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  • Marina rear axle

    My axle has finally given up the ghost. I need to know which axle will give me the best ratio for acceleration NOT top speed. Does anyone have one for sale?
    Mk2 SWB Marina Roadster with a 1800 Fiat Twin Cam engine and 5 speed Abarth gearbox built in 1987
    - I have no idea what I am talking about........ but my advice is always free! -

  • #2
    Re: Marina rear axle

    I have a 1.3 marina axle which should be best for acerleration. It needs new hub bearings. If you could collect it from the Newcastle area you can have it for free

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    • #3
      Re: Marina rear axle

      Message originally posted by: Alan Hogg
      I have a 1.3 diff[4.1/1] spare, asking ?20 to offset cost of switching to 1.8 ratio

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Marina rear axle

        I used to have a 1.3 Axle on the back of mine and when I changed it to the 1.8 it was noticably slower, but at least I wasn't pulling insane revs at motorway speeds

        Going for a type9 conversion sometime in the future I think.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Marina rear axle

          Message originally posted by: Don Sayers
          I have a spare diff, (1.3) going free to a good home. Beware though, the 1.8 diff is stronger Because the pinion has more teeth.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Marina rear axle

            Thanks guys for all your help. I think this is going to require some further investigation. I guess the whole back axle thing could be quite indepth. Is there any definitive articles about the options that are available. I have been told that the TR7, dolomite, escort and MGB are all possible but this just exagerates the decision. I am running the fiat 1800 twincam which will have about 130bhp when finished. I will only be using the Marlin for A road blasts not long journeys so this will effect decision. Can anyone supply the ratios for 1.3, 1.8, 1.7, van pickup etc.... Thanks for the help.
            Mk2 SWB Marina Roadster with a 1800 Fiat Twin Cam engine and 5 speed Abarth gearbox built in 1987
            - I have no idea what I am talking about........ but my advice is always free! -

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Marina rear axle

              Jon - hope the following helps...

              130bhp is a little over the borderline for a standard Marina axle so I'd suggest a Dolly Sprint or late TR7 axle. Both have the strength to cope reliably with the power and both will handle a V8 easily (so a Fiat twink should be a doddle). They will both require the mounting brackets removing and Marina items welding on (or why not go for a 5-link rear).

              Here are some known diff ratios and notes on compatibility. I don't profess more than scant acquaintance with Ford axles, other than they are probably as good or better than the Sprint TR or MGB options and come in as many or more flavours.

              The sky really is your limit (well I guess your wallet is your limit if it's anything like mine)...I recall a PitStop article years ago where a guy grafted in the complete IRS system from a Jag...(there is one on eBay at the moment if you're tempted)...!

              Ratios shown as Manual/Auto (where known)

              Marina

              The Marina carried 2 types of axle. The 10cwt van has a much stronger axle which was derived, I believe, from the early MGB banjo axle (which I suspect was used previously in the MGA & Magnette etc). The car version (and light van) originated in the Triumph Toledo. Wheel PCD differed on the axles (3.75" car vs 4.5" van) so front hubs are also different. Ratios are as follows:

              10cwt van 4.56
              1.3 4.11
              1.8 3.636
              1.7 3.636
              2.0 3.636?

              NB. Given a number of Caterhams had the dubious benefit of a Marina axle, Quaife offer a rebuild kit. This has improved halfshafts and bearings but not, crucially, a better diff. Nor will an LSD help much ('cos they do one of those as well) as this just puts more load on the (standard) crownwheel and pinion.

              TR7

              While early TR7's used the same basic axle as the Marina I'm not entirely sure whether the width of the axle is identical in both vehicles (i.e. same diff but different length halfshafts). I have seen the TR7 track described as 55" and the Marina as 52".

              If they are identical then this means the halfshaft supply situation is not as bad as it could be, as Rimmer Bros still advertise halfshafts for the TR7 4-speed (at about ?30 a pop).

              If anyone can confirm whether the axles share the same halfshafts I'd be pleased to hear from them.

              The later 5-speed axle is a narrowed SD1 item, but with a 4 stud 3.75" hub (SD1 was 5 stud).

              4-speed 3.636/3.27 (diff is interchangeable)
              5-speed 3.90/3.08 (tube type so you need the whole axle)

              A 3.45 is also listed for 5-speed manual cars but I believe 3.9 was the standard UK spec.

              Dolomite & Toledo

              The Sprint used a different axle to the other Dolomites (tube type). I don't profess to know definitively which diff will fit which axle but there is a fair degree of "swapability" amongst the other Dolomite and Toledo diffs. In an earlier thread Ben Caswell said the 1850/1500 diffs will fit the Marina axle. Stud pattern identical to the Marina.

              Sprint 3.45
              1850 3.636/3.27
              1.5 3.89
              1.3 4.11

              Toledo

              1.3 4.11
              1.5 3.89

              MGB

              The MGB is a slightly narrower axle but gives the option of wires. It has the same 4.5" PCD as the Marina 10 cwt van, so if using this axle you can use van hubs to keep the same wheels all round. It also has the strength you need.

              4-synchro 3.909/3.7

              Marlin Roadster, LWB...1860 B Series + Ford Type 9
              Renault Espace 54mm front calipers, vented discs, cycle wings and adjustable tie-bars.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Marina rear axle

                This is really interesting stuff guys, my axle has finally given up the ghost too - see my previous post 'Roadster Axles' I finally sourced a Marina 1.8 axle on ebay and hope to collect it this W/E and then propose just to swop the diffs. However Jez's mention of the TR7 axle prompted some research and I found that Moss Bros of Bristol have an online TR7 catalogue and offer a differential rebuild service for ?249 ( don't know if that includes new gears though, suspect it is just bearings) The early TR7 4 speed axle certainly looks very similar to the Marina and there is also a mention of an upgraded diff cage, bearings and planet gear mod. Problem is that I guess TR7 axles are just as scarce as Marina ones now.
                It looks like our Roadsters are all getting to the time when axle reworks / replacements are necessary so I think the information swap in this forum is going to become very useful. Keep the info flowing guys.
                Incidentally - I now know where all the Marinas have gone! We are just back from a holiday in Malta and there are dozens of Marinas still in every day use there. Asking around I was told that they were actually made in Malta at one time, so if things get desperate there may be a good source of spares there.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Re: Marina rear axle

                  This is all great info which we all should know.
                  I am interested in the idea of the 5 link setup. If my memory serves me right, which is unlikely, (I built my Marlin in 1986, then sold it in 1991, and have just bought it back after seeing it on ebay)just before I sold my car Marlin had an option for a de-dion rear end / panhard rod / 5 link job. Am I correct or are the years spent modifying 205 GTI's confusing me. If so are there any details of this setup available or any other owner created mods that I could have details of.
                  My mate has a written off Westfield rusting away in his garden that I thought might be able to donate the rear independent suspension. Has anyone done this to there Marina based car or anything similar. If not would anybody be interested if I were to design and manufacture a retro fit setup?
                  Mk2 SWB Marina Roadster with a 1800 Fiat Twin Cam engine and 5 speed Abarth gearbox built in 1987
                  - I have no idea what I am talking about........ but my advice is always free! -

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Marina rear axle

                    I'd not heard about a Marlin De-Dion option, although I know Caterham did one as a follow-up to the Ital live-axle version of the 7. Be interested to hear any more on this.

                    As for a 5-link setup on the Roadster I'm sure someone must have at least thought about it. You can get kits for the Moggie and Escort, plus Frontline are/have launching a bolt-on version for the MGB. I think the challenges would be around location of the parallel links (inboard or outboard of the chassis rails?) plus turreting the coilovers, which could interfere with seatbelt towers on the later-type chassis. Certainly not impossible though given some MIG skills.

                    As a follow-up to my earlier comments a sneaky look at various Haynes manuals at the Stoneleigh Restoration Show on Sunday reveals that the non-Sprint Dolomites share a suspiciously familiar-looking axle with the TR, Toledo and Marina. If anyone knows anything about respective halfshaft lengths in each application please let us all know...it could open up a whole new source of spares.

                    Keep the comments coming...
                    Marlin Roadster, LWB...1860 B Series + Ford Type 9
                    Renault Espace 54mm front calipers, vented discs, cycle wings and adjustable tie-bars.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Marina rear axle

                      Quaife say they no longer have the rebuild kit mentioned by Jez.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Marina rear axle

                        This is probably a silly question but is it possible to fit Marina (or TR7 etc) rear hubs onto a MGB axle? This would allow the use of the stronger and more obtainable MGB axle without having to change wheels.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Marina rear axle

                          The Triumph-derived axle in the Marina is a shoddy piece of kit, using an archaic "locking taper" to hold the hub to the halfshaft. The MGB, most other decent axles for that matter (TR7 5-speed, Dolly Sprint) have different arrangements. For the MGB the hub bolts to the shaft and for the later TR axle the hub and halfshaft are a single machined assembly. The best you could do to save changing wheels is maybe get the MGB hub re-drilled to the Marina PCD.
                          Marlin Roadster, LWB...1860 B Series + Ford Type 9
                          Renault Espace 54mm front calipers, vented discs, cycle wings and adjustable tie-bars.

                          Comment

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