Series 1 - 5 speed gearbox.

[101RRS]

If you had a Series 1 88 with a standard 2 litre spread bore and wanted to put in a 5 speed gearbox what box would you use. I appreciate there are a number of minor details to be considered but unless they are show stoppers then not wanting to hear them at the moment - looking at the major issues before minor issues.

I would prefer to mate to the series 1 tfr case but anLT230 could be an options (yes issues related to awd to be considered).

The gearboxes I am aware of re Nissan Canbstar, LT77 and R380 but I am open to suggestions - particular where it has been done before.

Thanks

Garry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Ashcrofts do a conversion kit to mate one of the Rover 5 speed LT77 or R380 into the series transfer box. Ashcroft Transmissions

If you use the LT77 it is shorter by about 30mm to the R380 but the transfer still moves back. So you still have to lengthen the front prop shaft and shorten the rear.

If you get the LT77 from a Defender 90 Tdi 200 it has a short bellhousing that matches the bellhousing of the 2 1/4 litre.

For the 2 litre series one engine you have to do a couple of mods of machining out the flywheel adapter to fit the lip on the bellhousing and reposition the studs. I can post up an image of the conversion I did for a Rover 6 cyl which has the same stud pattern as the 2 litre S1.

Lots of people don't like the LT77 but it is Land Rover/Range Rover and based on a Jaguar design

(Your other option is to fit a SIII 4 speed all synchro from a six cylinder and add a Toro or Roamerdrive overdrive, you can fit the bellhousing and clutch throwout from a SIIa Six cyl to the SIII box to make your clutch linkage work.)

[101RRS]

Thanks Dianna - yes there are overdrive options and will consider those but to make an ultimate decision I need information which you have given on a straight 5 speed option.

i am not too worried about machining issues - as they say anything is possible. Having owned a Disco 1 with an LT77 (seemed to always be selecting reverse rather than 1st and nearly backed into a car at the traffic lights) - I am not too keen going back there but it of course is a gearbox that is almost a perfect fit for a series.

Also I have a VT Holden V8 Getrag that I modified to go on the back of my V12 Jag and I am thinking of pulling it out and going for an off the shelf kit so I may have that gearbox available - I suspect it will be too long, even with the tailshaft extension cut off but that could be an option, albiet a lot of work.

Thanks for you input.

Cheers

Garry

[Timj]

Hi Garry,

Biggest problem is going to be adapting a five speed to the old 2 litre pattern. People like Marks 4wd don't even list the series to holden stuff on their web site anymore as they are just too old. It's a pity as a modern 5 speed from anything else would be great. I would love to be able to put a Supra or Mazda box in a series but there are just too many issues for someone like me who has no ability to machine parts up. Then once you have the gearbox to engine sorted you have to worry about the transfer case and the length of the whole unit in a SWB. The rear tailshaft can end up way too short unless you move the engine forwards. What I would like to do at the moment would be to put an auto behind the 186 I have in one of mine and mate that to the series transfer.

This is a site with a lot of info on what is available in the states as far as gearbox conversions go - TeriAnn's Expedition Land Rover site

Cheers,

TimJ.

[101RRS]

Tim - thanks for the link - adaptor plates etc are not hard - been through all that with the Jag conversion. You just make up a template out of timber and take it to a fabrication shop or a lazer cutter and get it cut out. Meticulous measuring and drawing in real size is what is needed.

cheers

garry

[Lotz-A-Landies]

....
i am not too worried about machining issues - as they say anything is possible. Having owned a Disco 1 with an LT77 (seemed to always be selecting reverse rather than 1st and nearly backed into a car at the traffic lights) - I am not too keen going back there but it of course is a gearbox that is almost a perfect fit for a series.

...

There is always the Ashcroft Stumpy R380 box ( www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/~/short-bellhousing-r380 ) it is designed to fit in the same space as the LT77 in the 90. The shift pattern is different to the 77, although its pretty pricey if you also get a box sent out.

Fitting it to a 2 litre engine is (as I said) just a matter of machining out the flywheel housing and moving the studs to match.

You can probably also use a SIII 6 cyl flywheel which will accept the diaphragm type pressure plate and Disco/Defender clutch plate to match the R380 spline. The pinion bush in the flywheel is the same in the Defender as the S1

[wrinklearthur]

Found this about the Nissan Cabstar five speed gearbox.

Ref;5 Speed Gearbox - Patrol 4x4 - Nissan Patrol Forum

A year ago, I rebuilt my Safari ute. I replaced the L28 with a LD28, turboed it, added an altitude compensator as I am from Pretoria South Africa (very high altitude). I changed the 4 speed to a Cabstar 5 speed, but am very dissapointed with the gear ratio on this box:
1st 5.429:1
2nd 3.048:1
3rd 1.780:1
4th 1.000:1
5th 0.820:1
First is an extremely short gear and only good for serious 4x4, so I normally pull away in second. The frustration is actually between third and fourth - huge gap and I often found myself working between these gears on slight uphills. I changed back to the 4 speed and there is a huge improvement as the ratio suits the Safari better. The problem is on the open road where one is always looking for that fifth gear.
Does anybody know whether there were different ratio gearboxes on the Cabstar H40/F22 range, and if so a list of them with their respective ratio's? The reason for my question is that the MK's in South Africa was available in 4 speed only, but there are lots of used Cabstar engine/gearboxes still imported

>

Too large a gap between third and forth for a diesel for my liking, but it should be okay for the 2 litre Land Rover petrol torque band.

[101RRS]

Thanks Arthur - and there could be a bit more gap between 4th and 5th as well.

[toad]

Hi Gary, I rode in Jim,s 86" on the last heritage drive for over an hour and was very surprised at how effective and quiet the Romerdrive was in the little truck. I would suggest that this is a serious option given the total lack of engineering you have to do.

Rick.

[isuzurover]

A defender r380 with a stumpy bellhousing and 1.003 lt230 would be my choice.