Thread: r380 strength on paper vs reality

I've seen plenty of Patrols on the back of tow trucks with failed manual boxes with caravans in tow.
Regards
Robbo

Originally Posted by Dougal

Surely that's a typo. 304Nm from a 5lt V8 is terrible.

Even the high-comp 3.9 V8's did 320Nm and the 4.0's in the P38 were still available with an R380.

yeah scratch that, should have checked a more reliable source.

400Nm stock

Originally Posted by lokka

I looked at the R380 to fit to the Isuzu in my county and I contacted ashcroft with a few questions about the upgrades they sell
I looked at the quaife gear set and its rated alot better than the standard R380 stuff and I think if I had money to burn I would give this set up a shot
But being poor and having the ability I have now crafted my own adaption of fitting an Isuzu truck box which is way stronger and has better ratios for what I am doing

If its strength your after have a look at what we made fit into my brothers 110 county in his build thread cal415's 110 county build up thread in members rides

The Nissan box to LT230 is a good set up and has plenty of strength to take 500KW and prob 800NM as I would say that the county gets near them numbers by my seat of the pants O meter

Yeah I've looked through that thread and ultimately that would be the go. but I don't like the idea of having to move the transfer, selector location, all the interior center console trim in the RRC etc. so I was looking to try and keep the t/c & gearbox in about the same spot.

Yeah Les auto stopped making them, so getting an adapter for patrol to lt230 is the other hurdle.

I've got a GQ box (LRA kit) behind a 4.6 in my 1990 RRC. Works very well and has been in there for about 50,000Ks. 1st gear is lower than the R380 but this makes it really good in low range. Ratios are in Cal 415 Defender build thread, I used a 1.003 ratio TC due to having 4.1 diffs. The trans case lever ends up behind the gear lever like a Defender and the overall length of the g/box and LT230 end up about 10" longer than standard therefore you need different length driveshafts and you need to modify the exhaust and transfer mounts a bit. I use an XBrake on mine but could have retained the LR drum. Overall a fair amount of work to get it all to fit but it suits the RRC if you can find a used kit and want to put the work in. It would be good behind a Chev
Nick

Originally Posted by Nick S

I've got a GQ box (LRA kit) behind a 4.6 in my 1990 RRC. Works very well and has been in there for about 50,000Ks. 1st gear is lower than the R380 but this makes it really good in low range. Ratios are in Cal 415 Defender build thread, I used a 1.003 ratio TC due to having 4.1 diffs. The trans case lever ends up behind the gear lever like a Defender and the overall length of the g/box and LT230 end up about 10" longer than standard therefore you need different length driveshafts and you need to modify the exhaust and transfer mounts a bit. I use an XBrake on mine but could have retained the LR drum. Overall a fair amount of work to get it all to fit but it suits the RRC if you can find a used kit and want to put the work in. It would be good behind a Chev
Nick

From memory did that kit also require the body to be lifted as well on a standard vehicle, But im guessing the mods you have the body on yours would be lifted anyway

Yep Rangieman, mine has a 2" body lift but I still needed to modify the trans tunnel a bit near where the foot rest is on the driver's side to clear the GQ box, so you're right it would need a lift from standard to get it in. The box is about 3 times the size of the R380 and weighs heaps!!

Originally Posted by robbotd5

I've seen plenty of Patrols on the back of tow trucks with failed manual boxes with caravans in tow.
Regards
Robbo

A six month production period in the early 00's (GU/Y61) had wrongly machined splines on a shaft.

The GU Patrol 'box is that much stronger than an R380 it just can't be argued, and the ex-SWMBO towed horses for near 400,000km in 5th without issue.

That 'box has over 430,000km on it now and still shifts as sweet as a new'un.

[edit] The GQ 'box is probably stronger than the GU 'box as the GU uses double synchros on most gears, and while not measuring comparable gearsets (hell, I've never seen inside a Patrol 'box at all!) I'm assuming gear width needed to be be compromised to accommodate the wider synchro assemblies??

Isn't the patrol box quite long? Given Nissan's penchant for using the same parts on everything, it must be used in a few other Datsuns too.

Any idea what the shaft spacing is on them?

Here is the pecking order so far:
LT77 & R380 = 77mm
MT82 = 82mm
LT85 = 85mm
LT95 = 95mm
Isuzu MSA = 97mm
Isuzu MXA = 100mm