Thread: County 4bd1 gearbox

You'd need to source a bellhousing

I'm also thinking of bidding

Originally Posted by DeeJay

I'm looking at bidding on a '85 County on ebay- mentioned on another thread- & wonder if I'll have problems slotting the 4 speed from my V8 petrol over as the 5 speed in it is worn out.
Does the 4 speed gearbox match up to the 5 speed bell housing OK??
Are there other factors?
Or would it be better to re-furb the 5 speed in it now?

Thanks,
David

I keep getting the same advise "put a LT95 in it" I recently inquired into the cost of rebuilding a LT85 expect somewhere between $3500 and $5000 for a good rebuild (Fred Smith). Not cheap and the isuzu as in this County your looking at will eat it maybe not for breakfast but definetly for tea so it seems.
Good luck with it.
Garrry

The 4 and 5 speed boxes have different bell housings as do the V8 and Isuzu.
I've been looking for an LT85 because I'm sick of the 4 speed. I might be persuaded to swap.

Originally Posted by kaa45

The 4 and 5 speed boxes have different bell housings as do the V8 and Isuzu.
I've been looking for an LT85 because I'm sick of the 4 speed. I might be persuaded to swap.

Thought yours did "upside down miss jane", have you fixed it?

If I get it, I'll be surprised, coz it will be a lowball offer (reserve is $2700)as I looked at it & you just cant tell how bad the firewall rust is. Its not to the extent its visible -except below the door hinges- but it could be chronic under the paint.
Tough call.

Originally Posted by garryseries3

Not cheap and the isuzu as in this County your looking at will eat it maybe not for breakfast but definetly for tea so it seems.
Good luck with it.
Garrry

It's not as bad as all that.

My LT85 did 280k km before needing a rebuild. Dave_S had one with 300+k km that was still on the original box. 3rd was getting a bit loose though.

My box was rebuilt by Mal Story (one of the last he did) - fortunately at the PO's expense. Cost was $4500 - but that included Mal's bearing upgrades and almost all-new internals.

Dave Ashcroft claims the late model R380s (suffix L or M -on) are as strong or stronger than an LT85. It seems fairly easy to adapt one to fit using a modified LT85 bellhousing. That is the way I would go if I wanted a 5-speed. (either that or an ISUZU box).

Originally Posted by rovercare

Thought yours did "upside down miss jane", have you fixed it?

Work in progress...with improvements

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Dave Ashcroft claims the late model R380s (suffix L or M -on) are as strong or stronger than an LT85. It seems fairly easy to adapt one to fit using a modified LT85 bellhousing. That is the way I would go if I wanted a 5-speed. (either that or an ISUZU box).

Be an interesting test the Suzi would enjoy that lol