Does any one know what the axle tube diameters for the live escort/cortina/capri axles are. I aint got one yet but have the chance of using some machinery to make up some of the book parts. Much apreciation for any advice

Thanks

Sorry for the delay but wanted to be sure of the numbers
Important note use 2"x4" (51mmx102mm) RHS rather than the 2x2" listed in the book -- it saves a lot of work and hole boring as you can make both brackets out the one bit of metal; after boring the big hole just slice it carefully down the middle using a thin cutting disc.


Now the numbers -- the Escort English axle is 2.5 inches in dia -- this works out at 63.4mm you can buy hole suitable bi-metal saws from B&Q.

thanks for the info. I can "borrow" hole saw from work and use a vertical drill. From your notes i take it that the hole should be bored in the centre of the 4*2. I di wonder as the book shows it in two differrent (oops) places and this was going to be another of my questions. Doing it the 4*2 way makes a lot of sense but does it mean any adjustments to the trailing arm lenghts. And do the trailling arms need to be made from 25*25*1.5 or from round tubing as i have seen both kinds.

I used 25x25x2 for the rear radius rods while the panahrd rod is made of round the also with 2mm wall thickness.

This is slightly heavier but the panhard rod in particular needs the extra stiffness. The radius rods ends are best cut with a hole saw of similar or slightly smaller size thn the end tubes, but take great care to the lengths exactly the same.
The lengths of the trailling arms also are not tied down, but the general opinion is longer is better for two reasons it gives less instrusion of the diff nose into the passenger area (more room for the drivers backside) mine are 12" between centres.