Thread: Gearboxes! Whats the go?

Originally Posted by Vern

From reading that post dean, both the msa and lt95 have crap ratio's😊😊.
To be honest i am very happy with the ratios of my msa5g. Would never go back to a 4 speed (now that the adapter side is sorted anyway&#128521
Another option for auto is ford aod, have spoken to someone who has had one in his 110 behind a 4bd1t for 12 years😊

well the for AO is much more work than any thing, all the isuzu stuff and LR stuff will bolt up including the Allison stuff with the exception of bolting on the LT230, isuzu having the Japanese std pattern and GM and Allison all being SA3

with the ford AO you have to work both ends, twice as much work. and compared to the Allison thay suck quite a bit more power.

now correct me if im wrong but the isuzu for AO you are talking about was installed for about 10 years behind a NA, craped out and was sold to another member who sorted it out and is now running it, also commenting on the loss of power.

try a locate a ford AO box?

Yeah not sure on the history of the aod just going from what sheldon was telling me about it, just another option. Sourcing one shouldn't be a problem, pretty common but agree on adapting both ends, pain in the A.
Isuzu is sae #3?? Which gm will bolt to that??
Curious as i would like an auto as an option, might be something to tinker with😊

Originally Posted by Vern

Yeah not sure on the history of the aod just going from what sheldon was telling me about it, just another option. Sourcing one shouldn't be a problem, pretty common but agree on adapting both ends, pain in the A.
Isuzu is sae #3?? Which gm will bolt to that??
Curious as i would like an auto as an option, might be something to tinker with😊

no GM is SAE3 as for the AT545 so there are a few flywheel housings floating about, so with that and an isuzu flex plate and its original spacers. its a stock bolt up.

the MSA is a different flywheel housing which is close to an SAE but not quite. that's an NAS std? but once again its all bolt up stuff as you know.

LR made there own flywheel housing so you need the correct one for ether the 95 or 85. and the 95 or 85 bell-housings


Now all GM stuff is SAE3 like the allsion stuff being SAE3. but you can not bolt them togeather, well youi can but there will be a bit of air in there.

since GM stuff is more car like, you need to drop the isuzu flywheel housing backing plate. get a new backing plate SAE3 so the GM gearbox bolts directly to the backing plate with NO flywheel housing. just like a car.
but pointless doing that, no GM box will last more than 20 min.

or you could look at a allison MT box, thats locks up in 4th 1:1 final drive. but the bolt pattern is SAE 2.

now get you head around the dimentions of an SAE 2 and you will see how that sort of hinders things.

only last month we pulled the plug on doing a 6bb auto 130

its now a 300 tdi auto 130

Yeah i have no idea on all the bolt patterns, something i need to physically see. But i do have a spare truck flywheel housing and access to a gm box to see how close the match is. I think a 4L80E would be fine, but none of the car boxes.
Or just use an isuzu auto and adapt the lt230 to it.
I have a good mate who is a trans builder, i can question him on capable boxes.
Not that i will be doing the conversion, but if i had spare bits laying around, it would be interesting to see what comes close to fitting.
Light truck zf perhaps??? Or may be one of the 6 speed auto's that les richmond are using in there storm series cars, already have the lt230 adapter sorted.
Still think it would be a nice ride with the slush box😊

Originally Posted by Vern

Yeah i have no idea on all the bolt patterns, something i need to physically see. But i do have a spare truck flywheel housing and access to a gm box to see how close the match is. I think a 4L80E would be fine, but none of the car boxes.

well, get a box, 3K rebuild, 2 k re valveing, then locate a computer to run the thing = $$$$. even with revalveing i doubt given the DIA and area of the friction pads that it will last. think fiberiouse material though your box. with the big power V8 stuff they deliberately back off the lock-up which is the opposite to what we do or need. so you would end up with the same as an AT545 but with a lock-up when your on the flat cruising and no lock-up on a hill with the hammer down. a lot of work no advantage so that's out!

Originally Posted by Vern

Or just use an isuzu auto and adapt the lt230 to it.

wow, so thats the AT545, MT or asian boxs, again at 545 no lockup, MT no fit, asian well you may as well fit an LT77

Originally Posted by Vern

I have a good mate who is a trans builder, i can question him on capable boxes.
Not that i will be doing the conversion, but if i had spare bits laying around, it would be interesting to see what comes close to fitting.
Light truck zf perhaps??? Or may be one of the 6 speed auto's that les richmond are using in there storm series cars, already have the lt230 adapter sorted.
Still think it would be a nice ride with the slush box😊

Originally Posted by Vern

Isuzu is sae #3?? Which gm will bolt to that??
Curious as i would like an auto as an option, might be something to tinker with😊

From what I've read, the Isuzu MSA pattern is identical to SAE #3 except for the bottom two bolt holes - which are spaced differently.

This gearbox question has gone round and round for so long if you look around you'll find an example of some one having a great run out of each gearbox mentioned ,nothings perfect its all a compromise on what is most important to each person .it would seem a combination of parts quality, workmanship ,oil and driver skill all play i big part in the out come of each box type because we've all dealing with reco boxes personally i think sticking to off the self easy fix easy to get parts is the way to go I'm using the r380 i like the way it drives i may not be the strongest but i treat it with respect and im not trying to put big power through it and ive got a spare in the shed ready to go just incase ...just choose one which suits you and drive it and have fun Alex

Sent from my SM-N920I using AULRO mobile app

Originally Posted by Dervish

From what I've read, the Isuzu MSA pattern is identical to SAE #3 except for the bottom two bolt holes - which are spaced differently.

almost identical then, or identical to NAS std