Making a big diff-erence
1983 FORD CAPRI 2.8i
I remember when I replaced the Capri’s rear axle for the first time – and that statement in itself should speak volumes about classic car ownership. It was the golden age of 2013 when Capri parts were cheaper and more readily available than they are now. Fast forward to today, though, and I was struggling to find a suitable candidate. The initial plan was to build a limited-slip differential onto my current axle, doing away with the broken unit and transforming the handling of the car in the process. But I quickly realised that the only thing limited, sadly, was my budget for doing this.
The most obvious solutions – an aftermarket replacement or a used LSD from a 2.8i Special – are rather expensive, so I benched the idea in favour of simply sourcing a complete replacement rear axle, albeit a standard secondhand one.
I managed to find a likely substitute after scouring the internet and exhausting all of my usual parts contacts – the only problem was that it was 175 miles away from where I live. Waiting for delivery was out of the question because the car was booked in for an MoT and I needed it to be roadworthy pronto, so I borrowed a friend’s car and headed north to pick it up. As it turned out, the gentleman selling the axle had two, plus various other parts, including a whole font end, which the Capri is in dire need of. Deciding to not get ahead of myself, though (or put myself further in debt, for that matter) I focused on the task at hand and promptly handed over the cash, hoping that claims of ‘low mileage’ and ‘perfect condition’ were actually true.
I brought the axle straight back to Wheels Automotive, where mechanic Gary was waiting to fit it, albeit after some swapping of parts, including the half shafts, as I had recently replaced the rear wheel bearings hoping that they would ease my axle woes. They didn’t, but I still wanted to keep those shiny new bearings.
I’ve also left the old axle with Gary because the plan to build an LSD onto it is still in the pipeline and knowing that I have a donor axle ready and waiting is a step in the right direction – even if it’s a small one.
MoT next. Fingers crossed for a clean bill of health, minus the usual ‘bumpers missing’ advisory, of course…