BN1 Rear Axle drain plug.

[catfood]

My BN1 seems to have one of those intermediate axles which has features of both the early axle and the late. I purchased a new axle drain plug (which is for the later axles) but it is about 10mm too long. The ealy plug doesn't seem to be available from the usual suspects. Anyone know of where I can source one? I'm sure I didn't get rid of the old one but several hours of turning the garage upside down have revealed nothing. :grumpy:

 

[Keoke]

HI Steve K:
Check with Healey Surgeons here in the US. Sorry no one responded--Keoke

 

[pan]

G,day Steve, Can you locate an old Austin? I probably have one in an old axle, but I am a long way away. Hang on, you are probably talking about a hypoid axle.
Cheers,
Alwyn

 

[catfood]

Hi Alwyn,

I'm guessing its the same as the hypoid axle. Mine is the later axle but there is a transition period where axle nut threads changed that is not clearly documented and of course mine has the drain plug being half the length of the later one. I know I have the original axle (the body number is stamped on it) but the welding around the drain plug is pretty crude. I suppose the 'hole' could have been replaced at some point in history. The original parts list lists the same part number for both types of axle.

Anyone on the forum with a hypoid rear axle? Do you know (roughly) how long the drain plug is?

 

[pan]

Steve,
Just to clarify, the later, five stud axle is hypoid. The earlier four stud axle is a spiral bevel. My '54 car has the early axle.
Cheers,
Alwyn

 

[catfood]

My bad! Thanks for the clarification.

 

[catfood]

the body number is stamped on it

OK I got that bit wrong. I saw the number and it seemed familiar and I assumed it was the body number from my Healey. Now I've checked its not. So two questions. Is it the body number that is stamped on the axle. My axle has BN1 3228 stamped on it. If its the body number as far as I can tell this is the axle off a much earlier car. However if it is an earlier axle it has the later hubs fitted. Are the later hubs compatible with the early axle case? Does anyone have pictures of an early axle off the car so I can see if it looks anything like mine?

Also the later axle tube nuts I bought don't really fit. They tighten up before they reach the bottom of the thread and I don't want to force them. My original nuts spin on quite freely (albeit they are very battered and the two nuts are not the same, one has more faces than the other!) so I'm thinking maybe I need the early nuts. Speaking of nuts that what this axle is driving me!

And one more thing. The part number stamped on my diff casing is ATC 7202C which doesn't match the part number for any of the healeys!

Can anyone shed any light on any of this?

 

[pan]

Steve,
This is from the Service Manual: I Hope it helps.