Thread: Isuzu MSA Gearbox to LT230

My "kit" consisted of, spud shaft thingy (one piece, not welded), adapter, gear shifter mechanism, thrust race bearing, second hand MSA5G gearbox, new genuine 300mm truck clutch (pressure and friction plate), seals for adapter, slave pushrod, slave cylinder. from memory, $3400 delivered.

Thanks Damien for that solid bit of detail.

Not sure what Sheldon would have paid for the MSA - I paid $500.

So you paid $2900 without box for arguments sake.

For this price I did not get gearbox shifter, clutch pack, thrust race, and clutch master/slave. So you got good value.

Some things you have paid for I have already got and vice versa. The thing I'm missing for a comparable package is the gearbox shifter which adds to my overall costs.

If I allow say $500 for a cable gearbox shifter then my cost go a bit over $3500 with a bit more on for delivery. We're roughly comparable for different reasons.

You got more things for your money with Sheldon, because they were needed. Because I went straight down the route of 4bd1t/msa some parts were already there, but no off the shelf options for adaptor. Would be interesting for the equation to know if Sheldon was making a deserved margin or doing it at cost for LRover mates? If at mates rates then apply hard nosed commercial pricing and maybe my route is not so bad afterall???

Hope this helps Izusurover.

...forgive me for puffing, out of breath...just ran back from the shed to make a correction to the post, in case someone stomps on me for the error.

Add $500 for my MSA to the $3500 takes me to $4000 compared to Damiens $3,400.

Back to the shed...it's over 60 metres away.

My conversion costs;

MSA - 1200
Adaptor plate (milled and drilled alloy plate) - 500
Shaft - 1500 (written off and replaced with a floating unit for $300)
Shifter - 100 (Toyota and Ford Trader bits)

Then there's miscellaneous costs of running around, getting stuffed around and various hoses and other bits and pieces to stick it all in a Discovery 1 (with Salisbury rear, body lift etc etc)

Anyway, my point being, I starting this little project 6 years ago and had very little to go on as far as a tried product.... and it's yet to hit the road.

So as Isuzurover has explained, a tried and tested product is invaluable - particularly in a remote area. A kit saves all the crap you go through trying it yourself - the only positive is that if something goes wrong you'll know exactly how to get at it and replace it. May be comforting but I'm getting too old for that. I'd rather the thing just work and keep on working.

Sheldon - if you're out there mate, your kit looks great, and my six years without a Land Rover and your production delays have been time aside for the best things in the world - the tin lids and their future. Good on ya mate.

Matt

$750 for my msa

New clutch was $600 from memory as well.

Mudhouse, sorry to hear your woes.

Have you looked at my thread to see the kit?

Whereabouts are you up to with the build?

I assume you have no issues bolting the msa to your 4bd1 and concerns are all at the transfer case end. What are the bits that are stopping you from having a working drive train?

Mate, not so much 'woes' just figuring stuff out - I (sadly) have no formal mechanical or fabrication training, just heaps of 'give it a go' experience.

I have seen your kit via this forum and it looks great too.

My issue has been the transfer connection, but all is in place and it's working. I have the engineering and then rego to do, but my main concern is the reliability, and resistance to the 4bd1(t) shaking it all to bits.

I have documented the process I just have to stick up a thread....soon

Matt