Ok, let’s see how good STW really is.

I have a differential from a MK2 Escort that used to be in my kit car. (Generally known as an English Diff).
The input bearings exploded a few years ago so it needs major repair. I have a replacement, but do I repair the failed one myself? Has anyone done this? How easy is it to do myself?
Or sell it as is, or get it repaired?

Ratio is 3.54, which is fairly rare (I think), so may be good to keep as a spare.

Thanks

Rebuilding a diff can be quite involved!

Have a look here
I just send mine to Phil Stewart at
Road & Race Transmissions
The Bullock Shed
Filston Farm
Shoreham, Kent
TN14 5JU

tel: 01959 525105
mobile: 07836 333882

He rebuilt my Quaife gearbox and lsd last year for about £350 IIRC

Is it a standard diff or an LSD?

I wouldn’t attempt to repair a diff myself as you need a certain amount of engineering ability to set it up correctly.

I don’t know that the 3.54 diff is especially rare but it is desirable apparently if you want more top speed rather than acceleration. All the internal parts are available new as well

Thanks. Looks a useful link.
It was fairly hard finding a 3.54 a few years when I built the car a few years ago. It’s got a Fireblade engine in it so needs all the help possible to keep the revs down.
Acceleration isn’t an issue, only 400kg plus me and 12000rpm red line! But not best suited for long distance touring.
I don’t mind having a go at re-building, the one I’ve fitted ‘should’ last, at least long enough to get me back on the road.

Got any photos?
A kit car with a motorbike engine is always good 🙂

Pictures

Mine’s the orange one.
Been off the road for about 5 years after the exploding diff incident.

(That diff re-build link looks fun, may give someone some money to do it!)

Rebuilding diffs is one of those things that isn’t particularly hard, but usually requires special adapters/gauges to get everything where it should be, and experience helps to cut down on the number of attempts to get things in tolerance.
From a commercial view point, it’s far cheaper and easier to pay a specialist to deal with them.

The only diff I’ve ever rebuilt was a small tractor one (~40hp), as nobody else would touch it, plus it’s quite hard to ship the entire axle to a specialist. Think it took me about 4 hours of assembling/disassembling and moving shims around to get things where they should be, and with the correct preload. Certainly wasn’t hard, but many cups of tea were needed to relieve frustration!