Ital axel, is it that bad?

[crazybull]

Have searched the threads and found various opinions mostly bad, but is it really a no go area? I am looking at a Caterham with 160bhp 2.0 zetec coupled to an Ital axel, one of my mates have said not worth the risk and another 2 have said it isn't as bad as some people think.

I won't be doing track days, it is purely for touring and weekend fun so not going to get mega thrashed, but like wise i don't want to put pedal to metal and hear a loud bang!

Your thoughts gentlemen.......and ladies : )

Kind Regards

C B

[gtmdriver]

Depends what you do with it.

I used to race a Spartan with a 2 litre Pinto engine. I used a Marina rear axle to match the Triumph PCD on the Vitesse front hubs. The only time it gave me a problem was at Mallory Park which has Gerad's Bend, a long 180 degree corner. The axle would whine after racing there.
I suspect the problem was oil being thrown away from the gears into the N/S axle tube. Baffling the unit would probably have solved the problem.

If you only intend to use the car on the road you should have no problem but I would baffle it for track use.

Didn't the TR7 use the Marina/Ital axle?

[singlecoil]

gtmdriver said:

Didn't the TR7 use the Marina/Ital axle?

I don't think so, I've had a few TR7s and you really wouldn't want anything like that in a 7 (serious unsprung weight issues). IIRC Caterham chose the Ital axle specifically because it was light.

[EFA]

Ital axle is good up to 180bhp in a Caterham. Beyond that failure is guaranteed.

2.0 Zetec on carbs in a live axle car is a good combination for a budget Caterham.

[GinG15]

the ital axle is definately more "strong" than the ford one...unfortunately you dont get much parts for it...and some parts arent available of the shelf.

you can upgrade your ford axle with stronger halfshafts, you can choose from lots of differnt diff ratios, limited slip diffs are available, overhaul kits are sold of the shelf.

so its up to you what to choose.

[tr7v8]

gtmdriver said:

Depends what you do with it.


Didn't the TR7 use the Marina/Ital axle?

The 4 speed TR7 used a marina axle which is Triumph derived not BMC, the 5 speed cars use the Rover SD1 type axle which is massive, reliable but far too heavy for a 7.
When I mechaniced on a S2 7 we had a Ford Engish axle as a replacement for the Standard 10 one & once built up it was OK. The Clubmans cars & F750 guys use BMC (Morris Minor) & loads of bits are available to beef these up.

[EFA]

GinG15 said:

the ital axle is definately more "strong" than the ford one...

Sorry, that is not a true statement. Quite the reverse is actually correct. There are quite a few BD engined Sevens which have been built on Ford axles.

The key point here is taht Ital Axle spares and diffs are easy to come by, easy to fit and cheap. You won't break many, if any, so don't worry go ahead and buy it. I, to give you soem reassurance have owned Caterhams for 17 years and in that time worked on (inc doing Zetec conversions)and fixed many of these cars for other people.

As I said earlier, the 2.0 Zetec and Ital axle are a good combination.

[crazybull]

Thanks guys i really appreciate your time in answering my questions, I to live by the philosophy 'use it till it breaks then improve it so it doesn't'

I'll let you know how i get on!!!!!!!!!!!1


C B