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Spitfire 75 Spitfire swing axle lenth issue

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rickl750

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Hi Guys,
I’ve been building a 1975 Spitfire for vintage racing and ran into an issue with the swing axles. I order a pair from Jigsaw racing in the Uk and when I assembled everything and went to install on the car they turned out to be too short. I placed the old and the new axles side by side and found the new one is 20” and the old one is 21”, according to the gentlemen I’m dealing with he tells me he only knows of one size 20”. I thought I had seen somewhere that the length of the axles changed somewhere in 1973 with the introduction of the new body. Can someone verify this for me or provide any info that can help.

Thanks,

Rick
 
According to the parts diagrams at Spitbits you are correct that the cars up through '72 used a different shaft than was used from '73 to '80.
 
Guys,
I guess a better question might be if the axle I bought from Jigsaw is the correct one for my car than what axle do I have? does anyone have the messurement of a 1500 axle? mine is 21" and the one from Jigsaw is 20" and that's why I beleive the one I bought is for the earlier model but Jigsaw says other wise. If anyone can help with a messurement it would be very helpfull.

Thanks,

Rick

P.S. Is a GT6 axle the same as a Spit or is it longer?? just trying to figure this out.
 
Short axle is for the early "new body" spits, long axle is for the later cars.

The short axle leaves the rear wheels looking more-or-less vertical, whereas the long axle gives the negative-camber look which apparently handles better, even though it's visually unappealing.

Your choice as to what's important to you.
 
The issue is that I'm not able to bolt the axles to the differential flang because its 1 inch too short, otherwise this would not be a problem. I either have some extra long axles 21" and Jigsaw sold me the right one 20" and there are 19" axles out there used on the older Spits. 3 different axle lenghts?? Not likely so I realy need the mesurements from someone else of any Spit so that I have a baseline and can figureout what I have.

If anyone has mesurements of their swing axles plese let me know so that I may resolve this issue.

Thanks you all,

Rick
 
Where is the length measured between? Is it from the outboard end of the shaft to the flange... or is it somehow measured to the centerline of the u-joint with the flange removed?
 
I mesured end to end, I tried attaching a pic but I was not able to.

Thanks,

Rick

P.S. Oh it worked!!
 

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Guys,
I just heard from Jigsaw Racing and apparently the axles were missed labeled and they will send me a replacement.

So for anyone that may need this in the future the short axles 20 inches are for the MK1, 2 and 3 (1962 thru 1972). MK4 and 1500 use 21 inch axles (1973 thru 1980).

Thank you all for your assistance,

Rick
 
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