Transfer Box change 1.4 to 1.2

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1

110Matty

Member
Posts
83
Location
Somerset
Hi there,

Loads of info already on here and i have decided to fit the 1.2 transfer box (recommended by the well regarded specialist near me). I was going to use Ashcroft for an exchange unit. However, their exchange unit policy is exactly like for like and they don't (for example in my case) take a 1.4 Defender TD5 unit and swap it for a Disco 2 1.2 type. Fair enough, they will have their reasoning for maintaining and balancing stocks I guess.

Leaves me with where to get a good recon unit and what to do with my standard one currently fitted. I'll ask Simmonites the same question and see where we get to?
 
110Matty said:
Hi there,

Loads of info already on here and i have decided to fit the 1.2 transfer box (recommended by the well regarded specialist near me). I was going to use Ashcroft for an exchange unit. However, their exchange unit policy is exactly like for like and they don't (for example in my case) take a 1.4 Defender TD5 unit and swap it for a Disco 2 1.2 type. Fair enough, they will have their reasoning for maintaining and balancing stocks I guess.

Leaves me with where to get a good recon unit and what to do with my standard one currently fitted. I'll ask Simmonites the same question and see where we get to?
Click to expand...
Have you tried speaking to Ashcroft?? Their phone number is on their website. And even if not a direct exchange, the price might be quite similar.

As for a 1.2

This depends. What engine do you have, how much power, what gearbox and ratio set and what size tyres. I'd be inclined to suggest that 1.2 is too tall for a lot of vehicles. But it depends on a bunch of factors. Including how you drive and what you do with your vehicle.
 
Anaconda said:
Take a risk on a 2nd hand one I guess.
Can you fit it yourself?
Click to expand...
if you are getting it reconditioned anyway then I would agree and suggest there is very little risk in a second hand one. just get the cheapest 1.2 you can find and then send it to Ashcroft's for a refurb. I believe Ashcroft do offer a conversion by putting a 1.2 gear set into the 1.4 box but it is not something I have looked at.
 
The other thing to consider is that Ashcrofts offer the gearwheels that go inside in a variety of ratios, to suit every purpose. As well as sets of bearings and gaskets. So assuming your case is OK , you could change the gears and bearings inside and have the equivalent of a new box in the ratio of your choice. It's not hard to do at home as it's a pretty simple two speed gearbox.
 
Anaconda said:
Take a risk on a 2nd hand one I guess.
Can you fit it yourself?
Click to expand...
I thought about that, but i had budgeted for a recon one and would feel silly if the 2nd hand one proved to be below par. I'm certainly not qualified to check it before fitting. In time I could probably change it myself, but currently it's not something I would do. I have the defender booked in for other work and it will get done at the same time.
 
300bhp/ton said:
Have you tried speaking to Ashcroft?? Their phone number is on their website. And even if not a direct exchange, the price might be quite similar.

As for a 1.2

This depends. What engine do you have, how much power, what gearbox and ratio set and what size tyres. I'd be inclined to suggest that 1.2 is too tall for a lot of vehicles. But it depends on a bunch of factors. Including how you drive and what you do with your vehicle.
Click to expand...
Ashcroft have since replied to my email again and it seems they can do it afterall, so that's great :) 👍
I won't be towing any sort of serious weight, if anything at all. I'll be mainly A and B roads, no green laning etc. I am having a recommended mild remap for all round driveability, economy and a few extra horses / torque. I think in my case, the 1.2 would be great. If i use the car differently in future, I always have the option to change it back, but i don't see that happening if I'm honest.
 
dag019 said:
if you are getting it reconditioned anyway then I would agree and suggest there is very little risk in a second hand one. just get the cheapest 1.2 you can find and then send it to Ashcroft's for a refurb. I believe Ashcroft do offer a conversion by putting a 1.2 gear set into the 1.4 box but it is not something I have looked at.
Click to expand...
I think that's what they might be offering - i'm just waiting for clarification 👍
 
Brown said:
The other thing to consider is that Ashcrofts offer the gearwheels that go inside in a variety of ratios, to suit every purpose. As well as sets of bearings and gaskets. So assuming your case is OK , you could change the gears and bearings inside and have the equivalent of a new box in the ratio of your choice. It's not hard to do at home as it's a pretty simple two speed gearbox.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply, it's something i might consider down the line, but I'll be honest, at the moment I'll be trusting this kind of work to others. Just waiting to hear back from Ashcrofts on the way forward - I have the defender booked in to our local specialist for some other work and so i need a good (recon) unit delivered, so i can swap out the existing one, put replacement in and then return the existing one to Ashcroft / similar.
 
miktdish said:
I will have one for you in a few weeks.
I'm taking my 1.2 out and fitting a 1.4

www.landyzone.co.uk

New (to me) LT230

I picked up a 'refurbed' transfer box the other day. The suffix is 22D, which is 1:141, the same as a 13D. My question is - what is the difference ?
www.landyzone.co.uk www.landyzone.co.uk
Click to expand...
That's good to know and will bear it in mind. Why your swap, do you tow heavily? or just personal preference? Cheers.
 
dag019 said:
if you are getting it reconditioned anyway then I would agree and suggest there is very little risk in a second hand one. just get the cheapest 1.2 you can find and then send it to Ashcroft's for a refurb. I believe Ashcroft do offer a conversion by putting a 1.2 gear set into the 1.4 box but it is not something I have looked at.
Click to expand...
Yeah, good option. Is the gear set the only difference, or are there different flanges / fixings etc? Of course this route would leave me with the 1.4 to either keep for the future if need be, or sell on. Thanks for reply 👍
 
110Matty said:
That's good to know and will bear it in mind. Why your swap, do you tow heavily? or just personal preference? Cheers.
Click to expand...

Occasionally I tow trailers of wood off the fields.
With larger than standard tyres I find just getting out the drive a wee bit sluggish and am changing gears all the time in town.
On the motorway the car is great, 70/75 all day long with a nice relaxed rev range in 5th, but that's not what I do in the Landy.
Hills are a pain to start off from, I almost need to slip the clutch a little and deffo need more revs to get going. Once the turbo kicks in (around 1700 rpm) it's fine but the 1.2 is a bit tall for me/where I live/what I use the car for.

The LT230 in the car was fitted as a recon unit in 2014 (by the previous owner)
It used to have a "1.211 NO OIL" sticker on it but that got off a while ago.
I will get underneath and check the serial/part number if it ever stops raining ....
 
miktdish said:
Occasionally I tow trailers of wood off the fields.
With larger than standard tyres I find just getting out the drive a wee bit sluggish and am changing gears all the time in town.
On the motorway the car is great, 70/75 all day long with a nice relaxed rev range in 5th, but that's not what I do in the Landy.
Hills are a pain to start off from, I almost need to slip the clutch a little and deffo need more revs to get going. Once the turbo kicks in (around 1700 rpm) it's fine but the 1.2 is a bit tall for me/where I live/what I use the car for.

The LT230 in the car was fitted as a recon unit in 2014 (by the previous owner)
It used to have a "1.211 NO OIL" sticker on it but that got off a while ago.
I will get underneath and check the serial/part number if it ever stops raining ....
Click to expand...
ok, that makes sense 👍
 
110Matty said:
Thanks for the reply, it's something i might consider down the line, but I'll be honest, at the moment I'll be trusting this kind of work to others. Just waiting to hear back from Ashcrofts on the way forward - I have the defender booked in to our local specialist for some other work and so i need a good (recon) unit delivered, so i can swap out the existing one, put replacement in and then return the existing one to Ashcroft / similar.
Click to expand...
If you're a bit hesitant about rebuilding a gearbox, the Land Rover transfer box is a good one to start on because it's a fairly simple offset 2 speed box and the parts are reasonably easy to get. I might do mine again this summer because it's around eight years since I had it apart and I think the oil seals on the centre shaft could do with a refresh, as there's a persistent drip of oil on the underside which does not appear to be coming from the output shaft seals. I might get it some new bearings to install at the same time. Depending on what then gears look like, I could even be tempted by a new set. 1.2 would be a smidgin high, but perhaps the Ashcroft 1.3 gears would be an interesting option.
 
I'm in NZ, which screws everything up for trasfer case swaps with you :(... but I'd LOVE a 1.4 for my Disco 1 V8.

Just be careful with the 1.2 - be sure it'll work out, before spending the cash on it.

I'll assume you have manual, which gives an extra ratio to pick from... but gearing too tall can really ruin performance. The taller ratio amplifies the difference between the transmission ratios.

The 1.2 makes my Disco completley useless for hard work, with the auto trans... I really have NO IDEA why they ever thought it was a good idea... other than some people might sit on a straight highway at high speed for hours on end. There isn't much of NZ where you can do that.

2nd gear (auto) will work from walking speed to about 75 MPH... it ends up kicking down into 1st on a couple of hills on my road when towing the caravan (about 2 tonnes of load, with caravan, gear and people in the car). I do live on the side of an extinct volcano, so it's up and down and side to side, all over the place... but I spend half my time with the auto locked in "2" or "3", even when not towing!

One hill, on the way to our "usual" caravan site, it'll kick down to second and sit on 35 MPH at full throttle, because it's too fast to drop into first, but the revs aren't enough to get moving with the stupid ratio. On the same hill with the same load, my 3.2 petrol manual VW would do 60 MPH, easily... if it wasn't for the corners!

I'd have to wonder if a lot of people wouldn't be better off with a taller 5th in a manual box, for cruising at speed, and the standard other ratios and transfer case for actual working?
 
AllanWorms said:
I'm in NZ, which screws everything up for trasfer case swaps with you :(... but I'd LOVE a 1.4 for my Disco 1 V8.

Just be careful with the 1.2 - be sure it'll work out, before spending the cash on it.

I'll assume you have manual, which gives an extra ratio to pick from... but gearing too tall can really ruin performance. The taller ratio amplifies the difference between the transmission ratios.

The 1.2 makes my Disco completley useless for hard work, with the auto trans... I really have NO IDEA why they ever thought it was a good idea... other than some people might sit on a straight highway at high speed for hours on end. There isn't much of NZ where you can do that.

2nd gear (auto) will work from walking speed to about 75 MPH... it ends up kicking down into 1st on a couple of hills on my road when towing the caravan (about 2 tonnes of load, with caravan, gear and people in the car). I do live on the side of an extinct volcano, so it's up and down and side to side, all over the place... but I spend half my time with the auto locked in "2" or "3", even when not towing!

One hill, on the way to our "usual" caravan site, it'll kick down to second and sit on 35 MPH at full throttle, because it's too fast to drop into first, but the revs aren't enough to get moving with the stupid ratio. On the same hill with the same load, my 3.2 petrol manual VW would do 60 MPH, easily... if it wasn't for the corners!

I'd have to wonder if a lot of people wouldn't be better off with a taller 5th in a manual box, for cruising at speed, and the standard other ratios and transfer case for actual working?
Click to expand...
Hi there, yes, a manual. I was debating an overdrive, long 5th gear or 1.2 box. For my use (lightweight, more cruising than anything, very little towing and nowhere near capacity) I was recommended the transfer box change and unless towing 1.5 tonne or above, our local specialist thought i wouldn't notice the difference in grunt (except the lower revs), especially with the mild remap. Fully accept that if towing heavy loads on hills etc, then things might be different. Cheers.
 
Ashcroft do a 1.3 transfer box, maybe this would be a good compromise?

Otherwise why not fit a Roamerdrive overdrive and get the best of both worlds.

l was quoted around £2200 to supply and fit a couple of years ago. But it's likely gone up a few hundred since then.

When l had my TD5 110 the best RPM seemed to be 2,500 which was just under 65mph

With an overdrive the speed at that RPM would be nearer 70. The remap you've had done will be beneficial to help pull the higher cruising gear.
 
lightning said:
Ashcroft do a 1.3 transfer box, maybe this would be a good compromise?

Otherwise why not fit a Roamerdrive overdrive and get the best of both worlds.

l was quoted around £2200 to supply and fit a couple of years ago. But it's likely gone up a few hundred since then.

When l had my TD5 110 the best RPM seemed to be 2,500 which was just under 65mph

With an overdrive the speed at that RPM would be nearer 70. The remap you've had done will be beneficial to help pull the higher cruising gear.
Click to expand...
I actually preferred the overdrive route in my mind( best of all worlds) but our local chap recommended the 1.2 for my use and for reliability. (With remap).
 
110Matty said:
I actually preferred the overdrive route in my mind( best of all worlds) but our local chap recommended the 1.2 for my use and for reliability. (With remap).
Click to expand...
Someone else mentioned a 1.3 and that sounds a great compromise if you also do a bit of towing and not excessive motorway miles. Cheers.
 
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