Thread: Land rover gearboxes and diffs

G'day, just wondering how strong the driveline components in a Landy are? will they for example handle a Barra or an LS? or are they too weak? What about the other aspects of the cars? are they strong enough for an engine conversion?

Gab

If you are talking about Series Landrovers, the answer is - which ones are you talking about?

The gearbox used in Landrovers up to the end of 2a production was introduced for Rover cars in 1932, although it was periodically beefed up throughout production, with last couple of years preferable. It will withstand up to perhaps 120hp without issues, although it acquired a reputation for early failure behind many Holden conversions, which appear to be mainly the result of inaccurately made adapters - these misalign the input shaft, and result in a whole range of internal failures.

This gearbox was upgraded with Series 3 by adding synchromesh to all gears. This box is anecdotally weaker and more problem prone in early years, but late ones were as robust as the 2a box.

The Series transfer case is considered to be pretty much unbreakable, although again, it had upgrades through production.

Series 3 Landrovers with a V8 or Isuzu diesel (Stage 1) had the LT95 integrated gearbox and transfer case, which is pretty much unbreakable. However, it is a full time four wheel drive transfer case, which is not strictly compatible with the cardan joints used in the front hubs of all Series Landrovers except the Stage 1 and very early 80".

The 10 spline rear halfshafts used on most swb Series are not terribly robust, and especially with apparently poor quality from the Leyland takeover to late Series 3 are easily broken by ham-footed drivers.

It is possible to break the Rover rear diff on lwb up to late 2a when it was replaced by the Salisbury in lwbs, but rare to break in swb regardless of engine, or the same diff in front axles will rarely give issues.(none work well without oil or with the oil replaced by dirty water).

Other parts of the drive train are, in my experience, pretty robust provided properly maintained.