Which gearbox for rover V8 into SIII 88?

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Callumb

Callumb

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Does anyone have a success story putting a rover V8 into a 88 SIII? which gearbox? My intention is to tweak the engine a good amount - I gather the series III box wouldn't be up for that. I've been doing some reading and sounds like there's no easy answer.

The LT95 is the strongest but from what I read it's big, heavy (and noisy) and a b*tch of a job getting it into a series 3 - the drive tunnel would require a fair bit of modification. I read that I'd need the shorter bell housing (from 109?) otherwise the drive shaft ends up too short..

The LT77/S is probably too long for an 88? and maybe a little weak too?

Don't suppose there's a way of strengthening a series 3 box? (although I find the syncro is a bit crappy on the series 3)

Last time I used an FJ40 box/transfer case (into series 1 80inch) - strong compact box. Still had to modify the drive tunnel though. For interests sake it bolted to a chev v8 and fj40 diffs. This time I really wanted to keep it all landrover..

Also worth mentioning is I intend to replace the diffs - not sure what with yet.

Any advice would be much appreciated!
 
Go to Ashcroft transmissions' website - there is much knowledge there - they can supply you a kit for fitting an R380 to a series, and also to a V8, including bellhousing.

The critical thing is to position the gearbox correctly - you mount the engine later!

it will be about 5 inches further forward than the 4 cylinder unit.
 
Callumb said:
Does anyone have a success story putting a rover V8 into a 88 SIII? which gearbox? My intention is to tweak the engine a good amount - I gather the series III box wouldn't be up for that. I've been doing some reading and sounds like there's no easy answer.

The LT95 is the strongest but from what I read it's big, heavy (and noisy) and a b*tch of a job getting it into a series 3 - the drive tunnel would require a fair bit of modification. I read that I'd need the shorter bell housing (from 109?) otherwise the drive shaft ends up too short..

The LT77/S is probably too long for an 88? and maybe a little weak too?

Don't suppose there's a way of strengthening a series 3 box? (although I find the syncro is a bit crappy on the series 3)

Last time I used an FJ40 box/transfer case (into series 1 80inch) - strong compact box. Still had to modify the drive tunnel though. For interests sake it bolted to a chev v8 and fj40 diffs. This time I really wanted to keep it all landrover..

Also worth mentioning is I intend to replace the diffs - not sure what with yet.

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...


The gearbox would be from a 101 short bellhousing landrover. I'd stick with the 4 speed they're only noisey because they are usually pretty old and shagged the bearings were known for being noisey but also pretty much bullet proof i.e not breaking just being noisey thats why nobody ever fixes them. Lt77 I see no great advantage over the series box except 5th gear. The LT95 you can get overdrives quite cheaply. But its big and heavy. Maybe the santana box from defenders may be helpful however. I'm not a fan of the LT77 they just are not that strong. Maybe a later ones are better but I'd prefer a series box to an LT77 myself even behind a V8.

In fact I have a freshly rebuilt 3.5 on a series box on my little 80 inch soon to be tested no doubt to destruction competing all over the UK.
 
R380 yea probably a good bet I know a comp safari racer thats got the most HD r380 ashcroft do and he blows up 3 or 4 a year competing in his 4L+ comp safari racer
 
I'm running the LT95 in my Series lightweight. It came fitted, and the car was used in competition. So it must be a bomb proof choice. Gearbox tunnel had to be modified to make it all fit. I just got new prop shafts made as the splines were shot. I could have taken a prop cut it down and welded it together. But thought i'd go for a professionally balanced unit. Rear one is pretty dam short.
Overdirves avialble, used to be cheap, but now that i'm looking I ain't found one witin budget.
 
I guess your intended use might have a bearing too and exactly how tweaked the V8 will be.

On a Series you'll want to look at the entire driveline though, diffs and the rest of the axles are all weak points.
 
I found a V8 in a 88 with a series box and 4.1 diffs too fast to be safe back in 1970s even with a full series 1ton brake system fitted , so tweaking one ? I suppose it depends what you intend doing with it JMHO
 
300bhp/ton said:
I guess your intended use might have a bearing too and exactly how tweaked the V8 will be.

On a Series you'll want to look at the entire driveline though, diffs and the rest of the axles are all weak points.
Click to expand...

Yep well aware I need to upgrade the drive train. As for how tweaked I don't know until do some research into what's possible as a reasonable cost.. I've seen a 400hp injected 3.5 but that's WAY outside my budget (over 10k spent on it) 250 would be nice?! Would like the engine to look appropriate ie. don't want to open the bonnet and see something modern looking if ya know what I mean.
 
Ruari said:
I'm running the LT95 in my Series lightweight. It came fitted, and the car was used in competition. So it must be a bomb proof choice. Gearbox tunnel had to be modified to make it all fit.
Click to expand...
Don't suppose you've got any pics of the drive tunnel? I'm curious how it looks with the modifications..
 
jai_landrover said:
I'd stick with the 4 speed they're only noisey because they are usually pretty old and shagged the bearings were known for being noisey but also pretty much bullet proof i.e not breaking just being noisey thats why nobody ever fixes them. Lt77 I see no great advantage over the series box except 5th gear. The LT95 you can get overdrives quite cheaply.

In fact I have a freshly rebuilt 3.5 on a series box on my little 80 inch soon to be tested no doubt to destruction competing all over the UK.
Click to expand...
Yep I'm coming round to the idea that the 4 speed is gonna be a whole lot easier.. I'm mostly worried about the strength of it.

Re overdrive I'd prefer to go with 3.5 diffs. Also I read the overdrives wont handle the extra power(but haven't looked into that in full yet). It's going to be a street car driven on sunny days kinda thing.. I know doubt have a play off road but nothing that'll hurt it :)

What sort of power is your V8? (that's going into the 80")
 
No idea bog std rebuilt with all new bits. My bro got 212bhp rolling roared from a 3.5 on SU's.

If your only using it for the road then a decent 4 pin 24 spline diff with late series III shafts turned around and new circlip grove put in or a set of ashcroft hd rear shafts should be perfect
 
tacr2man said:
I found a V8 in a 88 with a series box and 4.1 diffs too fast to be safe back in 1970s even with a full series 1ton brake system fitted , so tweaking one ? I suppose it depends what you intend doing with it JMHO
Click to expand...

I used to have a 80" with a 283chev, and fj40 running gear. Was a nice amount of power. Also dropped a 300+hp 350 into it for a bit (running it in for a mate) And man-o-man did it haul with that in it! struggled to keep it cool though. Ended up stamping gills in the bonnet which worked well, and actually looked quite ok!
 
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