Thread: ZF Autos Different Lengths

This all started when the auto in my 97 300tdi Disco, without any warning or previous issues, decided it wasn't going to play anymore - forward, reverse, all the gears - nothing. Transfer seemed OK so the "easy" fix was to pick up a complete 2nd hand box and transfer case ad swap over. But things are never "easy".
What I got came out of a 3.9 V8 same vintage as my tdi, so I swapped over the bellhousing and torque converter (Dave from Ashcrofts advised that ideally should also swap the kickdown cam, valve and governor, but that it should work OK anyway, just might have to back off to make up changes)
Got everything bolted up to the engine and then went to do the gearbox mounts - big problem, the mounts and the whole transfer case on the new gearbox are 50mm further forward than before.
On checking, the difference is in the extension housing between the ZF and the transfer - 60mm vs 110mm.
OK I thought, must be a different length extension shaft, so I stripped the transfer off the old and the "new boxes" (not fun for the one now in the car) hoping to swap the longer extension housing and shaft from the old to the "new".
With the two stripped I found that both boxes had the same extension shaft (the old with a 50mm spacer) - the difference is the ZF's output shaft which is about 50mm shorter on the "new" box.
Question now is - "are all the V8 autos like this?" and more importantly, "is anyone aware of a long (about 200mm) extension shaft being available so that I can piece it all together?"

I've found the auto works, or should I say worked, well off road.

The diesel/auto combination has also been good when towing home the various cars my son has a habit of acquiring, generally in places 3hrs away.

I can second that, I've had 4 300tdi's, two manual and two auto. Have to admit the auto wins hands down for me. Towing is so much easier, even another disco on a car trailer isn't so bad! The revs when taking off are also much lower therefore quieter and softer on the mind and body to drive. (I know, I know it's a Landy) I found I was revving to over 4 grand with my manuals to get the same performance from the autos at under 3. Though there is something to be said for being able to drop the clutch and take off, and I miss my engine braking. I guess it's a personal choice as lots of blokes I've spoken to love the manuals. Oh and with an auto maccas on-the-go is so much cleaner, I haven't had to wash coke off my console for months...

Also I've heard the gearing inside the V8 boxes is different to account for the torque and general running revs. Have heard conflicting accounts about the transfers though.

Lane