Six speed gearbox TD5?????????

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Bobthebuilder58

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Location
South Lincs.
I have a Td5 2001 manual.Evertime i get up to about 50MPH I keep wanting to change in to sixth gear!!!! Can you get a six speed gearbox for the TD5 or is there a way to make the fifth gear a bit taller like an overdrive?????
Bob.
 
I think you can get the transfer gearing changed so that the gearing is taller but keeps the low range as it is. Not 100% sure but think I saw something in an ad in LRO if I see it I'll post details.
 
I have seen some overdrive units for Defenders, you might be able to fit one... Failing that I think the new Defender will have 6 gears and you could do a conversion job maybe?!? The term "Non-trivial" comes to mind. ;)
 
There are overdrives on the go for Discos, but .... you may need to do some body-beating to get them fitted.

Costs about a grand ... and would be worth it if reliable.

CharlesY
 
Thanks for all your replies:D I don't seem to have got very far in my quest for taller gearing in my disco!!!!!!:( I have spoken to a lot of so called experts and the up shot is...............?
You can't get a six speed gearbox that fits the disco:( The one on the new defender won't mate up.
You can't get an overdrive that fits unless you are prepared to destroy your car in the process:eek: :eek: :eek: .
The existing gearbox can't be altered:mad: So it would appear that I am stuffed!!!!!!!!!
The only thing left is to possibly put bigger tyres on my existing rims???I currently have 255 65's on.What would be the biggest tyre I could safely fit.My Disco will never go off road!.Would this affect the handling/speedo at all?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Bob.
 
Hi Bob,
Yes, I agree with you, the engine does "sound" as though it could do with another gear, I'm always trying to change up another gear and end up changing in fourth. :eek: However, I don't think it needs another gear, I reckon it must be the five cylinders that make it sound as though it's revving it's guts out, even the tickover sounds too fast. I suppose you might be able to put a higher diff ratio in to up all the gear ratios a little.
I'm happy with mine, it has to pull and pull, it does! ;)

Regards
RichardG
 
The simple solution to up the gearing in HI range is to change the transfer gears.

The snag is that ALL the five HI-range gears will be raised, and that includes FIRST gear too. Starting off on hills, and with a heavy trailer will be even worse that it is now - if you can believe that to be possible.

Read the owner manual - loaded starts with trailer is so poor, they actually tell you in the Owner Manual to start off in LOW RANGE, and change to high range on ther run!

Best not try this till you have a PhD Masters Degree in Double-de-clutching from the University of Slobovakia.

CharlesY
 
There is another way, talk to KAM about different diff ratios, though it's much more expensive than altering cogs in the transfer box - which is where to do it, not in the main gearbox. But as Charles says above, it does alter all the gears. However, if you also get a performance upgrade (chip/intercooler) your engine should pull a higher gear with no problem. You also have to ask yourself if you're going to start off on hills with a heavy trailer... Ashcroft Transmissions are the acknowledged experts in gearing changes. Both KAM and Ashcrofts have informative websites and both advertise in the 4x4 mags.
 
Basically, Disco gear ratios are pathetic.
For serious work, first is too high, second is far too much higher than first, and so on. The gear spacings are like ordinary cars, which landies are not.

Most cars are set up more or less to the following plan

at 1,000 rpm of the engine, road speeds are:
1st gear - 5 mph
2nd gear - 10 mph
3rd gear - 15 mph
4th gear - 20 mph
5th gear - 25 mph.

This means in a TD5 Landie with a big trailer on the back, you need to hoick the engine revs way up far too high in first before you change into second, at least up to 3,500 or 4,000 or the gutless bugger will die on you when you shift into second. Grrr.....

Synchromesh in the transfer box would be good, or an epicyclic change from HI to LO.

I liked trucks with fifteen gears - one suitable for every occasion.

CharlesY
 
CharlesY said:
Basically, Disco gear ratios are pathetic.
For serious work, first is too high, second is far too much higher than first, and so on. The gear spacings are like ordinary cars, which landies are not.

Most cars are set up more or less to the following plan

at 1,000 rpm of the engine, road speeds are:
1st gear - 5 mph
2nd gear - 10 mph
3rd gear - 15 mph
4th gear - 20 mph
5th gear - 25 mph.

This means in a TD5 Landie with a big trailer on the back, you need to hoick the engine revs way up far too high in first before you change into second, at least up to 3,500 or 4,000 or the gutless bugger will die on you when you shift into second. Grrr.....

Synchromesh in the transfer box would be good, or an epicyclic change from HI to LO.

I liked trucks with fifteen gears - one suitable for every occasion.

CharlesY
Click to expand...

Charles Y

I think this is the reason that many Disco owners are having chips/remaps done, not to gain at higher revs, but just to get extra power to get off the mark. My disco took 10 minutes, a following wind and a downward slope to get to 50mph. Much better with the remap.......
 
My quest for higher gearing continues:confused: I have spoken to people who recondition transfer boxes and they tell me that the gearing in the TD5 box is as high as you can get.I have also tried to speak to Ashcroft transmissions and they were very uninterested and not particularly helpful:( .I also spoke to KAM and they were more helpful.They reckon that they can make some new gears for the diffs which will increase the gearing by about 25%.The bad news is they aren't making any until November.So it looks like I will have to wait until then:eek: If i come across a second hand set of 275/70 R16 tyres I will give that a go and see if that improves things.
I have had the full power upgrade this week and it certainly makes the car more interesting to drive:eek: :eek: :eek: .
Bob.
 
Update!!!!!!
I have tried towing over a long distance this week with about one ton up:eek: :eek: :eek: and I have decided that the standard gearing is about spot on when the vehicle is under load.So I can forget about altering the diffs etc!!!!!.
My Disco needs an overdrive:eek: I realise that there will be some cutting away of the floor pan:eek: :eek: Has anybody done this and can you tell me how much you have to cut away.Will the rear seats still fold down?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Bob.
 
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