noisy 110 Gearbox

[wollomi1962]

I have a 1986 120 with a 3.9 Isuzu.
The gearbox is noisy in 1,2,3,5th. (got noisy in the last 2 months).
Quiet in 4th.
I have changed all oils as supplied by ALL 4X4, when I recently replaced a long rear axle and drive flange in the rear.
I am the 2nd owner and the ute has only 145,000klms on it.
It is very highly geared. Sits on 110klm easily. (But only if it cannot see a hill).
I have been told it has high range diffs and a Santana box.
It is a very unusual Landy, in that it does not leak any fluids from anywhere. Really !
Any help from the great minds on this site are most welcome.
Cheers, Paul.

[Bearman]

I have a 1986 120 with a 3.9 Isuzu.
The gearbox is noisy in 1,2,3,5th. (got noisy in the last 2 months).
Quiet in 4th.
I have changed all oils as supplied by ALL 4X4, when I recently replaced a long rear axle and drive flange in the rear.
I am the 2nd owner and the ute has only 145,000klms on it.
It is very highly geared. Sits on 110klm easily. (But only if it cannot see a hill).
I have been told it has high range diffs and a Santana box.
It is a very unusual Landy, in that it does not leak any fluids from anywhere. Really !
Any help from the great minds on this site are most welcome.
Cheers, Paul.

G'day Paul, It will be an LT85 5speed that your vehicle has in it. Unlikely it is a Santana box - they have a split case bolted together north to south whereas yours should be a solid 1 piece gearbox case. The diffs will be 3.54 which is the standard ratio for that vehicle. It is very unusual if it has no oil leaks haha. The symptoms you describe indicate it needs new bearings especially the layshaft. Don't leave it too long or the cost of repairs will escalate.

[loanrangie]

Isn't the lt85 a Santana box ?

[rick130]

Isn't the lt85 a Santana box ?

Yep.

[Bearman]

I always thought the split case version was referred to as a Santana.

[rick130]

Now I'm wondering Brian?

[tc_s1]

I've heard it referred to as a Santana by Ashcroft and in the States.

[DazzaTD5]

Isuzu engine.... can a noisy gearbox even be noticed

[djam1]

The LT85 was originally designed under contract by Land Rover for Santana in Spain and was considered to be a strong working gearbox. Rover purchased LT85 gearboxes directly from Santana. It is also known as the Spanish Box.This gearbox was used as originally designed until 1988. A cost reduced, lighter weight, divided caseversion of the LT85 was introduced in 1988 and used through 1991. The main short coming of the divided case version was its main and lay shaft bearings. The loading on the bearings in 5th gear caused frequent gearbox failure when cruising for long periods of time under high throttle. There was also a bearing quality problem at one stage of manufacture and the gearbox was sensitive to the type of oil used.In 1991 the relationship between Rover and Santana ended and the LT85 was no longer available to Rover.

[Bearman]

Well, there you go. I always understood that the solid case lt85 was a land rover box and the split case one was the one built under licence to santana.