Transfer box

I want to put a a transfer box in my defender that will cope better on motorways etc, I've been told one from a disco is the one to look for with a 1.222 ratio. is this correct? If so from which year on are these fitted? Also are the 1.222 boxes fitted with the quiet gears or is it luck of the draw? Will one of these boxes be ok if later I wanted to add an overdrive unit? Sorry about so many questions.

You are correct about the Disco transfere box, but then to put an over drive on at a later date. What engine have you in your Defender. Are the axle Ratio's The same as the Disco. If different work out the best Ratio. Larger tyres will alter the gearing as most Disco's run slight smaller tyres than Defenders, so you might not need an over drive as your engine might struggle in top gear due to the gearing been high. I had an ex Royal Navy 300 TDI N or P reg that was standard but with 235-85-16 tyres & it sat at 80 happy with good power up to 100mph (did Billing show to home in 2 hours)

A Disco transfer-box on a 90 is an excelent conversion, I also run 265/75x16 BFG AT's and the gearing is spot on in all conditions whether that be commuting, motorway, towing or off-road (low-box unaffected).
I think you will find there is no need whatsoever to add an O/D at a later date as the revs would be way too low and I doubt you would ever engage it. Mine has no problem reacing 75MPH in 4th and in top just keeps on pulling until you are doing silly speeds. Steady crusing is much better as revs are at a more reasonable level.

Ref the comments regarding transfer box on defender.Does anybody know if the gearing on a 90 pick up is much lower than say a county.two of you are saying your defender does 70-80 and even 100 mph was mentioned , if only! My 1997 300tdi strugles to get to 65 and 70 is but a dream. any comment appretiated.

Have you done the injector pump tweaks if not it is well worth it. I did mine and its like **** off a shovel now.....

Oh and mine is still on the 1.6 ratio gearbox from the 2.5 n/a so its very fast to 75mph then thats it.... I was also thinking about my disco box conversion....

You need to find out why it is struggling many things could cause it, how many mile son the clock of your 90 also any worring back pressure/ heavy breathing out of the dip stick tube when removed the dip stick.
Is the engine reving with plenty of power. Check throttle action, set up of pump, serviceability of injectors, timing, if it has an EGR (exhaust gas reserculation) valve if so blank the *astard off! & check inside your inlet manifold, i have had many that have cocked up & being unable to get a straw through so god knows how an engine supost to breath on exhaust gasses & cocked up manifolds. Have the compression checked then start lookng at the bigger tyres or Disco transfere box. People that know Landy's will have an idea if they drive or run your 90 slug & will point you in the right direction.

What year discos have the 1.222 ratio boxes in? Do Range Rovers have them also?

glane said:

Ref the comments regarding transfer box on defender.Does anybody know if the gearing on a 90 pick up is much lower than say a county.two of you are saying your defender does 70-80 and even 100 mph was mentioned , if only! My 1997 300tdi struggles to get to 65 and 70 is but a dream. any comment appreciated.

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I get about 85 out of mine will probably do a bit more but it really drinks the juice at that speed. I have got big inter cooler and a K&N fitted, inter cooler was a big improvement not on top end but definitely on acceleration

Not sure about what year but you can usualy find out things you need to know here at ashcrofts... Ashcroft Transmissions

I fitted a range rover transfer box in my 90. I found it to be great on motorways but a little to hi geared around the town. found I was using 2nd and 3rd a lot more. But it did fly and just kept pulling. I did find that driven sensably it improved my mpg no end.

If you are going to change the transfer box check to see that the new one has the crossed drilled pinion gear fitted if it dosn't then add £100 to the conversion. Also look at your mainshaft for ware on the spline.

I found it was easier to drop the box out to change the transfer box over. you can do it with the box in but its a arse of a job to try and hold the weight of the box and engage it on the gearbox without pinching the input oil seal.

while the box was out on mine I took the opertunity to change the clutch and change the engine rear main oil seal as mine was leaking.

B.

Def a bigger inter cooler (i have just had one made for a project toy with a Peugeot 1.9DT in an Strakit byggy using beetle front & rear suspension) using ends off a Peugeot 406 & a Ford Sierra core as ti has more tubes thus a greater area & cooler air. So if you find the right ends for a cooler measure how big it has to be & go to your radiator man (the old skool type that builds them still) & he will rebuild it to your given size & it saves you pounds shillings & pence. If you try Royce Power on 01609 774477 ask for Rich mention Trev from Richmond he will advise on any thing to do with Landy gearing or he has a guy there that did Landy boxes for years & he knows.

glane said:

Ref the comments regarding transfer box on defender.Does anybody know if the gearing on a 90 pick up is much lower than say a county.two of you are saying your defender does 70-80 and even 100 mph was mentioned , if only! My 1997 300tdi strugles to get to 65 and 70 is but a dream. any comment appretiated.

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I think all transfer-boxes were the same.

You say yours struggles to reach 70MPH but is that because it is over-reving at that speed or the engine just won't pull standard gearing? What size tyres are you using and is your speedo accurate?

I run a completely standard 300TDi engine/R380 in my 90 with the Disco transfer-box and 265/75x16's. The speedo (checked against a GPS) reads 75MPH at an actual 72MPH which is about top wack in 4th but when slid into 5th it just keeps on pulling.
I admit my engine is a very low mileage unit (just over 2-years old and only 10K miles) but I suggest you make sure yours is in good health and all servicing is up to date, no point trying to make a tired engine pull higher gearing.

CHIPPED TD5 said:

You need to find out why it is struggling many things could cause it, how many mile son the clock of your 90 also any worring back pressure/ heavy breathing out of the dip stick tube when removed the dip stick.
Is the engine reving with plenty of power. Check throttle action, set up of pump, serviceability of injectors, timing, if it has an EGR (exhaust gas reserculation) valve if so blank the *astard off! & check inside your inlet manifold, i have had many that have cocked up & being unable to get a straw through so god knows how an engine supost to breath on exhaust gasses & cocked up manifolds. Have the compression checked then start lookng at the bigger tyres or Disco transfere box. People that know Landy's will have an idea if they drive or run your 90 slug & will point you in the right direction.

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re defender 90 top speed.Thanks for all the imfo, I thought mine was normal.Mileage is 87,000 which should mot be worn out. I will certanly look at some of the other ideas and let you know. If a blue pick up with toneau cover passes you in the wiltshire area doing a ton you will know who it is.

100MPH in a landy?
I suggest having a word with Bowler unless you have a death wish.....
If I do 60 in mine and have to go round a corner I start bricking it!!
1984 CSW, no anti roll bars on mine and skinny off road tyres....

I got no anti roll bars on mine its a Breg with the discover 200Tdi goes like stink to about 80mph handles like a dream in dry with CROSSPLY 750 SAGs but it scares me in the wet. Maybe you need to check yours out mate.....

Wait untill you have to avoid something by swerving at those speeds....Landies were never built for speed!

Just because a vehicle can achieve a certain speed it doesn't mean it is driven at that speed all the time, my bikes can achieve 140MPH but I have never been anywhere near this silly figure (my days of riding over 100MPH finished many years ago). Likewise I have got myself a LR that will pull a high top gear and probably achieve 100MPH (the handling isn't too bad either) but I have never done that speed and wouldn't want to. What I wanted it to do was cover long distances at an ind 75MPH (actual 72MPH by GPS) in all situations giving me some slack for overtaking etc while not over straining the engine, still giving me a chance to hear the stereo and return a reasonable fuel consumption figure (28MPG in that situation which I don't think is too bad).

Litch said:

Just because a vehicle can achieve a certain speed it doesn't mean it is driven at that speed all the time,

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Oh here we go! Never said that, I said Landies were never built to go 100MPH.

" my bikes can achieve 140MPH but I have never been anywhere near this silly figure."

Whats bikes got to do with landies.....? My bike will do 100 MPH plus and it's safe doing it, the Landie is not!

"Likewise I have got myself a LR that will pull a high top gear and probably achieve 100MPH (the handling isn't too bad either) but I have never done that speed and wouldn't want to. "

That was the point I was making, Landies were not built for 100 MPH road work, anyone driving a Landie on UK roads at 100 MPH should be locked in a very deep dungen with only "FAST BOY RACER CAR MAG" to read and a PS2 car racing game.

my 90 (with 200tdi and origonal xfer box) used to have 205 80 16's on and 70mph on the speedo was 62 on GPS! and was struggling. ive now got 236 85 16's on and 70 on speedo is 71-72 on GPS and does it fine, even does 75 quite comfortable.

since we are on the topic of this 1.222 ratio transfer box, i'm also considering the upgrade kit on my 2002 Td5. Was told that i need to drop the entire gear box along with the transfer box to change the gears in it, true?

can the transfer box just be dropped without taking off the main gear box?