plenty of autos out there. the diesels are like hens teeth it seems... bear in mind you could buy a 2.3 diesel, swap the diff, and re sell it, with a small note saying it has a different diff to avoid lashing any other kit builders.
I'd appreciate a bit of help determining which Sierras have the 3.14 diff fitted.....
I called Ford who didn't seem to know.
Based on what I've read, I believe, and this may be rubbish, that the 2.3 diesel always had a 3.14 diff.
Apparently some autos and some 4 speeds 1.6 base model cars had a 3.14 diff but nobody seems to know which ones.
2.3 diesels are selling like hot-cakes now - this can only be for BECs, as I can see no other reason for buying one. Anyway, I've missed several
2.3d Sierras so can someone please tell me which other Sierras I could reasonably assume would be fitted with a 3.14 difff?
TIA !
i know of no others. the 2 litre autos are 3.38. i bought a 1.6L, in had a 3.62 diff. is 3.38 so bad, or do you want the longest legs possible?
plenty of autos out there. the diesels are like hens teeth it seems...
bear in mind you could buy a 2.3 diesel, swap the diff, and re sell it, with a small note saying it has a different diff to avoid lashing any other
kit builders.
Hi JoelP.....Yup - I need a 3.14....I'll have a fair bit of power so I'm also getting the high ratio 5th & 6th gears (it's a
Hayabusa engine).
I'll get on autotrader 1st thing tomorrow to see if there's any 2.3 Sierras available.
Hope this helps, slightly cut and pasted im affraid so not in context!
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/photos.php?action=showphoto&photo=Diff%20ratios.jpg
also:
XR4i (1982-1984.5)
Non LSD
7' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
drum brakes
3.62:1 ratio
Merkur XR4Ti
Non LSD
7.5' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
drum brakes
3.64:1 ratio
All XR4x4 V6-powered vehicles
LSD
7' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
disc brakes
3.62:1 ratio
Late model XR4x4 w/ 2.0 engine
LSD
7' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
disc brakes
3.92:1 ratio
All Sierra Cosworth RWD
LSD
7.5' rear
LARGE Granada stubshafts
disc brakes
3.64:1 ratio
All Sierra 4WD Cosworth & Escort Cosworth
LSD
7' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
disc brakes
3:62:1 ratio
Scorpio 24v (Cosworth)
LSD
7.5' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
disc brakes
3.64:1 ratio
Any RWD Sierra with any 2.0 engine (non-Cosworth)
Non LSD
7' rear
smaller Sierra stubshafts
drum brakes (disc optional on last Sierras)
3:92:1 ratio
You can't put a 7.5' diff in a 7' rear mounting beam, but you CAN put any 7' diff into a 7.5' rear mounting beam using shims,
but this only applies to Merkur XR4Ti and Granada/Scorpios as they ONLY use the smaller Sierra halfshafts. Putting a XR4x4 7' rear into a RWD
Cosworth would not work, as it wouldnt mate with the smaller Sierra stubshafts the 7' use.
The only Sierra in the world that uses 7.5' and smaller Sierra halfshafts is the Merkur XR4Ti.
Hence my American friend can either use a 7' diff (using shims) from any XR4x4, Sierra Cosworth 4x4 or Escort Cosworth.
He can also use 7.5' LSD diffs from any LSD-optioned Scorpio (e.g. Scorpio 24v). NOTE: Most Scorpios come with Non LSD diffs. All 24v Scorpios
come with LSD.
But he CAN'T use RWD Cosworth 7.5' diffs.
BTW, any XR4i owner who wants a 7.5' rear axle w/ smaller halfshafts from my Merkur can buy it for 50 quid from XR4 Spares Centre. Good idea if
someone has a spare 7.5' LSD diff from a Scorpio. Drum brakes though!!
HTH
Cheers
G
blimey m8, you know your stuff
good chart mr g, but it seems to contradict just about everything ive read on this forum. how sure are you of its accuracy?
it implies that the 3.14 diff isnt available in a 7inch unit, but i know someone who had one.
[Edited on 11/11/04 by JoelP]
MrG: Thanks for teh advice but the image you linked for was only for 1987 Sierras. This states that in 1987 the 2.3 diesel used a 3.38 diff.
The 2.3 only had the 3.14 for a couple of years - don't spose anyone knows which years?
What about autos? I have heard some of these had a 3.14?
As i run an Xr4i as my everyday car I've been a member of the xr owners forums for years (now interford.co.uk)
I've mentioned this before but i'll plug it again - it really is a hive of usefull information.
Concerning the 7" 3.14 - I think the point to note is the '87 year stamp on the chart.
VERY interesting thread over on interford about a French gentelman whos fitted a lsd to a 3.14 7" diff he managed to aquire.
Full URL:
http://forums.interford.co.uk/showthread.php?s=8a01ad5727901bfdf9f580999d00a473&threadid=38136
for those not members:
3.14 7" dif?
Right, to start with I have a 2.9 RWD (German Sierra) it had a 3.36 7.5" diff but not LSD. I wanted LSD so I got a 4x4 diff off TT (3.62 7"
it fitted OK with a spacer on the top mount.
Cut a long story short I wanted a ratio nearer the original 3.36 or better but getting a 7.5" LSD unit for my 3.36 7.5" diff seemed
difficult/expencive so I had an idea, get a 2.3 diesel diff (3.38 in a 7" case) as they are 7" too and stick the LSD in it from the 4x4
diff.
There is a dumped 2.3 diesel across town so me and the boy set out this morning to borrow/steal/liberate the diff off it
Got it home cleaned it up a little and guess what? it's 3.14 I didn't think they excisted in 7" (15 teeth pinion and 47 on the C/W)
I have stripped it down and cleaned it up and will hopefully fit a LSD from a 4x4 diff into it during the next few days.
________________________________
What I'm planning on doing is fitting the 3.14 CW to the 4x4 LSD and sticking it into the 3.14 case (that has the 3.14 pinion)
both the 3.14 and 3.62 4x4 are from a 7" case
When finished it should be a 3.14 LSD 7"
Both the 3.14 and 4x4 3.62 have the exect same case part number.
Will do piccys too when I build it ;-)
_________________________________
Interesting! I really thought the 3,14 was only available in 7,5" form! On the other hand I know where to find 3,36 with LSD in 7,5" case!
It was fitted to some early mk 3 Grandada (badged Scorpio in most of europe) 2.8 Ghia! I've got a new, never used one (!), but without the proper
driveflanges as part of a batch of new old stock a couple of months ago. Just a few weeks ago my dad got hold of another, second hand one. So they do
exist....
Good luck swapping! We'll see if I've got a 3,62 LSD with "drum-type" driveshafts on the car in time for Ford Fair!
/ Magnus
________________________________
Have you got the bits to set up the backlash on the CW to P? Instructions are in the Sierra motorsport prep manual!
Simon.
[Edited on 12/11/04 by Mr G]
Continued.....
Well done it and it works. I set up the backlash to the specs given in the Haynes V6 book.
Works great, seems to go on forever before needing a gear change.
Heres a couple of piccys 1st is the LSD with it's original 3.62 CW, 2nd is the same LSD with the 3.14 CW.
http://www.danzweb.net/~martytay/diffstuff/362diff.jpg
http://www.danzweb.net/~martytay/diffstuff/314diff.jpg
and a piccy of the 3.14 CW and pinion and case
http://www.danzweb.net/~martytay/diffstuff/314case.jpg
And while the drives were out I thought I'd see if an LSD diff would work with drum shafts (in case someone with drums wanted LSD)
Well its don't, one side is too long and the other side too short.
This piccy of LSD drives shows the differance.
http://www.danzweb.net/~martytay/diffstuff/drives.jpg
Hope that may help, Bit long i know - plus i've been on the tenants super 
Cheers
G
Found out today that the 2.3 V6 Sierra saloon and the 4 speed 1.6 ohc estate, (possibly the saloon as well) also had the 3.14 diff fitted . . . . That's from a Sierra workshop manual.
a post earlier today, by steve gusters, said that the 1.6 est 4 speed had a 3.38 diff.
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=19276
actually alister...
[Edited on 15/11/04 by JoelP]
Not too up on my Sierras, but is the 1.6 ohc the same as a normal 1.6?
I guess it's like Alister666 says,
"Doesn't look like theres any such thing as a standard Sierra diff"
.........the 3.14 quest continues
that makes sense, a 4speed car will be reving very highly at motorway speeds on a 3.62 as in later cars, the lower difs must be to sort the gearing
out. i'd recon the v6 was the best bet as that would have had the longest legs presumably..
Ned.
i'm searching through all my tons of rubbish (files) here,i'm pretty sure i've read or have info saying the 3.14 is estate or a tow pack on sierras.
out of curiousity has anyone tried sourcing one new/direct from ford, is this worth pursuing or are they gonna be as useful as a chocolate teapot in
the spares dept?
Ned.
Sorry cant find it,it may have been on a diesel manual i no longer have,i knew i should have kept it
ned: Ford don't have any.
try kit-fit up at newark
not sure if this number is a gooden
01636 893453
have you thought of trying someone like kam who make bespoke cwp dif kits?
just found this on their website, looks very promising!
http://www.kamdiffs.com/sierra_3_1.htm
Ned
looks good, but very out of date!
still worth a phonecall though.... never know they might have em in stock 
I dread to think what price they'll be now. You've still got to build it when you've bought the bits. According to my manual the lowest in a petrol powered Sierra was 3.38:1 in the 1.6 economy and the 2.0 automatic.
I have a 7" 3.14 that was in the first diesel I looked at in my local scrappy - dunno how big it was, an estate as i recall. Previously I'd
asked ford - no dice, subsequently I've discovered that classicconversions have a stock!!!
Bob C
Classic conversions are very very expensive
[Edited on 29/11/04 by adamhay]
just to resurrect an old thread, i have recently found a 1993 2.3 diesel that has a 3.62 fitted (or at least, the vin plate says 'V', which
is apparently a 3.62 diff).
thats a spanner in the works eh...
just hope the one ive bought off ebay has a good one in it!
I thought the 2.3 Diesel died a death a long time before 1993. I took one out of a 1984 model and put it in a fishing boat years ago. It was a real monster, weighed 1200kgs and about 6' long and leaked more oil than the Torrey Canyon!!
oops, my bad.... its a 90G. but still, ive never heard anyone say a diesel had a 3.6, unless the bloke is mistaken and its a 1.8td... but that would be a big mistake!
I just checked the diff from my 2.0 LX Dohc donor sierra
The vin plate says 'U'
The tag code on the diff '83BG MC 362' says its a 3:62:1
Joel this would suggest Dern on this thread Here would be correct and the diesel
your refering to with a 'V' code is a 3:38:1
Correct Ratio Code List:
3.14 M
3.36 A
3.38 V
3.62 U
3.64 3
3.92 D
could be... certainly worth finding out for sure. ive just bought a 2 litre auto with U in the code box. i really need to find out sharpish! out with
the spanners i guess!
just to confirm, my new donor has a U in the diff box and 3.62 on the diff tab.
Hmm,
If my experience is anything to go by - I dont think theres any guarantee you're getting a particular ratio when you buy a sierra. They seem to
change so often across body style and engine variants that your only certain to get the right diff by leaning under it and looking at the tag.
To add to the confusion - I literally ran to buy a 1986 2.3 diesel estate the week before last convinced Id got a 3.14 and it was running a 3.38.
I guess that makes sense considering what might be in the back but I wasnt expecting it from what Id read on the subject - also dont be fooled by the
1.8 turbo diesels - one of those I looked at the other week was a good old 3.62.
Keep looking for a 2.3 diesel they do exist - there was one on ebay near cheshire the other week on a K plate - anyone get that?
If that doesnt work - this appeared on the BEC section a few days ago by adamhay - http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=22221
hope that helps!
Geoff
allegedly, the 2.3d estate has 3.38 as a norm, others (sal/hatch) are more likely to be 3.14. A tow pack makes it more likely again.
im collecting a 2.3 diseasel tomorrow. plus i got my eye on a few more.
according to my research, 2.3v6 petrols can have 3.14, and also the 1.6 4 speed economy (whatever that is - old manual?).
i guess time will tell! ive been through nearly every car on ebay asking the seller to look at the diff code!
Where are you gettng all these from Joel! Have you a secret stash of Sierra diesels? Not a bad game to be in by all accounts!
That's what my mate wanted the stamps for eh? He's making his own diff tags I reckon.
yeah totally! "These are all 3.14's these mate (sharp draw on cigarette), use to belong to vicars wife but she only used the diffs for going to the shops" - We're onto you Joel!
rotf!
now the proud owner of two diesels!!!
both 3.38 i believe, though the one im off for now i havent checked. 3.38 seems to be the commonest in diesels, but ya never know!
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
I thought the 2.3 Diesel died a death a long time before 1993.
Did i read this right that there is a letter on the VIN plate of a sierra which says which diff it is?
if so, where exactly on the VIN plate is it?
cheers
Colin
in the box that says 'axle pt ar'
on the plate between the headlights.
and whatever anyone says about the variances in which car gets what diff, ive never seen a plate be wrong (out of maybe 5 cars, which isnt much, but
its pretty conclusive!).
Ok, thanks Joel...
in case you missed it, the codes for U and V were posted the wrong way round recently. A and V are both approx 3.38, M is 3.14 and U is 3.62. D is
3.92.
Oh.....Ok.....yep I did........
Your really on the ball....! or the CWP,.....
Just to add to this... I don't think the 3.14 Code M Sierra diff really exists. I reckon someones made it up, cos every 2.3 Diesel I've
checked (and believe me I've checked a few!) have all had 3.38's 
wot.....!
oh I'm confused now...
What do the 3.14 come disguised as then..?
The one I have just checked had code V
it was listed on ebay about 2 weeks ago, a 2.3v6 petrol auto*
*i think, that is. There were two listed at the same time, both crystal green metallic. Someone emailed both of them telling them that there were only
4 sierras this colour left, hence he pulled the auction cos he thought it was too rare to sell.
anyway, i think that it was the v6 auto one that was the M code.
he sent me an email, asking if i was looking for an investment or a runaround. i thought it was a bit much to tell him i was going to butcher and
scrap it, so i didnt bother answering!!
ps, have you noticed how many people have been asking about diff codes on ebay recently? i even got asked about the code on the car im selling at the
min! reminds me of the 'whos considerably' shmia of old...
pps, as hellfire says, nearly all 2.3 diesels are 3.38 diff. still havent found out if the 1.6 autos have them...
[Edited on 25/2/05 by JoelP]
quote:
Originally posted by ned
have you thought of trying someone like kam who make bespoke cwp dif kits?
just found this on their website, looks very promising!
http://www.kamdiffs.com/sierra_3_1.htm
Ned
NS Dev,
I've never planned to use a 3.14, was just trying to help others. I have an open 3.92 at the moment but that may change to an lsd at some point
along with a different ratio.
Ned.
We're still looking for a 3.14
quote:
Originally posted by ned
NS Dev,
I've never planned to use a 3.14, was just trying to help others. I have an open 3.92 at the moment but that may change to an lsd at some point along with a different ratio.
Ned.
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
that ratio it will go like greased 5h1t off a shovel off the line!!
ive been looking constantly too, havent seen one in a car yet.
1.8 lx seems to be 3.92, anyone found an exception to this?
For those people running car motors that rev (Toyota 4age for example) there is a very magic diff to look for 4.27:1 This ratio was fitted to the 2.4l
petrol estate tow pack fitted Granada Estates in certain parts of Europe, but not the UK.
I have one, lucky me .... never seen another!!
if high numbers what you want, you could also consider a subaru wrx diff - lsd, and there are loads of 4.4s on ebay. not sure on weight though, but definately take the power!
They are light.
Adam
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4553355831
this car has a 3.14 diff fitted, i believe!
unfortunately, its in kent!
anyone fancy buying it and finding out for sure?!
The two 3.14 diffs I had came out of 2.3l diesels - one of them definitely had a tow hitch on it.
Mark
lucky!
i cant understand why a tow hitch would make the car need a lower diff ratio - surely the extra weight and drag of a trailer would require a
numerically higher diff ratio (ie 3.62) to reduce top speed but increase acceleration. baffled...
i got another 2.3d the other day, a lovely quiet 3.38 fitted!
Whish I had known about the 1,8 Diesel...
Went through 7 Scrappies before I finally found a Diesel. At the bottom of a 5 car stack, I had to pay 70£ for the Diff, Driveshafts and Propshaft.
Over the moon after having found a 3.14 Diff...until I started cleaning it and realised it was a 3.62..
Have since found a 3.14, at a much higher price, but have already promised Phil at MK that he can have it..
Guess my car will run a 3.62..
Just pulled up this old thread, so though i would add to it.
I have just bought a 2.0 DOHC Twincky GLSI Hatchback on a H plate and that has fitted a 3.14 diff woth lobro's? Now work that out? So i checked
the VIN plate and sure enough it reads "Axle type M"
Ford must make it up has they go along.