Automatic into a 2.5D 90 - How difficult and what bits?

I'm sure that doing this will seem like sacrilege to most of you, but maybe you can advise.

I help look after the vehicles for our gliding club, and our 1985 military spec. Land Rover 90 with a 2.5D engine (presumably the original) has got a gearbox fault, in as much as it will go into gear, but if you let the clutch out, it stalls.

The 90 is used for pulling out the winch cables which are used to launch the gliders, and also to tow out, separately, the glider launching winch (2 tons) and mobile control tower caravan (3.7 tons). Towing speed is never more than 20mph on tarmac and when towing the winch or caravan, less than 10mph on grass.

In view of the usage, I'm sure an auto box would be a better bet, as we have already had to change the clutch once, and I have been told that the 90 isn't designed to tow heavy loads anyway. Almost any club member drives the Land Rover, and some, it has to be said, don't have much mechanical empathy.

Is there an automatic box which will mate to the existing engine, and apart from the gearbox, and torque converter; what else e.g. propshaft, exhaust etc, would I need to change?

Any responses gratefully received!

Robin

You could make a discovery 200Tdi autobox fit, using the 200Tdi backplate/torque convertor etc etc, but to be honest, it will be an absolute pig to drive.

You presumably already know how (little) much power that 2.5 has, so the autobox will sap most of it.

You say the engine stalls all the time, have you tried eliminating some things, for example:

does it stall if the main box (reverse,1,2,3,4 & 5) is in neutral?

so you engage a gear and it stalls, have you tried putting the transferbox (hi/low) into neutral? still stall? if so, then i'd suggest the main box.

however, if it's still ok, does it do it in low range? or high, or both?

Is the handbrake jammed on?

try jacking up one front wheel, difflock disengaged, then gently trying to pull away, if the vehicle doesn't move, but the fornt wheel spins then you could be looking at the jammed handbrake.

I know somebody who put a auto box in a 300 tdi and he regretted ever since..

theres so much loss of power its unreal,you really gotta give it beans to get it moving and on road he hated it

hes now sourcing another r380 box to put back in

I'm with Jim, you need to do some diagnosis

I had a handbrake do this on mine, if one of the return springs of the drum shoes breaks it locks on the handbrake, drop the rear prop and you can drive it front wheel drive if so, got me home anyway!

Thanks to everyone who replied to my query.

I have followed Diesel Jim's fault finding sequence, and, as the engine stalls with the transfer box in neutral, and the main gear lever in any position, it would appear that the problem is in the main gearbox.

I think we will probably replace the LR90 gearbox with another manual one, and then keep an eye open for some cheap diesel auto 4x4s to replace our 3x LPG Range Rover and 1 x LR90. I have already picked up a cheap diesel auto Sh*g*n a few days ago (I'll wash my mouth out with soap & water in a minute! ).

Even though we are towing very slowly (under 15mph), I am sure that the unbraked control tower trailer is the culprit, particularly if the driver puts the Land Rover in low range.

Thanks again, Robin

unbraked 3.7t trailer... poor old 90, show the old girl some luv.