Reply With QuoteIMHO go with the advice from TRS. They may not be the cheapest around but their advice is always very sound and they are very helpful
Fossicker
Hi all,
This one seems to have been done to death but after reading a hundred different posts I cannot reach a decision on which option to go with so I need help once again.
My LT85 Santana is dying a death (bearings I believe) and it is currently sitting on my garage floor so it's time to do something about it. I have several options available;
Option 1: Order a kit from Ashcroft and rebuild the LT85 at home - never played with gearboxes before but I am willing to give it a go, if I went this way I would also look at the Transfer case and replace seals/bearings..
Option 2: Order an exchange unit from Ashcrofts - my preferred choice at this point but the shipping makes it an expensive option.
Option 3: Swap the gearbox over for a second hand R380 - again an expensive option but may be more reliable in the long term and I can recover some of the cost selling my LT85. Spoke to TRS in SA and they said this is the "only" way to go, they won't touch the LT85 saying it was a rubbish gearbox.
Option 4: Go all the way and stick a GQ gearbox in there (could be painful and will get expensive)
Any other suggestions or idea's?
I am in Melbourne and so far I haven't found anyone cheap enough to rebuild my LT85.
What would you do??
Regards
Rokkitt
ChatterBox
IMHO go with the advice from TRS. They may not be the cheapest around but their advice is always very sound and they are very helpful
Sell your dead LT85 to me and go the R380
Fossicker
Nice one - read this and thought "what do you know that I don't?"Originally Posted by Rangier Rover
Sell your dead LT85 to me and go the R380
Are the LT85's really that bad?? putting an injected 4.4 onto it and I am concerned that it may not take the extra power/torque - but then again will a r380...can they be that much better.
They're not real good.Nice one - read this and thought "what do you know that I don't?"
Are the LT85's really that bad?? putting an injected 4.4 onto it and I am concerned that it may not take the extra power/torque - but then again will a r380...
They're expensive to rebuild if you need a new main shaft and any other major components and you still have fragile gearbox at the end of it.
I'd say the LT 85 is a lot stronger than the earlier LT77 that used to have the 3.5V8 on it so you may find the LT85 will be OK behind a 4.4 as deliver the power and torque fairly smoothly. I know of a reco one in Newcastle but is a bit far for you
Fossicker
OOOH - do you have any contact details for the reco box??They're not real good.
They're expensive to rebuild if you need a new main shaft and any other major components and you still have fragile gearbox at the end of it.
I'd say the LT 85 is a lot stronger than the earlier LT77 that used to have the 3.5V8 on it so you may find the LT85 will be OK behind a 4.4 as deliver the power and torque fairly smoothly. I know of a reco one in Newcastle but is a bit far for you
Currently the LT85 is going to a shop to assess whether it is worth rebuilding (cost wise) - I think my decision is now dependant on the outcome and responses to this post.
ChatterBox
SupporterI considered using a r380 behind the LS1, some said it may handle ok, others said it would fail... i cant imagine the P76 will be near the peak power of the LS1, but they do make huge torque down low, probobly more so then an LS1 if yours is healthy and set up well.
If your spending the money get something you know will handle the power for sure.. LT95 will do it!
A GQ box is good and strong I actualy have an adapter plate and a flywheel to do this conversion spare, i dont want to part with them but if anyone wants to copy them feel free. The gearbox to tranfer adaption will be interesting too, i have the parts to do this you can copy but it would have to be done were it sits(bolted together under the truck) - and after talking to another user on here who baught the last adapter from LRA it looks like they wont be doing any more so your only options are to make one or buy 2nd hand if you can find one of the few that are out there.
ChatterBox
SupporterBTW if you go the GQ box route it shouldnt be to expensive at all if you make it up yourself and a good box can be had for less then 500.
Fossicker
Heres the spanner in the works...lol
Who supplies the adapters for each end of the GQ box?? Hook it up to a Rover V8 at one end and the LT230 at the other end?
You have done this haven't you....did you make up the mounts?? any other problems encountered??
ChatterBox
SupporterThe adapters i used, for the ls1 to patrol, was a dellow bellhousing using the standard ls1 flywheel, but i have a LRA adapter plate, for a rover v8 to patrol, its just a 10-12mm plate cut to the profile and tapped to bolt the box too, it uses a custom flywheel but not sure how necessary that is...
for the other end, i used a LRA adapter, which they dont make any more. ITs basically 2 peices of 6-8mm plate cut to suit both mounts with a spud shaft to go btween the 2. I have drawings/pics of the spud shaft, and you can copy the adapters if you like. The only hard/expensive bits will be getting the spud shaft made and possibly the flywheel if its needed.
Posting Permissions
| Search AULRO.com ONLY! |
Search All the Web! |
|---|
|
|
|
Bookmarks