Thread: Disco 1: driving without front halfshafts???

Originally Posted by oldturkey

My 94 Disco has been canibalised, using toyo 1KZ turbodiesel & matching autobox, and Prado 1 PART TIME transfer box.
Due to lack of FW front hubs (impossible to fit on Disco alloys ??), I am getting poor fuel economy (6.5km/litre) and front transmission noise & vibration at speeds over 110km/h.
I am contemplating a long road trip soon. If I temporarily remove the front halfshafts, will this cause any mechanical problems?

A further problem is the Jap transfer box has raised the gearing 22%, thus widening the spread of gear ratios, and possibly overloading the torque converter. This is also affecting fuel economy, and the engine (3litre) struggles in top gear (changes up at 110 km/h). Any ideas?
I am in Thailand, which is the reason for this unusual combination.

Swap out the 3.54 differential ratios for something lower. Find out what the Prado diff ratio is.

1/NOBODY has yet replied to my question concerning DRIVING WITH HALFSHAFTS REMOVED ?

2/Another alternative to swapping diffs to get the gearing back to normal, would be swapping wheels, and this could be done cheaply at first, using borrowed wheels, to test if the benefits are worthwhile. Unfortunately, all Jap 4WDs use 6 stud wheels. Will any other wheels (e.g. standard Jap Pick-ups) fit the DISCOVERY 5 stud centres?
3/I have been told that Series / Defender wheels are not Disco compatable.
I would welcome some second opinions

Originally Posted by oldturkey

1/NOBODY has yet replied to my question concerning DRIVING WITH HALFSHAFTS REMOVED ?

2/Another alternative to swapping diffs to get the gearing back to normal, would be swapping wheels, and this could be done cheaply at first, using borrowed wheels, to test if the benefits are worthwhile. Unfortunately, all Jap 4WDs use 6 stud wheels. Will any other wheels (e.g. standard Jap Pick-ups) fit the DISCOVERY 5 stud centres?
3/I have been told that Series / Defender wheels are not Disco compatable.
I would welcome some second opinions

Defender/ series wheels will fit the disco but being narrower i dont know why you would, nothing jap has the same pcd as a landy. If you block the opening after removing the half shafts i cant see any problem with driving without them- never done it though. You can fit LC 80 diffs if they are cheap as they come in 4.11 or 4.3 ratio.

You can fit LC 80 diffs if they are cheap as they come in 4.11 or 4.3 ratio

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How easily do these diffs fit, can it just straight swap into rover houseing with and axle swap to.