Diffs, “Rover” Vs “Salisbury”

Help needed on a decision for my 200Tdi engined ’59 SWB, (has turbo and intercooler)

Backgraound:-
My SWB is used for mainly road work, running Michelin X tyres, it’s a regular at pony club events towing a horse box, any off-roading is generally light field work, towing a topper/roller etc.

The goal:-
Friends left for South Africa last Saturday in their 2CV, (50 years of independence celebrations) and I’d like to undertake a similar expedition in the near future, of course taking my Land Rover with me, as part of the experience??

I’ve started on some modifications to hopefully make it worthy of such a journey, but am stuck, regarding a back axle decision, so any input gratefully appreciated?

I read everywhere that the Salisbury axle is the dogs danglies, but is it worth all the hassle?

I have a Salisbury axle sitting, and the half shafts “are” lovely, but then again, I’ve never broken a spindly 10 spline shaft, even with the Tdi engine?

So, one half of me says “Go for it, fit the Salisbury”, moving the mountings is not a problem, but I would be left with a non standard prop?
However, the other half say’s “If I did have trouble with the Salisbury out on the road, I’d be pretty fek’d, and although the rover diff/halfshafts are weaker, at least they could be easily fixed with simple tools”

Anyway, if the Salisbury axle was that good, why didn’t they fit them to V8 engined range rovers??

Oh the things we find to worry about in the middle a recession?

Again, any help, thought, experiences, gratefully appreciated?

Ken
Lockerbie

I'd say keep it as standard as possible. If the prop goes are you going to be able to get a replacement or repair the existing one in the middle of nowhere?

I like salisburys personally, have fitted one to my 90 and am about to fit one to an 80 inch just for fit and forget about it once set up Oh yes it will have a very short propshaft.
|Spitfiremk1uk is fitting one to his tdi conversion aswell when he gets more into it along with a detroit locker rear and true trac front which is now fitted to an axle he overhauled last week. The salisbury is yet to be done but suspect will be ready in approx mid Jan. Bearing in mind this is to be a series 2a restoration/cheap to run and very simple motor that will almost certainly stay on the road 90% of the time but may well undertake such travelling to mid Africa and other far out places.

If it was me I would go salisbury but then again I have the means to strip and rebuild them within the car.

Many thanks for your help

My thoughts had been to purchase an early 110 axle, then swap the diff/input shaft into the narrower series axle, basically making my own stage one axle (3.54:1) at a fraction of the cost of a stage one axle?
My thoughts for not just “buying” a stage one axle, is that they would probably need the input seal done, so would end up stripping the thing anyway?

However, everyone I’ve spoken to seems to relay the same tails of woe, the word “Salisbury” always seems to be followed by a sharp intake of breath?
Making my own case spreader is not a problem, I have a dial gauge, so not to overstretch the case, and say, although I’ve never done a diff before, I was a reasonably competent mechanic, having never taken a vehicle to a garage for any work other than an mot, in my entire life?

Are Salisbury’s as scary to set up as everyone suggests?

Ken.

rr classic would do pair here.