Dan John

The journey/mission to make up a good Overdrive is Neverending, isn't it?! Given the rarity of parts I really do think that the best we can do is just that, malke one up from the best old bits we can find. And, as such, what you've cobbled together isn't too bad, all things considered. The only other real option is the planetary overdrive, at about 4000 quid. Would be great but way out of my reach. And so I'll build my Fairey with the best bits I can get, then run it. As a precaution I'll heed Snaggers advice to carry the cover, and drive gear, in my toolbox. AND, fit magnets to transfer sump and OD drain plugs, and change OD and transfer oil very regularly - 1000kms?? That is a precaution because the worn OD gears will produce filings that, over time, might produce premature wear in transfer box. Onwards and upwards, lads 😀

It's a nervous wait! All the best. Thanks for the link to the build thread, Gazzar. I'll read with interest. Ah, yes, bees. I recently went to look at a safari body, only to find I couldn't get near it due to the nest of hornets living in between the main roof and safari skin!

Thank you. I've had probably 10 different landies over the years. Still own the first one I built, as a teenager. Not road worthy, but in good nick. Painted it with a brush and house paint! I'd love to see yours - a 101 I beleive? Very few of those over here. Great axles in those things! Salisbury up front as well?

Cheers Stephen Definitely been built on a budget - painted myself etc. But really happy with it.

Join the club guys. I too have dreams of doing this, doing that. And then money, and time, neither of which there is much of, dictate otherwise. I'm going to run thd layshaft I have, of I have too. It's probably sbout the same as the one you have there, Gazzar. So I'd think you'll get away with it. As Snaggar wisely says, have spares on hand 24/7 lol Fingers crossed that OD you're collecting has the goods you need. Here's the old girl mine is going in...

Not surprising. I think I'll just have to use my laygear as it is, maybe get it cleaned up a bit, at best. My understanding is you may have a spare input gear, but definitely not laygear... If my laygear were all chipped the OD would be rubbish I'd say. Wish I could afford that Australian one.

No, it isn't. I'll look into what can be done with my laygear. Between that and there hopefully being a usable input gear in your spares, I might at least be able to get the thing operational. The cost of having new gears made would be, I beleive, prohibitive. More, probably, than what that lovely planetary gear OD from Australia would cost.

It seems that all these overdrives fail re the input gear and layshaft? All parts are available except those. And the clutch sleeve... I'll look at options re the layshaft. They seem even harder to find than the input gear? I guess I can use it if desperate, despite the noise. It's the risk of it being too weak, and stripping teeth, that worries me. And if I'm fortunate enough to find an input gear, would hate for layshaft to damage it. I'll follow up your suggestion re Nige. Looking at the circular chips, it would certainly seem like a ball has done that damage. Just not sure from where as from what I can see, the only ball bearing is the really big one behind input gear.

Well, got it all apart. Followed your instructions Gazzar - they were spot on. When I slid layshaft and mainshafts out, I stuck long screwdrivers in there, just to hold everything in place so I could remove each part piece by piece, so I know how it all goes back! Okay, so I'm pleasantly surprised. The layshaft does not have any chipping whatsoever, or cracks visible to the naked eye. What it does have, and only on the large gear, is some cavitation type wear. The smaller gear, that rngages with the input shaft, has no cavitation marking at all. I'll put some photos up. Do you guys think my layshaft is usable? If not, I'll need to find another. As to the other parts...The only other damage I found was some markings to the rear shell of the large input gear bearing - looks like one of the teeth that broke off must've rubbed past perhaps. That said, no marks at all on the rear aluminum cover... Also, the circuit holding the bearing on was actually slightly pushed rearward. I had to press the bearing toward the gear a fraction to get circling off. I'd day that, when the gear chipped, it tried to force itself rearward, shunting the bearing back against the circlip. Other than these two (input gear and wear to layshaft) issues, everything in the Overdrive looks in top shape. The oil had previously been drained prior to my buying it. There was no metal, at all, in the bearings or shims, and no scoring to those parts. The layshaft rear surface has some wear from spinning, but it's usage wear rather than destructive damage, if that makes sense. The little oil left in the bottom looked okay, a healthy colour and texture. Puzzled at the chipped teeth and lack of other damage, I asked an engineer friend. He said that, usually, big chips drop into the sump and don't float in the oil. It's shavings, he said, that are the main danger as they move with the oil, turning it into a grinding paste. So, overall, it would seem the stuffed input gear is my main issue?...

Hi guys Thanks for the prompt and informative replies. Yes, re the RR 1.113 high range gears I have here, they'd make a 400rpm difference at 100km/hr. I'm tempted to use them as far stronger, and less to go wrong, than the fairey. However, with the (rather tired - engine hasn't been rebuilt) old 3.5 v8, the Landy would be very sluggish in high range. With the OD, however, I keep my gearing. And to be honest, I like the originality of having the OD on my Landy. I will strip the OD later today. I too would like to know what went wrong. As you did, Gazzar, I'll buy the GLF rebuild kit and fully rebuild it. I just need to source a good input gear, and potentially (agree with your suspicions, Snagger), a laygear too. I'll post photos of what I find later on. Just need to make sure I dismantle slowly and carefully, so I know where it all goes later!

Hi Gazzer, and Snagger Wow, what an informative discussion going on here, and not one that is 10 years old either! Bit of an introduction, I'm from New Zealand. Very much love landrovers and have a Stage 1 Series 3 v8 that I have just restored. Naturally, I have had to learn everything LT95. Brilliant gearbox but, jeez, its slow on the road. My box is the 881 Stage 1 prefix, so has the 1.34:1 high range transfer gears. They're the lowest of the lot, opposite end to the 0.996 gears (FRC4032 AND FRC4050). I very much need to gear my landy up as it gets regular, long motorway use. However, it also gets used offroading so i'm reluctant to change the transfer case gears. I actually have a set of RR 1.123:1 gears here. Out of curiosity, what difference would they make to my cruising speed compared to the 1.34:1 gears? I've done tons of research on working out the various gear sets and part numbers, tooth counts etc. If anyone needs, I can post a photo of my findings. Anyhow, Gazzer, my main reason for posting here is to ask, would you have a usable LT95 fairey overdrive input gear I could buy? I see you've collected up a few overdrives and am hoping one may have a usable input gear you might be open to selling. I have managed to find an overdrive. The clutch sleeve etc are brilliant, look almost new actually. However, I was gutted to find, upon removal of the top cover, that the input gear has a row of chips on it - every third tooth is chipped, near the rear edge. Other than that, the teeth look fine. But probably not usable as it is. Also, the laygear has no chips, but there is some 'bruising' to the flats of the teeth. Probably still usable though... There are a few available, but the sellers, not being land rover enthusiasts, are just tycoons trying to hold us to ransom. I could buy an entire land rover for what one of them is asking! Thank you, again, for such an informative thread. I can not afford to be paying mechanics to work on my vehicle (and I probably wouldn't trust them anyway!!!!), so do everything myself. I thus rely on the likes of yourselves, and the collective wisdom you graciously take the time to share. In a world where time is money, it is very much appreciated. Look forward to hearing from you all. Dan