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Thread: Yet another defender conversion question- from Canada

  1. #1
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    Yet another defender conversion question- from Canada

    Hi guys

    I don't know how much more time I can spend trolling the Internet to find my answers - I think looking for information is taking longer than doing the job!

    I have a small Land Rover repair shop in Canada so I have all sorts of gearboxes for Defenders - LT85, LT95, LT77s, Late R380 - even the odd auto box


    So basically I have a 4DB1T out of a GM truck with a 300 mm clutch

    The original plan was to use the engine and buy an adapter for a NV4500 and adapter for the NV4500 to the LT230 (which I have)
    Only the guy making the engine adapter let me down big time and after 2 1/2 months I managed to get my money back from Visa


    So now my plan is to do a straight Isuzu to Land Rover gearbox - I do not use my truck for off road but towing my car trailer up big hills here - the 300 Tdi struggles!

    So I know there is a lot of information but I really need to know the following

    What engine adapter do I need and where can I get it?

    Which bell housing? Can the LT85 be modified to fit?

    Do I use the V8 flywheel and clutch or the Isuzu - this engine was out of a 7 ton truck


    Which clutch is best to use?

    Naturally being in Canada we have no domestic parts or people who make a kit due to the low demand

    I did see this image (probably here) for the Original Australian Isuzu to LT95 box compared to the truck Isuzu




    So this is my big problem

    The land Rover one looks as if it uses the original Isuzu clutch, and the bell housing bolt pattern is not that of a V8 (the diameter seems too small and the bolt pattern is wrong)
    Also the LR one has the clutch slave under the starter

    Which brings me to another issue - the Isuzu I have has a 12 volt 3 bolt starter, but the orientation of the bolt pattern is wrong - mine are almost horizontal at the top.
    And the starter is huge so looks like it will hit the frame

    I know the original parts are like chickens teeth to find and also people have done this without original parts, and it has been dome but all I can find is bits and bobs of info but not the whole picture

    So if any of you kind people can push me in the right direction I would be most grateful!

    Mike

  2. #2
    Homestar's Avatar
    Homestar is offline Super Moderator & CA manager Subscriber
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    The only LR box that will stand up to the Isuzu engine longer than 5 minutes is the LT95 - it's the biggest and beefiest, but only a 4 speed and changes gear like a truck. These shortcomings don't bother me personally I like them, and with correct gearing in the transfer case and diffs, 4 gears is plenty. It's what was used in the Isuzu County's and the Australian Army Perenties.

    As for making it fit behind the Isuzu, I know there is a housing that will work, but I don't know the details of it. Someone here will.
    If you need to contact me please email homestarrunnerau@gmail.com - thanks - Gav.

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    It will probably be easier for you to persist with the nv4500, i think it will be cheaper and easier for you where you are.
    To fit tha lt95, you will need a new flywheel housing, bell housing, clutch, starter, flywheel?, thrust race bearing, spigot bush, and taper roller kit for the transfer case. All this stuff is still hard to traxk down over here let alone in Canada.

    OR you could fit the isuzu msa gearbox and the just have to adapt it to a transfercase

  4. #4
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    Thank guys

    I was just hoping that there may be a solution to use what I have, and that in some far flung corner someone makes an adapter.


    It was a real bummer that the guy who was making the Isuzu to NV4500 let me down - he was the only show in town and the kit would have been prefect as he moved the starter to just above the oil filter, which was relocated

    I think if I dig about I have the Hi/low / Diff lock shifter for a 2004 Disco 2 which operated the LT230 by cables - that would be an easy fix for the NV4500

    Anyway thanks for the replies!


    Mike

    PS I could not get hold of the Isuzu gearbox as it was already sold and I was interested in the kit that was on this site, but there seemed to be an issue with the shaft - is there an update on this?

  5. #5
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    Have you had a look around on the 4btswaps forum under the isuzu section? Plenty of infoon there for you

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by britrest View Post
    The original plan was to use the engine and buy an adapter for a NV4500 and adapter for the NV4500 to the LT230 (which I have)
    Only the guy making the engine adapter let me down big time and after 2 1/2 months I managed to get my money back from Visa
    Just to be clear, are you referring to www.dieseladapters.com ?

  7. #7
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    Yeap that's the guy

    Said he had the flywheel in stock and another week for the plate
    Week or two went by and heard nothing

    called but just got the answering machine - no returned call

    Lots of emails and calls but no reply

    ( I have to explain that as I am in Canada, shipping from the US to here is outrageously expensive, so I have a drop off point in Newport, Vermont about 40 miles away and I have a guy go every week to pick up stuff, so that saves a fortune, so I knew it was not sitting on a shelf somewhere)

    I did read this guy was slow so I gave him the benefit of the doubt and waited, but after 2 1/2 months still nothing - so I wrote and said if I heard nothing by the end of the month I will contact the credit card company

    Not a call or email

    So I got a refund of C$2,033 - lot about $100 on the exchange but better than losing it all


    Guy could have been sick or something - but just an email would have been nice.
    Seemed nice on the phone too

    I have my own workshop and I know what it is like to get behind, but a bit of elaborate bull**** is better than nothing at all.


    Anyway there may be some light at the end of the tunnel

    I got the adaptor for the NV4500 to LT 230 from dieselconversion.com and got chatting to a guy called Brian as the spline count on the box I have is different to the adapter= seems I need to change the mainshaft etc, as the adapters are for the NV3500 and NV4500 LIGHT duty ( naturally I have the HD)

    So it was proposed if I send him the Isuzu engine they would make a kit and sell them, but would cut me a deal for using my motor


    Has anyone else had problems with dieseladapters.com?

    Mike

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    Gearbox to 4BD1T

    Quote Originally Posted by Homestar View Post
    The only LR box that will stand up to the Isuzu engine longer than 5 minutes is the LT95 - it's the biggest and beefiest, but only a 4 speed and changes gear like a truck. These shortcomings don't bother me personally I like them, and with correct gearing in the transfer case and diffs, 4 gears is plenty. It's what was used in the Isuzu County's and the Australian Army Perenties.

    As for making it fit behind the Isuzu, I know there is a housing that will work, but I don't know the details of it. Someone here will.
    Homestar I beg to differ I have a Defender 110 with a factory turbo 4BD1T conversion fitted up to a late suffix R380 still going strong after 300,000ks of hard work in some of the remotest parts of the country. The ratios work very well with a 1.2 TC. I did the conversion in 2007 or 2008 and would recommend a suffix K or L R380

    C H T

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by C H T View Post
    Homestar I beg to differ I have a Defender 110 with a factory turbo 4BD1T conversion fitted up to a late suffix R380 still going strong after 300,000ks of hard work in some of the remotest parts of the country. The ratios work very well with a 1.2 TC. I did the conversion in 2007 or 2008 and would recommend a suffix K or L R380

    C H T
    KLRhttp://www.klrautomotive.com.au/ say the same thing- that the R380 is good enough. Personally I prefer the OE LT95 setup -as I have done on my 130, but maybe a late suffix R380 is the best way to go for this chap in Canada.
    I have a spares N/A Perentie engine with L/R flywheel case and flywheel, and I also have an LT95a spare box & transfer as well. But freight would be expensive.

  10. #10
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    A Suffix K/L R380 can be adapted, you need an LT85 bellhousing and have it welded/redrilled to suit the Isuzu.

    There should be threads on here, it's generally the 'box of choice for the workshops that specialise in the conversion here.

    This is the way I was going to go when considering an Isuzu, but persisted with the 300Tdi.

    [edit]I know the LT95 should be stronger, 95mm centres vs 77mm, but it should have a taper roller bearing conversion done too, and the last of the R380's is a strong 'box, particularly if the rear housing has the Ashcroft HD support bearing mod done.

    [2nd edit] Oops, missed the posts above.

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