Rangy diffs for the lightweight?

[Mick-Kelly]

Hmmmmm thinking of rangy 3.54 ratio diffs for the lightweight as it wont be called upon for hardcore off roading and it will make on road driving a lot more pleasent. So whats required? A trip to the wreckers, Im assuming replace both front and rear diffs. And im sure theres something to do with oil filler plugs with these. The lightweight will have very early series 3 diffs at the moment (rover on the rear).
pondering, pondering.

[loanrangie]

So are you converting to coils or converting the rangie diffs to suit the current leaves ? They will be wider in the track by a bit but others will know how much wider they are.

[Mick-Kelly]

I was thinking of just replacing the diff centres. Will they run in the standard diffs?

[BigJon]

I was thinking of just replacing the diff centres. Will they run in the standard diffs?

I believe so, but have never done it myself.

[UncleHo]

G'day Mick-Kelly:)

Early Rangie diff centres will fit straight in, as they are 10 spline, you could even go the way of fitting just the crown and Pinions into you series diffs, or pick up a couple of old ones, that would give you the oil fill hole on the diff nose:) if you really want to lash out, get a couple of 4.11 C&P's from UK and rebuild the diffs here, the 4.11 was the Rover Sedan centre, not as high as 3.54, so it gives the best of both worlds, higher road speed, and slightly raised low ratio;)

Bung-Tiddley

[Reads90]

Easy to do the shafts will be the same as long as you get the old style 10 spline rangie difs
But the problem with the filler is on a seris, it is on the diff and on a rangie it is on the axle. So if you put a rangie diff into a seris then you can fill it with oil as there is no filler in the diff or the axle.
But you could do what my brother used to do to his lightwieght when he did this. And that was to jack up one side and pour the right amount of oil down the half shaft tube:) (Yeee Haarrr)

[cmurray]

I think you will find that a 3.54 crown wheel will not fit onto a series 4.7 diff center, as it will be to think. I remember the yanks use to put series crown wheel and pinions in their 90's for lower gearing, but they needed to put a spacer behind the crown wheel to make up for it being narrower. Also, I believe the early rangie diffs still did have the filler on the diff.

[Blknight.aus]

the diff center wont fit nor will the pinion..

so a trip to a wreckers to buy the whole lot carrier and all is required...

before you go pull the half shafts out and confirm the spline count... In fact pull the old ones wholus bolus and take em with ya, you might be able to do a one for one.. Dont forget the speedo will be out by miles

[Mick-Kelly]

Bugger, oh well it was an idea. Im not going to convert Elsa to coils just for the diffs. May as well go for a HRTC.
cheers
Mick

[D110V8D]

Hang about......

You can swap the diff assembly (the diff itself, not the whole axle assembly) straight into the series diff housing.

But, as mentioned above, you will be pooring oil down the banjo housing tube, because of no oil filler hole on the rear axle at least. I think some of the front housings had a filler on them.

Get a pair of 10 spline Range Rover diffs and you should be fine.

[Blknight.aus]

what dv8110 said and i ment to say but didnt write very well..

All landrover diff carriers will fit into All (maybe not series one I havent tried that yet) landrover rover diff housings

I keep a spare 4.7 ready to go just incase.

Changing them over is easy and from "bang... hey whered all my drive go" to cmon dont put it away just cuck it in the back and we'll sort it when we get back" my rear diff record is 30 minutes (with air tools the wife to run the sealstic gun do the parts passing and with the storm water rising and threatening to cut us off from our already paid for holiday)

and I couldnt just select 4wd and keep going on the front diff cause the week before someone (I shall remain nameless) killed the front propshaft and had pulled it out.

[Mick-Kelly]

So theoretically I can pull the diffs of an early rangy and slot them into my housings for an improvment in on the road gearing. Downside is lack of oil filler unless I source early diffs. Is it realy as simple as that, are the rangy noses the same length as series 3 noses?

[Blknight.aus]

So theoretically I can pull the diffs of an early rangy and slot them into my housings for an improvment in on the road gearing. Downside is lack of oil filler unless I source early diffs. Is it realy as simple as that, are the rangy noses the same length as series 3 noses?

So far as Ive been able to work out yes, but if they arent I had my propshafts modded for kermit from spicer shafts in townsville for the princely sum of $100 for both. (I was out because I fitted the sailsbury to the back and did a lift)

If it doesnt have the filler in the housing dont fret, while the diffs out its not a big job to drill a 10mm hole on the housing at the right height and braze a nut onto it that will let you have a normal filler/check hole.

Since im contemplating changing my front housing to the laminated one I have If you like when I pull it down I'll start out by doing it the shortcut way and do the pics up for you as a howto.

but thats about 2 months away...

The rear is just a case of parking on a tarp with a heap of kitty litter piled up against the side of the wheels, chocking the fronts, draining the diff, undoing then removing the drive hubs, extracting the axle about 6 inches (both sides of course) drop the propshaft from the diff, unbolt diff carrier then with the changeover diff gooped and/or gasketed reversing the above.

Although I highly recomend adding new locknuts and locktite 242 to all those things youve undone in that process. Ditto for gaskets unless you like gasket goops.

If youve got the chance before you install your second hand diffs stand it vertically, liberally apply 80/90 to the bearings and the crown wheel hook up an electric drill to a socket and use that to spin the flange making sure that the bearings run quietly and that there is no binding of the pinion. Fill the carrier with oil while it balances on the flange to make sure the seal is good and rotate the drive splines in the side gears to check them for freeness.

[Reads90]

So theoretically I can pull the diffs of an early rangy and slot them into my housings for an improvment in on the road gearing. Downside is lack of oil filler unless I source early diffs. Is it realy as simple as that, are the rangy noses the same length as series 3 noses?

Yeah it is . take them out of a rangie and put them straight into the lightwieght
As to filling with oil. Then no big drama just jack up one side and put the correct amout down the tube. Job done:D :D

that is what we did with my brothers lightweight.

http://www.reads4x4.com/L3.jpg

http://www.reads4x4.com/L1.jpg

[rovercare]

Everyone is telling you porky's, SOME not all Rangie centres had a filler plu in the carrier, not the housing, others vice versa, you CAN get them to suit your seriea and will fit:eek:

[Mick-Kelly]

Now thats a machine, thanks for the info Blacknight it was definately thorough just the way i like it. It seems like a worthwhile project then. I figure while shes in parts is as good a time as any.

[Reads90]

Now thats a machine, .

yeah and it had a 11A 3.5 rover V8 in with a staight though exhaust:)
Hence why it had range rover diffs

[mrapocalypse]

I thought the 4cyl had issues pulling the higher range diffs!

[UncleHo]

G'day All :)

That they do Mr Apocalypse;) the feeling of being dragged off at the lights by a Fiat 500 whilst driving a 3.54 geared Landy is :mad:

But the look on the face of Toyo and Miss-ang drivers at 110k is:D
but with unboosted 10 inch drums stopping is :eek:

cheers

[Reads90]

I thought the 4cyl had issues pulling the higher range diffs!


mmm yeah but just don't try towing with it :)

[Blknight.aus]

now I know none of you lot RTFM..
\

The series (and the manual deefers/counties) rover is quite capable of chaning from low to hi range on the move... (unlike toymotas now adays) with the higher range diffs in Its just a case of 3 low take offs with a tripple shuffle back to 1 hi (if youve got the 2a box) and your away...

no slower than most toymotas of the same era if you get it right.