘box as standard, however the smaller-engined car featured a non-synchromesh first gear. It doesn’t matter which version you’ve got as you won’t want to keep it if performance is your goal — the ratios just aren’t close enough. Back in the day, the trick was to fit the close-ratio, three-rail ‘box found in the Corsair 2000E and other models, and this is still a hugely popular swap today. However the 2000E ’box features a remote gearchange on the tailshaft as opposed to the direct change found in the Anglia, so, unless you can track down a Wooler or Speedograph remote, you will need to cut a new hole for the gearlever.You’ll also need a new gearbox crossmember, but Milton supply these.
There is an easier way to get the 2000E’s closer ratios, and that’s to either have the 2000E gears installed into the 1200 gearbox casing (BGH Geartech can do this for you), or do some tailshaft swapping.This way you don’t need to cut a new gearlever hole. Either way, the standard prop is deemed to be too weedy, so 105Speed supply an uprated version of the 1200 prop which is pretty much essential on all but standard cars.
Three-rail ’boxes not good enough for you? Both the strongerType E (Pinto four-speed) andType-9 (Sierra fivespeed) gearboxes can be fitted.These do mean the transmission tunnel will need raising, but fortunately Retro Ford have made up a new tunnel to make the job easier.You’ll either need an aftermarket alloy bellhousing (105Speed or Retro Ford) and concentric release bearing kit, or use the new Milton kit which retains the Anglia bellhousing and slave cylinder.
At the rear, the axle is the English, which is strong enough for most engines.The standard diff ratio was 4.1:1 with 4.44:1 being optional and both are a little short for road use — most swap these for either the 3.9:1 or the 3.7:1.