3.5 diff in Plus 2

[miked]

Guys,

I had a quick peep in the archive but did not see too much. Sean, I see you have one fitted.
I am just wondering about fitting one in a Plus 2 with a healthy motor, what are the views?
Looking forward to Classic Leman and contemplating....

Any feedback appreciated, however brief.

Mike

[jono]

I've put one in mine Mike, but a bit too early though to report on the driving experience!

I obtained an RS 2000 diff from one of the Escort boys - 3.54.

Your car looks superb in the Lakes - you should have come a little further north and I would have shown you the progress so far

....I'm off to fit the last brake pipe now, decided to ditch the servo after much deliberation

Jon

[pauljones]

Mike,

I also have a 3.54 in mine with the 4 speed. 1st seems a bit high if im facing up hill,but nothing too bad. It helps keep revs down on motorways too. A good mod in my mind. Well worth it.

Paul

[JJDraper]

I have a 3.54 Escort RS 2000 diff in my +2 as well (4 speed box) and have been generally pleased with the result... once you are moving. This is the biggest problem I have. From a standing start, the car needs careful clutch/throttle juggling to get a clean getaway without either kangarooing or sounding like a rude boy by revving excessively. On the move and you hardly notice the change except that at 70mph you are doing around 3,500 rpm instead of 3,800 (approx). This is more of a problem for the +2 than the Elan, due to its greater weight.

Once the car is moving, you can hold onto first for longer and this is quite satisfying against many moderns which have an ecessively low first gear, so you can be well down the road while they are still changing gears. The car can still pull to the redline in top (where legal), even if the driver's bottom is a bit twitchy at that speed..

All in all a worthwhile change if you are taking the diff out anyway, but marginal if you spend most of your time on single carriageway roads and your existing diff is OK. What I really want is a good 5 speeder or even one of the 6ers.. or a switchable overdrive (anyone ever tried?).

Don't forget to fit the right speedo drive gear for whatever diff you use.

Jeremy

[Foxie]

Guys,

I had a quick peep in the archive but did not see too much. Sean, I see you have one fitted.
I am just wondering about fitting one in a Plus 2 with a healthy motor, what are the views?
Looking forward to Classic Leman and contemplating....

Mike

Yes, I have a 3.55 fitted in combination with an Alan Voigts 5-speed, which in turn has the 2.95 1st gear conversion. ( Engine has been brought to 145hp) We took it to Rome and back on the Euroclassic in September. I found it a very good combination for both the mountains and the motorways.

[stugilmour]

I also fitted the 3.54 instead of the stock 3.77 when my diff seals needed replacement. Difference is not a lot; basically if you look at the numbers it is approx. making up for the change in gearing from my change in tire size from stock to readily available size.

I have the MT75 five speed, so do not have an issue with the slightly tall first of the stock four speed. The five speed impact is way more of course than the diff change. With both of these mods, I certainly cannot pull 6,500 rpm in top, and it is a long straight to pull 6.500 in fourth (1:1). Not sure of my HP though.

For Jeremy's comments regarding the taller effective first, I would really consider a change to CV joints at same time as removing the diff. This change eliminates a lot of the pogo stick effect.

You can check all the numbers in David's excellent spreadsheet.

Bottom line, I agree it is a good mod if diff needs service anyway, but pretty subtle on it's own.

[miked]

Thanks Guys for the input, it all sounds very logical.

I was concerned about the first gear get away. Having run an Elan for 6 years you forget how much heavier the Plus 2 is to get one the move on an incline.
I do need to do the drive shafts. Whilst the set of Donuts it came with are not bad (have had ones that feeling much softer on both Plus 2 and Elan), I am planning to sort this over winter. I remain quite nervous about the donuts and its does require some sympathy when pulling away. Can't stop thinking about one splitting and a flailing shaft ripping a lump out of the car and my arse.

I have been through the diff' as part of getting the car on the road. It is quiet and nice and dry at all seals. I think I will leave alone for the moment.


Mike