Where to look/who to ask for 3.7 rear ends?

Post questions, thoughts or comments on anything English & European Ford related here.
Post Reply
MichaelsVintageRacing
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2015 10:13 pm
Location: Hopewell Junction, NY
Contact:

Where to look/who to ask for 3.7 rear ends?

Post by MichaelsVintageRacing »

Hi everyone,

I'm on the lookout for a few used 3.7 ring and pinion sets (or whole differential units) for a few of the race cars we care for. They use the Anglia/Cortina English Ford rear end. I know Burton and others have new sets, but I've heard mixed reviews and in a race context the apparently thin surface hardening makes me nervous. Quaife no longer make this ratio.

Who would be a good person to contact in search of these units? Was 3.7 a particularly common or uncommon ratio?

Thanks!
Ever considered vintage racing? Learn more about it and our shop at www.michaelsvintageracing.com!
Image
Brett Wilkie
Posts: 1825
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:42 pm
Location: Vancouver British Columbia Canada

Re: Where to look/who to ask for 3.7 rear ends?

Post by Brett Wilkie »

I don't think the 3.7:1 is that common although my 67 Lotus Cortina Mk2 came with it as a stock ratio and it was available as an option on others so I suppose there should be some used ones around but think of the age of them by now. It is interesting what you say about Burton's stuff, I was contemplating buying something off them in the 4.4:1 range or lower. I made the stupid mistake of putting a Quaife ultra-close box behind my crossflowed 100e Anglia, the 2.25:1 first gear is not up to the task of the hills in my town so I am putting a semi-close box back in now.
Anglia 100e modified
Prefect 100e stock
MichaelsVintageRacing
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2015 10:13 pm
Location: Hopewell Junction, NY
Contact:

Re: Where to look/who to ask for 3.7 rear ends?

Post by MichaelsVintageRacing »

Yeah, the 3.9 appears to be the common ratio but I've never looked much for a 3.7 up to this point so I don't have a frame of reference really.

The Burton stuff may be fine for the street; I just know the surface hardening doesn't appear to be up to the task for racing.

I can definitely understand why the ultra-close box would be a headache on the street; we like having a useable first gear on track, but we don't deal with many slow hills!
Ever considered vintage racing? Learn more about it and our shop at www.michaelsvintageracing.com!
Image
Brett Wilkie
Posts: 1825
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:42 pm
Location: Vancouver British Columbia Canada

Re: Where to look/who to ask for 3.7 rear ends?

Post by Brett Wilkie »

Check the Lotus guys out too, I think a lot of the old Elans had the higher ratios. I just looked on Ebay and saw this but it's not a great deal.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385099455985?h ... R4y-1Y_BYQ
Anglia 100e modified
Prefect 100e stock
MichaelsVintageRacing
Posts: 58
Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2015 10:13 pm
Location: Hopewell Junction, NY
Contact:

Re: Where to look/who to ask for 3.7 rear ends?

Post by MichaelsVintageRacing »

Yeah, that's a good point. I'll look for Elan-specific stuff also.
Ever considered vintage racing? Learn more about it and our shop at www.michaelsvintageracing.com!
Image
Post Reply