Going form solid Escort axle to MX5?

[waynes world]

Hi guys, i am running a 5 link setup with MK1 ford Escort axle, now the reason for this swap to MX5 is that i want a wider track, and it should give better handling aswell.
The escort is 52" wide and the MX5 is 56.8" so itwill widen just that bit more as ii want.

I want to do this to my Dutton Melos not a Haynes Roadster.
Can anyone advice on this at all, i am ok with the fab work.

this is the chassis at the minute, if anyone can help i can get some more pics later as i have removed the axle and links now, lots of room to fit it, i was even thinking on keepinf the subframe and drives etc to make it easier, possible to bolt the subframe to the chassis with extra brackets welded on..

[flyerncle]

Look through the posts on here regarding the housings on MX 5 diffs they are not very strong.

Some thing else will be better adapted,Freelander maybe.

[johnl63]

this looks very similar to my chevron, I have just put a MX5 rear end in.
look at this link http://lotus7.co.nz/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2970
cheers
john

[PorkChop]

Originally Posted by flyerncle

Look through the posts on here regarding the housings on MX 5 diffs they are not very strong.

The housing is sacrifical and does have a point of failure engineered into it, but that's to prevent the PPF from acting as a battering ram or to protect the wishbones/driveshafts in an accident.

However, the housings don't just break for the fun of it in normal use. The breakages reported on this forum were due to inappropriate mountings that allowed excessive movement of the diff.

Looking at the Melos chassis, I'm wondering if any IRS system will foul the outer chassis tubes, you'll also need to fab up upper coilover mounting points, as these are shell mounted on an MX-5.

One other option might be a Volvo live axle, I remember (but not quite where from) an Escort being fitted with a Volvo axle. EDIT: I saw it in PPC magazine...http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/76549

[waynes world]

From what i hav elooked at the subframe should go under with out the anything hitting.

The main question at the miinute is will the Melos need an IVA if it has the MX5 subframe fitted, as it already registered??

My self i dont think it will, i understand this from my 4x4 off roadign days, but that was a few years back things could of changed. If you cut the cahssis thats an IVA, but you can add to the chassi??