I dont know anything at all about swapping engines/transaxles, but I have never in my life seen axle shafts that stuck out from the transaxle like that; though when reinstalling axle shafts I have had it stop at that point, until I lifted the inner cv joint to help guide it into the bushing it fits into. Getting it that last half inch usually requires smacking the outer end with a good size lead hammer. (The soft face of the lead hammer prevents damage to the outer end of the axle shaft where it is threaded.)
There is a metal ring that fits in a groove running around the inner end of the splines on the inner axle joint. Its purpose is to expand into a similar groove inside the differential, and keep the axles from trying to move outward.
Looking at the axle shafts for a 94 escort with 1.9L versus a 1.8L engine, I see different part numbers for them on an online parts supplier site.
There is a metal ring that fits in a groove running around the inner end of the splines on the inner axle joint. Its purpose is to expand into a similar groove inside the differential, and keep the axles from trying to move outward.
Looking at the axle shafts for a 94 escort with 1.9L versus a 1.8L engine, I see different part numbers for them on an online parts supplier site.
