Thread: LT230 High Range Gearing Change

You wont want to tow anything at all heavy once you do...

And if you have cruise control fitted it wont work anymore!

Whats wrong with running 33" tyres and revving at 2600 rpm @ 110km/h

My Defender regularly out held Cruisers and Patrols up long hills... Sure they can top end you, but a Defender at 130km/h isnt too bad either...

I'd suggest you just speed up a bit, then they wont be givin you stick...

The TD5 Defender hardly uses more fuel at that speed - head winds have a greater effect on consumption.

I'm thinking of swapping my LT230 for a Disco box. I don't tow and never plan on - I'm not the caravanning type. I have heard from people with Disco's that they have no troubles towing with the 1:1.222 gearing. Remember I have a 200Tdi and it was having a really time driving at 100kph with the load. The other cars in my convoy (who had a equal load to me) were well ahead.

Originally Posted by alexturner

I'm thinking of swapping my LT230 for a Disco box. I don't tow and never plan on - I'm not the caravanning type. I have heard from people with Disco's that they have no troubles towing with the 1:1.222 gearing. Remember I have a 200Tdi and it was having a really time driving at 100kph with the load. The other cars in my convoy (who had a equal load to me) were well ahead.

People with Discos also have wheels a lot smaller

Instead of updating the gears - throw in a better intercooler, up the fuelling and free up the exhaust...

I think you'll find changing TC ratio will make the problem worse.

One of the reasons that I upgraded from a 300Tdi Disco to a Td5 Disco was a lack of power to travel comfortably at 100km/h once fully loaded for a camping trip. I found I was driving with my foot flat to the floor to maintain 100km/h even after giving the injector pump a tweak.

If you are finding similar issues with your Defender, taller gearing isn't going to help.

I currently have 31"s and I wont be going any bigger than 33"s. I'm not getting rid of my Suzie, so that's out of the question, but I have read that swapping out the transfer case for that of a D1 does help it chug along. The transfer case swap will end up costing me nothing where as a new intercooler will set me back just shy of a buck.

So you think it's not a gearing issue, more of a power issue?

Those yotas and pootrols probably all have engines nearly twice the capacity of yours, and if petrol more power per litre anyway. Its not gearing that allows the Patrols and Toyotas to maintain higher speeds, its oomph. Squeeze more from your tdi and you too can maintain a higher speed.

Originally Posted by alexturner

I currently have 31"s and I wont be going any bigger than 33"s. I'm not getting rid of my Suzie, so that's out of the question, but I have read that swapping out the transfer case for that of a D1 does help it chug along. The transfer case swap will end up costing me nothing where as a new intercooler will set me back just shy of a buck.

So you think it's not a gearing issue, more of a power issue?

Taller gearing will make you accelerate (quite a bit) slower. It will also probably give you a lower top speed - unless you have a tail wind!

I own a stock 300Tdi disco with stock small wheels and 1.22 t-case. I also own a 110 with a 4BD1T (so about the same size engine as the cruisers and patrols you were with). The 110 would accelerate 0-100 quite a bit faster than the (lighter) 300tdi - even with a trailer attached!!!

There are several threads on here which explain how to tweak the fuel pump to get more power from 200 and 300 tdis. Just make sure you install an EGT first.

I will quite happilly swap out my Disco Tcase for your Deefa one for free, you won't have to do anything other than to bring it to me, then I may be able to tow my camper at 100kmh up a hill again.

Really it's not something you want to do, if your not holding 100kmh then there is something wrong with your engine as I have towed 3 tonne caravans with a 200Tdi deefa and other than being slow off the line due to the weight it towed fine and with just small trailer on the back or just gear it easilly held 100 to 110kmh.

Instead of changing out the tcase gears I would be more inclined to change diff ratios but again, that costs money.

Cheers Casper