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LT85 5 Spd - Opinions and info

Tech Talk for Rover owners.

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Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:07 pm
Location: Newcastle

LT85 5 Spd - Opinions and info

Post by Phatmoe »

Hey people,

Looking to replace my LT95 with a LT85 that i just happen to have in stock.

I know that the 95 is pretty much unbreakable etc etc but i am curious to know what the LT85 as far as strentgh goes, what it is like regarding Shift quality and reliability. I have read some stuff on oil leaks between the transfer and the Box but i will probably be doing a rebuild etc before the transplant goes ahead.

Any info would be appreciated.

Cheers
1983 4 Door, 4Spd 3.5L Range Rover and I Love it
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Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2002 2:35 pm
Location: Captain Creek QLD

Re: LT85 5 Spd - Opinions and info

Post by Bush65 »

I don't have experience with the LT85, but know a little about them.

The model number of Land Rover gearboxes can give you an idea of strength. Gearboxes designed while they were part of the Leyland group are prefixed with LT (Leyland Transmission) and the numeral part (95, 85, 77, & 230) is the centre distance in mm between the gears (in the case of the LT230, between input and output). The latter R380 designation is deciphered as Rover 380 Nm torque rating - this gearbox has gear centres of 77 mm but is much improved over the LT77 it was based upon.

Larger gear centres relates to larger gears that have thicker thus stronger teeth and allow larger diameter shafts and bearings.

The LT85 is not as strong as an LT95 and there are 2 versions of which the split case version is regarded as weaker. The latter R380's with suffix 'K' or 'L' serial numbers have wider gears, larger bearings (than suffix 'J' R380) and some other design improvements over the LT77 that make it's strength similar to an LT85.

From about 85 to 89 Land Rover used the LT85 behind the Isuzu 4BD1 engine (before 85 the LT95 was used). This engine was hard on gearboxes the low gear torque would destroy the thrust bearing in the LT95 transfer case. But with the LT85 the bearing and pinion shaft could not cope very well with the torque impulses. Some companies (e.g. Maxi-drive) used to repair modify the LT85 to use a larger taper roller bearing on the pinion shaft, which improved their life greatly.

I don't have experience driving the LT85, but they are similar in design to the LT95 and I imagine just as agricultural to drive - but I may be corrected by those with real experience driving them.
John
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Joined: Wed Feb 19, 2003 3:02 pm
Location: Brisbane

Re: LT85 5 Spd - Opinions and info

Post by ISUZUROVER »

John has the main points.

I have an LT85 which was rebuilt by Mal Story (Maxi-Drive). It managed 240k km before the rebuild behind a 4BD1. I find they shift quicker and more smoothly than an LT95, but they are still more truck-like than car-like.

Mal story advised to drop it down to 4th regularly when on the highway, so that the 5th gear bush is properly re-oiled.
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