Mazda 3.5 & ZF Horror story's?

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Tom Sleigh

Tom Sleigh

Member
Posts
55
Location
Avon, Bristol
Hi,

I have just bought a Defender 127 Dropside tipper 1990, it has a Mazda 3.5 diesel in it and an unknown manual gearbox; it has a smooth housing and I can't find the data plate, but that's beside the point. going off on a tangent.

My question is does anyone have an experience of the Mazda 3.5 or a ZF 4HP22; or even when combined?

Been reading conflicting stories about how reliable the gearboxes are when mated to torquey motors.

Thanks in Advance.
 
Hello?
i-have-no-idea-what-im-doing-please-help.jpg
 
The Mazda SL engines that one tends to find in UK Land Rovers are generally those that have been adapted by Motor and Diesel to fit in place of a V8. As such they take V8 fitment gearboxes - your box will probably be an LT85, if you post up a picture of it someone will be able to identify.

They will work fine with an autobox, many were placed into Range a Rovers in such a fitment. You’ll likely want the heavier duty internals though as it’s a pretty torquey engine, I’m sure Ashcrofts or the like could advise. It may also be necessary to swap the manual flywheel for the relevant bits for the torque converter - I’m not so clued up on auto boxes so am not 100% on this.

What version of the SL35 is it? Standard, turbo, or turbo/intercooler?
 
Retroanaconda said:
The Mazda SL engines that one tends to find in UK Land Rovers are generally those that have been adapted by Motor and Diesel to fit in place of a V8. As such they take V8 fitment gearboxes - your box will probably be an LT85, if you post up a picture of it someone will be able to identify.

They will work fine with an autobox, many were placed into Range a Rovers in such a fitment. You’ll likely want the heavier duty internals though as it’s a pretty torquey engine, I’m sure Ashcrofts or the like could advise. It may also be necessary to swap the manual flywheel for the relevant bits for the torque converter - I’m not so clued up on auto boxes so am not 100% on this.

What version of the SL35 is it? Standard, turbo, or turbo/intercooler?
Click to expand...


Finally ;) someone knows about these Mazda engines! it's turbo'ed no intercooler. wondered why it didn't have one, clearly just one of the versions.

Yeah, I was thinking it may have been a 3.5 Petrol V8; when I get it up off the ground I will try and take a picture of the gearbox. I think I will need to get another adapter plate from MD engineering to make a ZF 4HP22 fit.

Gearbox adapter + Ashcroft upgraded ZF = Expensive hobby.
 
Yes generally parts are slightly more expensive than those for Land Rover engines as one would expect.

M&D would have you believe that they are the only source for everything SL-related, however that is not the case. Things like filters etc. are available on eBay or through decent motor factors. Some parts are shared with the HA (3.0 litre) engine which was used in Hyster forklifts. M&D do however have the custom bits related to the conversion, such as your flywheel housing etc.

Got any pics of the engine?
 
This is the engine; also I think you are right that's the gearbox is an LT85; also doesn't like 5th gear which is apparently a common problem with LT85. Hopefully, the ZF will fit straight onto the SL35 adapter plate if the bell housing pattern is the same?
IMG_20171210_121934.jpg
 
Retroanaconda said:
The Mazda SL engines that one tends to find in UK Land Rovers are generally those that have been adapted by Motor and Diesel to fit in place of a V8. As such they take V8 fitment gearboxes - your box will probably be an LT85, if you post up a picture of it someone will be able to identify.

They will work fine with an autobox, many were placed into Range a Rovers in such a fitment. You’ll likely want the heavier duty internals though as it’s a pretty torquey engine, I’m sure Ashcrofts or the like could advise. It may also be necessary to swap the manual flywheel for the relevant bits for the torque converter - I’m not so clued up on auto boxes so am not 100% on this.

What version of the SL35 is it? Standard, turbo, or turbo/intercooler?
Click to expand...
Hi I got a p38 with a mazda 3.5 in do you no where I can get a sump for it plz
 
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