Thread: the time has come, i can dodge it no longer

Originally Posted by incisor

my lt85 has finally decided to dispense with the syncro on 2nd gear and 3rd isnt far behind it.

the bearings are rumbly as well when idling.

i am running 33" tyres and with a 1.003 transfer case the gearing is too tall imho but i can live with that if i have to....

i have a chance of getting an lt95 from behind an isuzu, recoed and fitted for just a little more than what it is likely to cost to get the lt85 rebuilt

from what i have read the lt95 will have a lower final drive ratio than the lt85 so it will fix the too tall feeling i have now?

what sort of rev's will an lt95 combo be doing at 100 kph?

what do those that have had both, consider to be the best option?

i have procrastinated over this to the point of confusion so need some guidance :P

The standard ratio with the LT95 is 0.996:1, in other words, near enough the same as you have now except you don't have an overdrive fifth (pretty certain without looking it up that the LT85 is direct in fourth)

You should note that the standard tyre size for either gearbox is 31" , and if my arithmetic is right (no guarantees) that would give 2495rpm at 100kph in fourth for the LT95.

John

As JD says. It will be basically like driving in 4th on the highway, along with lower 1st and reverse than you have now.

Another option is to do what C_H_T has done. Get a late model R380, a disco 1.2:1 LT230, and get your LT85 bellhousing adapted to fit the R380.

By the sound of it you would prefer the disco 1.2:1 ratio over the 1.003.

Originally Posted by isuzurover

As JD says. It will be basically like driving in 4th on the highway, along with lower 1st and reverse than you have now.

Another option is to do what C_H_T has done. Get a late model R380, a disco 1.2:1 LT230, and get your LT85 bellhousing adapted to fit the R380.

By the sound of it you would prefer the disco 1.2:1 ratio over the 1.003.

That seems like a very good idea.

Originally Posted by incisor

from what i have read the lt95 will have a lower final drive ratio than the lt85 so it will fix the too tall feeling i have now?
4sp 1st gear 10.8 km/h per 1000 rpm with 255/85
5 sp 1st gear 11.9 km/h per 1000 rpm with 255/85

what sort of rev's will an lt95 combo be doing at 100 kph? 2280 rpm with 255/85 (theoretical)
1825 rpm with 255/85 (LT85 - theoretical)

what do those that have had both, consider to be the best option?
on long country runs I do miss fifth gear, but love the fact that my rebuilt LT95 with TRB is going to last
i have procrastinated over this to the point of confusion so need some guidance :P

When I had my LT85 with 255's I found in constant stop/start traffic 1st gear was too high - so much so that I would put it into low range. Don't have this problem as much with LT95 (though reverse is a touch fast, again easily fixed)

I'm half way through the Lt85 to R380 conversion now.

hopefully this time next week I will be able to tell you how it drives.

Decided to go with the late R380 as I will be doing a lot of highway driving and would miss 5th. To make the decision I drove from sydney - canberra and back in fourth - only changed to 5th a few times to get an idea of the noise difference.

..and decided to get a 5 speed box. Also 1st is a little lower (3.39:1 vs 3.65:1) in the R380.

Decided against an isuzu box as I don't have the skills / workshop to do the work myself.

Originally Posted by isuzubob

When I had my LT85 with 255's I found in constant stop/start traffic 1st gear was too high - so much so that I would put it into low range. Don't have this problem as much with LT95 (though reverse is a touch fast, again easily fixed)

Is that with the 1.003:1 transfer?

Inc, LT95's are fairly easy to get unlike LT85's, but would recommoend the taper roller kit. I've driven Rovercare's Lt95 isuzu with 35's and find it very easy to drive, does highway k's easy to. Whats the difference in final drive rpm between the 2.
Jc should pipe in soon

Having driven my County with both the LT85 and LT95, I can say I prefer the LT95. It is agricultural, easy to maintain, almost bullet proof, and once setup correctly, it seems it'll go good for a reasonable length of time........rather like the County.