R380 V8 correct engine/gearbox position?

Evening all,

So I’ve read a lot of discussions about various gearbox/engine combinations, mountings and where the whole lot should sit along the chassis, but I’m yet to see any conclusive answers to resolve my predicament below...

Background – I’m building a V8 90 on a Marsland V8 spec chassis. The donor vehicle was originally a 200tdi 90, but the previously owner had put at disco 300tdi and an R380 – mounted on what I think are the original LT77 mounts, so presumably with the gearbox sat slightly further back than is standard for a 300tdi.

I now have a 4.6 THOR V8 mounted on the new V8 chassis in what I believe to be the right position. Ashcrofts have delivered me a V8 R380 long stick along with what they say is the correct defender V8/R380 bellhousing. I have mounted the R380 onto the mounts I took off the original chassis (LT77 I think), but the setup leaves a gap of around 40-50mm/2inches between the gearbox and engine.

I’m thinking my problem is that the R380 needs to be further forward rather than the engine being further back?

Part number ANR4657/NTC1201 for the LT85 setup looks to put the transfer box forward by about the amount I need, however the equivalent parts for the LT85 side of the chassis (NRC9501 and ANR2820) looks as though they would push the gearbox further back. I’m assuming this is because the LT85 has a long rear end and the mounting point in a different place to the R380.


So I’m a bit lost how exactly to mount the gearbox in the right place without fabricating extensions onto the existing brackets or drilling new holes in the chassis. How did Land Rover intend this combination to be mounted?

P.S. I'm intending to start a build thread once the engine/gearbox is in and running, but progress is painfully slow!

Not an expert but does the r380 gearbox crossmember move the gearbox position compared to the lt77 crossmember?

I think that a 300tdi gearbox cross member is an option that should get the box forward enough, but there are complications regarding the path of the exhaust etc.

Having searched for days and not found much that was useful, I've just stumbled across this thread which discusses in some detail the exact issue I'm having. I think Mikeh501 has used the LT85 mounts I've listed above, however in his photos they looks different to how they appeared in the diagram I was looking at them on. I may have to drop him a line just to confirm how he finally got it sorted.
https://www.defender2.net/forum/post673055.html