My '72 P6 V8 is back in use on UK roads and once again wearing its silver on black 'K' plates!

@Baron von Marlon guessed correctly.
I just received this photo from the man with the spanners, the dependable Graham Ransley, proprietor of Brooklands Motorcraft;
 

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You might ask him to fit new oil seals to both sides and the pinion extension whilst he has it on the bench.
 
Don't ya just hate it when the spare 'V8 diff' turns out to be from a four pot!? Damn and blast.
After the last time I lunched a P6 diff, I think I drove my previous 3500 for at least two years with what I had been assured was a V8 diff, without incident. I thought it got out of the hole quick 'coz I had fitted a 390 Holley on an Edelbrock Performer manifold. Guess that diff helped though.
Anyway, I've now opted to have my most favoured mechanic use a half shaft out of my spare diff, even if it isn't from a V8 car. Only time will tell if that is a false economy.
We know the piece is useable as it is dimensionally identical, but we're not entirely sure about any differences between 4 and 8 cylinder diff output shafts.
I'm led to believe that Rover took some extra measure to toughen the half shafts fitted to the V8 cars. Shot peening, or heat treating, or some other method? Can't remember where I read about it. Can anybody here shed some more light on the subject?
And yeah, @cobraboy that's good advice. The pinion extension seal was renewed last year. The sides didn't leak, but if Graham has got new seals to hand I'll ask him to fit some. He's stripping and rebuilding it to be sure there's no swarf left in it anywhere.
 
If need, I have a spare V8 diff sitting on my garage floor. I was going to scrap it as I've kicked it a few times but I'll delay that decision for a while.
 
I have both V8 and strong 2200 diffs here, might keep you going for a couple of months :LOL:
Both in nice condition, also have spare pinion extension shaft in case you get bored with breaking output shafts .........
 

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@ampwhu I reckon the occasional stubbed toe is a small price to pay for having a spare V8 diff in your stash of spares. Maybe you can store it vertically somehow. I reckon if you were to dispose of it, you'd soon find yourself wishing you hadn't. You just know how Murphy's Law seems to come into effect as soon as one throws out a component, immediately making one remorseful!
@cobraboy Only now do I understand why my spare diff looked different from your V8 diff, with those extra external cast ribs. I am actually tempted to procure a spare V8 diff, as my latest mishap has me doubting the reliability of these units. Feel free to drop me a PM and tell me what you'd want for that surplus V8 unit.
 
Thank you for that reassurance, @harveyp6. I didn't much like the idea of having a diff with one output shaft weaker than the other. Good to know they are a common part between the various models.
 
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I was delighted to get my old jalopy back today, having had the broken N/S diff output shaft replaced. I am so glad to be able to call upon the services of a capable mechanic with in-depth knowledge of these cars, the estimable Graham Ransley of Brooklands Motorcraft.
In addition to making it driveable once again, he also dealt with a couple of jobs that I either couldn't have done myself, or really didn't want to have to do. I had a bit of a prang back in May of last year which resulted in the O/S rearmost mounting point for the suspension trailing link being bent out of shape. The geometry was slightly off, and for nine months the big eyelet holding the rearmost bushing in the trailing arm had been 'clanking' against the deformed outer plate of the mounting bracket over bumps, which made me cringe every time. I'm very pleased that it is now all back in the correct place, and with that the wince-inducing noise has now been banished. Graham also took care of some pinholing in the O/S inner boot wall due to corrosion. Happily, the Blue Meanie is back in action, doesn't sound as clunky as it had of late, and is once more a joy to drive!
 
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