compatible/desirable gearboxes - v8

[top drive]

so i need a new gear box for my project to do it "right"

i have 2 lt77s - ones a 4cyl diesel bellhousing and input shaft

the other is a v8 input and bellhousing out of a disco 1 so the sticks are backwards.

I also bought a conversion plate off dr evil on here for the existing LT77 and then read the input shafts have a different number of splines/teeth on them so im guessing that even as a short term fix the 3.5 will not mate to my 4cyl diesel box.

the LR is a ninety and the engines a 3.5 on twin SUs out of a 1990 disco 1 - stock internals so not masses of torque or power but more than the 2.5TD in there.

what gear boxes should i be looking for. LT77 v8 long shifters the obvious choice. r380 ? lt85 ? any of the autoboxes worth looking at or are they a nightmare to retrofit ?

any of them better than others ?

 

[Shifty1962]

so i need a new gear box for my project to do it "right" ........
I also bought a conversion plate off dr evil on here for the existing LT77 and then read the input shafts have a different number of splines/teeth on them so im guessing that even as a short term fix the 3.5 will not mate to my 4cyl diesel box.......

Use a clutch plate with the correct splines and they should fit.

 

[top drive]

Cheers for that shifty

well that gives me an option then to get my self rolling on my current chassis and have a new chassis made up with the correct mounts once i ensure all my engines a goodun and i have the correct box

my current bulkhead needs attention anyway - if im honest ill probably be looking to pick up an ashtree galvanised one long term when i do the chassis , do it once do it right. so hacking it up to make the manifolds fit doesnt worry me too much

 

[top drive]

ive been offered an lt77 out of a range rover fairly locally

would this work ? - unsure if its long or short stick at the moment , would this matter as long as the transfer and shift levers were in the right location ?

thanks

terry

 

[Dr_evil]

I'm toying with this idea too as I might have just gotten hold of a free R380 for my series, in which case I'll be cutting the seat box and welding on an extension onto the shift lever with a support which should hopefully bring it back into a useable area

 

[jamesmartin]

defenders did use a similar box as rrc long stick ,with engine against rad ,like 300 tdi r380 it sits slightly further forward than lt77 on a 4 cylinder,but obviously could be set in 4 cylinder postion with engine slightly back than lr postion of v8,rrc short stick like disco box has gear stick straight out of rear of box instead of taken forward by an extension housing as defenders or long stick rrc

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

I'm toying with this idea too as I might have just gotten hold of a free R380 for my series, in which case I'll be cutting the seat box and welding on an extension onto the shift lever with a support which should hopefully bring it back into a useable area

I didnt think yu could use defender/disco boxes in a series, as the boxes gave permanent 4wd and series dont have CV joints?

 

[jamesmartin]

you fit a kit in lt230 diff which comes with free wheeling hub kit for def or disco this makes it rear wheel drive until diff lock is engaged or fit a series transfer box conversion kit to lt77,or remove diff planet gears and weld rear sun gear in diff housing

 

[top drive]

ok james so i dont gain anything from getting a short stick RR box as i already have a disco lt77

if its long stick its quids in.

madhatman , im sure i read you could modify a disco box to work in a series by changing some parts, think it was on LR4x4 but i cant find it now. was when i was googling for info on what boxes i could use.

 

[Dr_evil]

I didnt think yu could use defender/disco boxes in a series, as the boxes gave permanent 4wd and series dont have CV joints?

I'm planning on doing what V8 jon has done and add in disco axles or if not I can use the R380 for another project

 

[jamesmartin]

as above your post mr top drive

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

you fit a kit in lt230 diff which comes with free wheeling hub kit for def or disco this makes it rear wheel drive until diff lock is engaged or fit a series transfer box conversion kit to lt77,or remove diff planet gears and weld rear sun gear in diff housing

I should have said "as standard".

 

[Dr_evil]

you fit a kit in lt230 diff which comes with free wheeling hub kit for def or disco this makes it rear wheel drive until diff lock is engaged or fit a series transfer box conversion kit to lt77,or remove diff planet gears and weld rear sun gear in diff housing

I've got free wheeling hubs on mine currently so would it work as it is if I changed the diff ?

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

I'm planning on doing what V8 jon has done and add in disco axles or if not I can use the R380 for another project

Tha's OK then

 

[jamesmartin]

I've got free wheeling hubs on mine currently so would it work as it is if I changed the diff ?

not tried it in theory it might,but might still knock when cornering worth a go before seat box is refitted,def free wheel kit ,you dont use hub parts just the bit that goes in center diff that replaces planet gears ,

 

[Dr_evil]

not tried it in theory it might,but might still knock when cornering worth a go before seat box is refitted,def free wheel kit ,you dont use hub parts just the bit that goes in center diff that replaces planet gears ,

Hmmm well I will return to this if I get the R380, might dump it into a different project though as I've got the entire uni workshop to play with

 

[top drive]

yep your encylopeadic recall is too fast for me james !

 

[jamesmartin]

yep your encylopeadic recall is too fast for me james !

ive got quite a few free wheel hub ends with no center diff kit left over

 

[top drive]

perhaps james or someone can answer this

while looking for a v8 box on the bay of evil

i found a conversion plate like the one dr evil sold me.

it had a "spigot converter" with it ....the middle bit in the photo..

mines afaik wont have this ..... do i need it if i decide to use it with my existing box ?