Auto or 5spd Manual?

[Newy]

Hi Guys,
I have just bought myself a Red 186 powered SIII 88 Soft Top. The Body motor are good, needs new front brake lines, But....... the clutch and gearbox aren't that great. It's going to be just a fun Toy for me, something to spend my pocket money on lol
I was trying to decide between either a 5spd Man or auto upgrade. I'm lucky enough to have a mate who can get me Disco transmissions pretty cheap, man or auto how would either of them go? How easy is it to swap?

I'm also thinking about power steering, any ideas?

[Newy]

I'm thinking about going Auto, whats a good easy auto to fit behind the 186?

[30t of coolness]

Forget the Disco's auto too long & electronically controled shift. For the maual also too long in standard config for an 88 with a holden engine. You may be able to get a 4cylinder petrol bell housing & input shaft from England that is shorter than either the V8 or Tdi bell housings but I'm still not sure if would fit. If you wanted an auto there used to be a conversion from Marks adaptors for a 302 (Windsor) & C4 to landrover series transfer box. But can your mate get Disco diffs it may be easier to replace the standard series 4spd & fit Disco diffs & housings. Wider track & disc brakes & more highway friendly gear ratios.:)

[Newy]

thanks 30t coolness
He works at a wrecking yard
yes the diffs would be no problem :)
He can also get range rover parts easily too.

[Series3 GT]

Hi Newy, for auto choices probably avoid the early Range Rover Torqueflite autos cause they are for big American V8's and sap lots of power from little motors. Your Holden options are the trimatic and the Turbo 400 I think. The Trimatic isn't a very good choice in any situation, it's gappy as and makes the little 6cyl rev its nuts off and when it goes up a gear it makes it labor hard. Not really sure on all the Holden stuff but I hope it was some help.

[Newy]

Thanks there series3 GT, at present I'm looking into swapping the 186 for possibly a 250 crossflow and c4 auto which I can get very cheap :) Just seeing how easy it would be atm

[Series3 GT]

Lucky bugger, I can't get a 250 crossflow for under $500 and that's an ex taxi motor and its about $900 for a good motor. The C4 is quite a common swap in series landys shouldn't be too difficult.

[Newy]

I've come across something interesting...... early Suzuki Vitaras automatics use a TH180 transmission aka trimatic. In the US they use these as a base for many rock crawlers.

My question is this, how strong are their transfers?
I can get a trimatic for free :) and wonder if one would be up the job behind my 186?
My SWB isn't going to see any real 4WDing..... im going to get a LWB for that later.

[Wolfman_TWP]

I have this motor I want to sell (PM Me). Ford 4.1 engine (EFI), C2 auto box, LR transfer. All connected ready to go?! (Comes with everything, radiator, Air filter etc)... Will go into Markets Section again soon..

See in this thread.. (Post #7 (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/1039965-post7.html))

Cheers,
Wolf

[Homestar]

I've come across something interesting...... early Suzuki Vitaras automatics use a TH180 transmission aka trimatic. In the US they use these as a base for many rock crawlers.

My question is this, how strong are their transfers?
I can get a trimatic for free :) and wonder if one would be up the job behind my 186?
My SWB isn't going to see any real 4WDing..... im going to get a LWB for that later.

The trimatic, although potentially fragile will cope with a 186 no dramas. Had one behind the 202 in the old mans Kingswood and it outlived 2 engines. It was scrapped due to rust with 450,000km on it and it was still on the original trannie. It was serviced 3 times but did have some work done to it - I was too young to remember what exactly but they will survive long term with some TLC.

[Newy]

Hi.... its not the trimatic I'm worried about, more the suzuki transfer case.
will it handle the 186?

[Homestar]

Ah, sorry, misinterpreted your post. My best guess to that would be a yes - most things I've seen in those little suzys is pretty strong for what it is, but I can't give you a definitive answer there.

[Newy]

Yeah im hoping itll provide me with a cheap auto combo and will easier to engineer than a complete engine swap. Although Wolfs offer is temping if I can muster the money together quick enough...... injuring my knee put a big hole in my savings :(

[plus 30]

Hello Newy,
I have been seriously considering making my series three into an auto as my legs don't work that well any more.

I originally looked at the trimatic as I have a few of those lying around, however I worked out that they are too wide and they would need to be tilted like some truck Autos, I had planned to rotate at the rear of the bell housing flange, then I saw that the bell housings are full of oil galleries making this impossible. the Trimatic was just too hard and not worth persuing.

Lately I have decide to fit a C4 Ford auto between a powerglide bell housing and the Landy transfer box.
The Land Rover transfer box is the best to use unless you want to have all sorts of other conversion complications like no handbrake!
The Ford Bronco in America uses a C4 which has a short rear shaft to mate up with the Ford transfer case, this looks like could be adapted to fit a Land Rover Transfer with the right machine work, however the freight costs exceeded the purchase price, and stalling this option.

I am a Holden fan so to fit a Ford gearbox goes against the grain, but a C4 it seems to be the best option by far.
These type of conversions for 30+ year old Landys don,t get listed anymore in conversion kits so it would have to be as a one off.

The best C4 to use would be a later one out of a 6cyl XA or XB Falcon I suppose, although these were fitted to XY models too I think.
The V8 models had a larger front body flange which is larger than the rear of the powerglide bell housing, so I am on the hunt for a cheep 6cylinder C4 to experiment with.
Thats as far as I have got so far, hope it helps a bit and saves you the cost of buying a 250 FORD engine which I think is longer and may require further bonnet and front pannel changes.
The Land Rover transfer case is about the only Land Rover componet which myself and my brothers didn't blow up on the farm when we were growuing up, so they must be the best choise, so stick with the original transfer.

Mike

[Newy]

Damn yeah forgot about the handbrake.
I never thought of hooking up a c4 to the 186..... might look into that idea.

I was also thinking about hooking up a th350 auto as well but I can only find adapters to attach a lt230 transfer.

[plus 30]

Damn yeah forgot about the handbrake.
I never thought of hooking up a c4 to the 186..... might look into that idea.

I was also thinking about hooking up a th350 auto as well but I can only find adapters to attach a lt230 transfer.

Check the width of the Th 350, maybe it is too wide like the trimatic and that is why no adapers exist. the LT transfer case differs, and allows for more side clearance, but I want to keep the original length tail shafts and not have to change those too.
Lots of things will be possible at a price, but I want to keep somewhere near original so I don't have trouble with fitting off the shelf, or second hand bits.

The Land Rover tail shafts seem to wear out fairly often if used in adverse conditions, so this is on my mind.
My father's new 1981 series 3 4cyl had a front tailshaft replaced under warranty as we had completey stuffed it in under 12 months!
( Our Swan Coastal Plain sandy soil and water combination eats them for breakfast! )
Additionally that may have indicated their greasing, service standards, either way they were not amused at having to pay for a brand new one!

Mike

[Newy]

I'm planning to do some measuring this weekend, then out to the local wreckers to hunt transmissions to measure up. Atm I'm just looking at all my options and I'm getting plenty good ideas here.
Newy

[Newy]

Well look what I have found......a GM180 (aka trimatic) to series transfer.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/03/315.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/newmannator/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_DSC0007.jpeg.html)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/03/316.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/newmannator/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_DSC0006.jpeg.html)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/03/317.jpg (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/newmannator/media/Mobile%20Uploads/_DSC0010.jpeg.html)

The research continues.......

[Newy]

Here's the link to the V8 auto lightweight....


SIII Ltwt: Tech. Detail - The Fairwater Collection ! (http://thefairwatercollection.m.webs.com/site/mobile'dm_path=%2Fsiiiltwttechdetail.htm&fw_sig_access_token=96a5175ae67906bd2eadd5425c49e8 1a47b0030e&fw_sig_permissions=none&fw_sig_is_admin=0&fw_sig_time=1395689816444&fw_sig_locale=en-US&fw_sig=1889ffaf2b303ed55496034851d56391&fw_sig_api_key=522b0eedffc137c934fc7268582d53a1&fw_sig_session_key=edb352b911053fe387f218b92a02012 8f27568f42f8a943789775d5d6c846553-24279071&fw_sig_url=http://www.freewebs.com/thefairwatercollection/&fw_sig_premium=0&fw_sig_site=24279071&fw_sig_tier=0&fw_sig_social=1&fw_sig_permission_level=0&fb_sig_network=fw#1200)

[Newy]

Well...... at present I have come to a crossroad. Continue savingfor a 4.lt auto series transfer combo or go down the th180 with suzuki transfer path. The reason I have started thinking about the th180 route again was the discovery of a wrecked hilux around the corner for $300 minus motor and gearbox, both axles n diffs are ok and comes with sunraisia wheels and good tyres aswell as power steering setup minus pump. The hilux setup will also give me front discbrakes and the hand brake at the back wheels.

I've read about others using hilux axles ..... what are your guys thoughts?

Newy

[pop058]

Sounds like an excellent idea. Go for it


Now, about that TH180 :D