Thread: R380 Grumbles

Originally Posted by justinc

i think i need to take some of my own advice, too


jc

I'm doing this ATM, a big, big change in my work direction.

A change is as good as a holiday it's said, and so far the only stress has been self inflicted and it's all in a good way

Originally Posted by djam1

Don, I have a spare but am probably a bit far away from you
I am wondering if a roamerdrive and running in 4th gear is the answer
That said I know my TD5 can easily squeel the tyres when I have one of Jose's tunes on it and the roamerdrive wont deal with the layshaft bearings

I hereby retract my past statements that people who don't tow in 5th are being paranoid. Seems when you say stuff sometimes it comes back to bite you.

Got to Longreach Ok, cruising along in 4th @ 3000rpm doing 90kmh is not all that much fun, Hmm must almost feel like driving along with Izuzu & LT95 (and it really sucks the juice in 4th too)

Making enquiries about Roamerdrive, If I get one sent here and fit it at least I'll be able to drive to Sydney at reasonable revs/noise level, and then once the box is fixed I herby announce that from from then on only tow in 4-OD (unless its a nice easy tailwind tow) thats one idea anyway. ( Get thee behind me Satan)

Hi Don. I really think maybe repairing the box and modifying to the bigger 5th gear support brgs as per Ashcrofts will be the best solution. Run a Synthetic oil and change often.

Cheaper than an overdrive, OR you could just stick a VNT on it, and a Disco transfer case that'll allow 4th gear all day when towing, 5th gear for lazy work, and NO MORE LAG....

JC

Originally Posted by justinc

Hi Don. I really think maybe repairing the box and modifying to the bigger 5th gear support brgs as per Ashcrofts will be the best solution. Run a Synthetic oil and change often.

Cheaper than an overdrive, OR you could just stick a VNT on it, and a Disco transfer case that'll allow 4th gear all day when towing, 5th gear for lazy work, and NO MORE LAG....

JC

The disco transfer gears are something I have thought of but even with the Defender LT230 I find H1 too high sometimes, esp taking off from an incline ( towing the van) & on some take offs from traffic lights on hills (read Sydney) feel like slipping it into Low Range to save the Clutch (another sore point) , the inadequate High 1st ratio even with defender gears is what stopping be going to 255/85's.

I also find L1 too high for steep down hills.
A good compromise would be 4.1 final drives with a Disco LT230, then I would get a better low range leaving High about the same, but a lot cheaper just to feather the brakes down steep inclines, but for the trucks current life thats not so important now.

As for Turbo lag, for some reason that is something I don't suffer, infact if the turbo blew I'd probably put a standard one back, everything is great regards the Td5inside tune !

reading between the lines, I get the impression you think the Roamer Model DS overdrive not up to the use I'll put it to.??

at this stage total cost of the fix is not so important (within reason) as getting a reliable truck, even to the extent that I considered Qualfe conversion but the close ratios do really suck. ( I wonder if you can put an MT-82 behind a Td5 Those ratios will do me )

As much as I love the Defender if the G-Professional was avaliable in Australia ..... well that might even be an option

Originally Posted by goingbush

even to the extent that I considered Qualfe conversion but the close ratios do really suck. ( I wonder if you can put an MT-82 behind a Td5 Those ratios will do me )

As much as I love dog 'boxes, I reckon it could get tiresome, particularly the constant howl from the straight cut gears.....

The ratios suck too, it's a race 'box

Actually I'd love the straight dog change, clutchless gear changes are so much easier and the faster you pull it through the cleaner the change is

Quaife used to make a dog change 5 and 6 speed conversion for the R380, unfortunately they only make the synchro/straight cut gear version now, or is that the one you are talking about ? (not the totally new sequential six speed alloy cased 'box ??)

Ashcrofts were working on an MT82/TD5 conversion, but I haven't heard anything for a fair while. They posted the prototype up on here way back.

Originally Posted by goingbush

The disco transfer gears are something I have thought of but even with the Defender LT230 I find H1 too high sometimes, esp taking off from an incline ( towing the van) & on some take offs from traffic lights on hills (read Sydney) feel like slipping it into Low Range to save the Clutch (another sore point) , the inadequate High 1st ratio even with defender gears is what stopping be going to 255/85's.

Normal to use L2 for take-offs when towing with a Tdi.......

Bit like kicking a man when he is down but why not consider a Isuzu box good towing ratios and with one of Grubbs kits your half way there.Can`t imagine it would be a big job to adapt to the engine .The low first would probably solve any clutch problems (and if you ever see the light)

AM

Don I wonder if the MT-82 will have similar issues if you tow in 6th?
5th gear towing would be as annoying as the R380 in 4th
MT-82 in 5th gear @ 90 Kmh 2961 rpm
R380 in 4th gear @ 90 Kmh 2961 rpm