sparky_spit Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 I need to remove the diff from my Spitfire while I do some work on the car. I also need to be able to push the car backwards and forwards in the garage during that time without a diff in place to hold everything together. Rather than experience the joy of putting another diff in place temporarily and then taking it out again, I'm thinking of just tying the inner ends of the halfshafts to each other using rope, to stop the wheels splaying outwards as I move the car.Do you think this will work? Or am I chancing it too much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esxefi Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 how about screwing a block of wood between the two flanges, in essence making the axle 'solid' as long as you only need to move the car backwards and forwards.mind there is the danger of the body slumping either way if the v/links pivot on the trunnions.don't forget the spring too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobPearce Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Quoted from esxefi don't forget the spring too. This is the pincher. Without a diff, there's nothing supporting the body off the wheels. You'd be better off resting the rear of the chassis on a (sufficiently tall) trolley of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 I had a trolley made from a Herald chassis which I wheeled in and out of my garage for about a year when I was rebuilding the Mk4 spitfire, it had the spitfire shell on it.That had no diff fitted (Mr Jones had kept that most useful of parts and gave me the rest)I just lashed the spring to the rear of the chassis. Not an option if you have the body fitted sadly.I would remove the diff and put a plank of wood above the spring to maintain some ride height.Tie rods will hold wheels in place and prevent them splaying out.You could tie the flanges together as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparky_spit Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 I hadn't thought about the spring no longer being supported.... Thanks chaps.So, the plan now is to put a wooden plank in above the spring to maintain some ride height. Then use a bit of 3"x 3" fence post timber that's as long as the diff is wide and screw the half-shaft flanges to each end of that with some big fat screws. That should do it if I treat it carefully. It hasn't got to move far, just about 5ft back and forth several times while I lift an engine/gearbox in and out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Rather than screwing the flanges to a bit of wood(sounds very tricky) how about 2 bits of studding? toolstation stuff is very cheap, nut either side of the flange to make it vaguely rigid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 A trolley is a far better idea.Some lengths of 4x4 screwed together for a base frame, built up into the spring tunnel, some large castor wheels underneath. Movement will never be so easy.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Hammond Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Plank of wood and a trolley jack?M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 If it's only 5 feet, I had the same idea as Mark.Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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