smokeyone Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 I know this topic has been covered before but I am slightly confused. If I wanted to mate an r380 gearbox which I need to find to a rover v8 which I already have do I need to find any r380/v8 bellhousing or do I need the short one which means some r380 input shafts are different lengths. You can see I am confused. After searching on the forum it seems I need a r380 from a defender because the gearlever is in a better place - do I also need a tunnel/floorpan from a defender to make life easier ... I was going to mate the r380 with the ashcroft adapter to the series transfer case but would also appreciate some advice on the bellhousing - are we talking about the £200 ashcroft bellhousing ... Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 Is it LWB or SWB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 23, 2010 Author Share Posted September 23, 2010 SWB which seems to limit the gearbox choices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 SWB which seems to limit the gearbox choices Then you need the shortest possible setup. My choice would be a short r380 (expensive and rare) a series to v8 engine adaptor and then the adaptor to mate the series tc to the r380. Its a lot of money invested in adaptors i guess. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 23, 2010 Share Posted September 23, 2010 I wouldn't bother with re-using the Series TC, you can get away with an LT230 in a SWB well enough, it's more how far forward the engine sits which is the issue. I thought Ashcrofts had some stumpy V8 bellhousings a while back, but could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 24, 2010 Author Share Posted September 24, 2010 I wouldn't bother with re-using the Series TC, you can get away with an LT230 in a SWB well enough, it's more how far forward the engine sits which is the issue. I thought Ashcrofts had some stumpy V8 bellhousings a while back, but could be wrong. Ashcrofts seem to do the short bellhousing for around £200 so I assume they are like hens teeth finding one for sale/ebay/etc etc. Suppose I could do a cut and shut on a standard v8 bellhousing. I'd rather like to keep the series transfer case if possible - any alternative gearbox suggestions - LT77 for instance .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 Why, 2wd option?? you can convert the lt230 to 2wd. G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 24, 2010 Author Share Posted September 24, 2010 I was trying to keep as much of the series as possible. Go for the lt230 and make it 2wd or convert the propshaft joints !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 24, 2010 Share Posted September 24, 2010 Go for the lt230 and make it 2wd or convert the propshaft joints !! You don't need to convert, plenty of people run UJ's and LT230's in permanent 4x4. I converted (even though my axles have CV's) just because I like having RWD. LT77 is not much different to an R380, they're pretty much the same box, the R380 is just a bit of an upgrade. (LT77 -> LT77S -> R380). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garryc Posted September 25, 2010 Share Posted September 25, 2010 I am just starting to go down the same route. Having done the maths on adaptors, it seems really expensive to convert my series transfer case to fit the r380 defender box that I have got. So I am going to try mating the r380 to an LT230 I bought a while ago for another project and convert that to 2wd using the ashcroft kit; I'm not planning to use the free-wheel hubs though. My question is this; the LT230 was from an auto range-rover (1990). Will it simply mate straight up to the R380 or are the bolt patterns/casings different. Many thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 It should all mate up, mine was from a 3-speed auto and went straight on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobotMan Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Garryc if you get the two wheel drive kit but aren't going to use the FWHs I may be interested in taking them off your hands for a few beer tokens to use on a 6x6 project a friend is building. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 27, 2010 Author Share Posted September 27, 2010 I would still rather stick with adapting the R380 to the series transfer case but I do know someone at a machine shop - does anyone know if the adapter is very special or can they be made on a lathe/milling machine etc. Also I have been offered a Disco R380 - I know a Defender one would be better but can the Disco be made to fit by bending the gear lever ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 You're making this a bit hard for yourself... I think a couple of people on here did copy an Ashcroft adapter and from memory it was not easy and the result was eventually removed in favour of just fitting an LT230. The Series TC is significantly weaker and noisier than the LT230, and the adapter kit costs a LOT more than a good LT230 will. The LT230 is available in a variety of ratios (high range only) from 1:1 to 1.6:1 to match your gearing/tyres/engine. With Series diffs you can go for a high high range (eg 1.2 or 1:1) and retain a very low low-range which is nice off-road. The LT230 mounts just require a few sleeved bolt holes through the chassis, 6 from memory, and then the OE mounts from a RR etc. can be bolted on and look very factory. A Disco or RR box cannot easily be made into a Defender fitment, bending the gearstick may not be an option if the stick itself has to appear through the middle of your cubby box / centre seat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 You're missing something, the 1990 Rangie transfer case will be a Borg Warner one, not an LT230... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Just going on what was posted: the LT230 was from an auto range-rover (1990 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 27, 2010 Author Share Posted September 27, 2010 I have been googling - the money I could save on not buying an adapter could be spent at a company in Birmingham I think called Whitehouse - I believe they would convert disco box to defender type. Can I use the same propshafts .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 Just going on what was posted: Back in your cage, didn't mean you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 The money you save not buying the kit (£360 plus faffing) could go a long way towards a built-to-spec brand new R380 from Ashcrofts (~£500 going from their website prices) or your supplier of choice. I'd want more than just some old bits swapped between boxes for that money. You can't use the same props as the LT230 is different (distance between flanges), but you may be able to retain one or the other if you are good with the measuring stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garryc Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 The response was correct re the Borg warner but my box came from a project motor which had the LT230. I have checked the box and it definitely is one. Thanks for the advice fridge; very helpful as ever. I will let you know how I get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 27, 2010 Author Share Posted September 27, 2010 So it's either £360 for the adapter to a 40 year old transfer case or £500 exchange R380 recon gearbox plus finding an lt230 transfer case plus a spot of welding for sleeved bolt holes plus sorting out the props plus sorting out either lt230/two wheel drive or uj versus cv for the front axle - food for thought ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 27, 2010 Share Posted September 27, 2010 So it's either £360 for the adapter to a 40 year old transfer case or £500 exchange R380 recon gearbox plus finding an lt230 transfer case plus a spot of welding for sleeved bolt holes plus sorting out the props plus sorting out either lt230/two wheel drive or uj versus cv for the front axle - food for thought ... Correction: It's either: £360 for the adapter to a 40 year old transfer case or finding an lt230 transfer case (easy, £50 all day long) plus a spot of welding for sleeved bolt holes (not rocket surgery) plus sorting out the props (measure wisely and you can use at least one standard off-the-shelf unit) plus optionally sorting out either lt230/two wheel drive, or not if you're not fussed (UJ's are happy in permanent 4x4 as has been said before) Both options require a gearbox, either LT77 or R380, either new or 2nd hand, and neither of which are found in the wild with a V8 bellhousing + defender shifter. The LT230 gains you strength/reliability, choice of ratios (worth bearing in mind if you plan to go to coiler diffs at a later date) and the option of permanent 4x4 if that floats your boat. So your gearbox options are: - Something old from a V8 defender (LT95? 85?) - Something from a 4-pot defender (LT77/R380) plus a V8 adapter & a bit of faffing & 9.5" clutch - Something from a V8 RR/Disco and a very bendy gear lever which comes up by your left elbow. - Something from a V8 RR/Disco (10.5" clutch) with the back end of a Defender box (bitsa) - Something built from new bits with all the right things in the right places, drop in with no faff but costing a bit of cash. I have the last option, with 2x4 LT230 behind a 4.6, with custom HD props. It wasn't cheap but it all just works perfectly, I have done thousands of miles on it and am very happy with it. When I had the 3.9 in front of the Series boxes I got fed up of feeling like if I pushed the pedal too hard the cogs would explode out of the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokeyone Posted September 28, 2010 Author Share Posted September 28, 2010 Thanks for laying it out in more realistic terms. I'll look round for a lt230. Just an easy question for the moment - visit a steel stockholder for the thick walled steel tube to make the sleeving or is there a clever way .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 The tubes only need to be 2mm wall or so, bolts are M10x100 from memory. Might find a bit of tube in the offcuts bin at a fabricators, or at the scrapyard / tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 The transfer box mounts on my 110's chassis aren't sleeved. Given the choice I would do so though. I'm looking at using some old steering bars for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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