Triumph Repair: Triumph Sptifire 1971 MKIV Differential, bolt flange, triumph sptifire

Question
I hope all of this makes sense. I have a Lotus Locost that is built on a 1971 left hand drive spitfire frame, drive train and engine. Last weekend all kinds of things went wrong around the axles and differential.Everywhere when there was a 4 bolt flange that bolted into another 4 bolt flange leading to the differential, they sheared (these are circular flanges with 4 bolts that connect at various times to the axle, leading to the differential). It did not look to serious until I saw that it sheared the bolts (allen bolts?)on the flange that bolts to the differential. The some of the bolts are broken in the differential housing, or the the bolt holes could be damaged.

I hope to be able to remove the sheared bolts that are now in the differential housing. If I can't I have to get another differential. If this happens I have a couple of questions:1) Are left hand drive and right hand drive differentials different? 2) Are all the Spitfire differentials the same, or do I have to buy one from a Mark IV ?

Answer
Hi Howard,
I can't tell exactly what you are saying when you say "these are circular flanges with 4 bolts that connect at various times to the axle, leading to the differential" That don't make any sense.

Are you trying to say the four bolt flange that connects the drive shaft to the differential???? The differentials are the same between a US and a Euro version other than there may be a different gear ratio of the ring and pinion. Either should bolt up.
I doubt the bolts sheared off without running a long time in a loose condition which has to egg shape the holes in both the differential flange and the "U" joint flange.
If however you are talking about the four bolts that hold the front differential mount to the front of the differential, they too must have been loose for some time along with other differential mounting points.
Howard