disco auto gearbox longevity?

[holeyhardtop]

i am considering purchasing a disco in the future and was just wondering if the auto is reliable in the long term with higher k's. i'd be looking at something with the 3.9 v8 and auto {maybe diesel but not quite convinced about these engines}with b/w 150>220,000 klm's and would like to know if it would still have a fair bit of life left in it. for comparison my 99 v6 calais has done 260,000k's and it's trans is still shifting well with no real signs of wear according to the auto service mech and the v6 is still perfect.
can i expect the same out of the disco? and from what i've read the motors are pretty good for high kays as well. am i on the right track?
ta in advance. dave.

[HSV Rangie]

the ZF is a top auto.
wil handle anyuthing gthe disco can handle.

maintenance is the answer, check this out.
ZF expensicve to reco.

Michael.

[justinC]

Ditto

ZF's were also chosen by Saab, Peogeot, Volvo, Volkswagen, Renault, BMW, etc etc etc...
I have one that was behind a 200KW 4.6, and now the same gearbox with 280,000km's on it is going behind a turbo intercooled 4BD1 Isuzu, In my RR classic.
Change the oil and filter regularly and keep it cool, it'll last a long time.

JC

[Aquarangie]

ZF autos are near impossible to kill. Behind the 3.9 EFI in the Aquarangie it went at 260,000 kms (actually still drove, but wouldn't change any further than second, and no it wasn't the kickdown cable ), but admittingly I gave it a real hard time

Reco price was $2700, which was a far sight cheaper than many places were going to do it for with the average price of $3500 not too uncommon.

I still have the ZF auto (only done 15,000 kms since reco) and it's going in the 83 when I have done the 4.2 stroker rebuild (doing the whole lot in one hit, next year sometime).

Trav

[V8 Rangie]

My ZF in my 1990 rangy has done 250,000k's and most hard k's going up and down a mountain everyday. The motor is pretty much stuffed but the ZF is still going as good as new.. Trick was to keep the service up to it. Im in process of buying a new motor for the car..either a LS1 or HSV V8 to put infront of the ZF which im sure will last a little while yet. fingers crossed

cam

[Aquarangie]

I didn't think my ZF had been serviced prior to my ownership, well I never did gtet iot serviced at all pre the big bang

It was never having any issues and so I diodn't touch it, but there's no excuses for lapsing on services especially auto boxes!!

You live and learn, the hard and expensive way

Trav

[Philip A]

Just on the subject of ZFs and big engines.
I looked up the maximum torque rqatings for the various ZFs.
The 4HP 22 fitted to 3.9 rangies etc has about if I recall 280 ft Lbs
The 4 HP 24 from the 4.6 has a max torque rating of 370Ft Lbs
A gen 111 has a max torque output of 385 ft lbs
Apparently you can upgrade the 4HP 22 by putting clutches etc out of 4HP 24.

BUT a 3.9 ZF will not last very long behind a Gen111

Regards Philip A

[holeyhardtop]

Thanks for the tips fellas. It sounds like the auto's a good bet if i find one that has been serviced then or with low enough kays that it won't have been damaged yet.

Change the oil and filter regularly and keep it cool, it'll last a long time.

Does the disco require an additional trans cooler to keep it cool or is the factory set up sufficient?
ta
dave

[turps]

That rebuild cost for an auto isnt to bad. GUys with patrols area paying upto $4500 for a full rebuild. And there still not as strong

Also these where behind V12 Jags so what variation where they. As the V12 must put out alot of power and torque.

[HSV Rangie]

hp 24s (in the jag) I think and the valve body and cltch pack wil fit into the 22

Michael.

[Philip A]

The ZF4HP 24 was never fitted to a V12 . it was the Borg Warner Model 12 or GM 4L80E (ie 700).
See this site
http://www.motorcarsltd.com/information/guide.htm
The implication is that the ZF cannot take the V12 torque. the biggest with the ZF was the AJ6 4litre.
I personally think that you would be asking for trouble with a ZF behind a Gen111.
it would be better to use the 4L80 E and adapt an LT230. Someone one one of the OZ boards has done an adaptor, but I do not thingk they are commercially available.
regards Philip A

[HSV Rangie]

either way the the ZF in the RR can be upgraded t work very well.

My ZF is std and to date working very well with my engine.

I would have no issues putting this box behind a 350 again.

If and when it dies I wil be upgrading the clutch pack ect in the 22.

Michael.

[stuee]

The ZF4HP 24 was never fitted to a V12 . it was the Borg Warner Model 12 or GM 4L80E (ie 700).
See this site
http://www.motorcarsltd.com/information/guide.htm
The implication is that the ZF cannot take the V12 torque. the biggest with the ZF was the AJ6 4litre.
I personally think that you would be asking for trouble with a ZF behind a Gen111.
it would be better to use the 4L80 E and adapt an LT230. Someone one one of the OZ boards has done an adaptor, but I do not thingk they are commercially available.
regards Philip A

The 4l80e is quite an expensive tranny. Marks do an adaptor for the 4wd version (used behind gm 4by's in the US) and say the 2wd version can be modified to suit the adaptor. So far the only price I have been able to surce for a 4l80e tranny is around $4000 (new though). As far as I'm aware it is not available on any Australian cars or vehicles. The 4l60e is the electronic version of the t-700... tranny. The 4l80e is the heavyduty version. However if I were to do conversion with a gen 3 i would also use a 4l80e for a piece of mind. On a comp truck I would simply use a beefed up torqueflyte (spelling (flight???)) or th400.

This is probably the reason the engine conversion would not happen any time soon for me because of $$$. 4k for a tranny and 6k for an engine and your already at 10k without actually having started any work.

[discokid]

My torqueflite hasnt been able to handle the gen 3 yet. Im up to gearbox rebuild number 4. The sprag clutches just dont last

The next is going to be a t400 or go manual nv4500

[zuffen]

Discokid,

Have you looked at importing the gear from the States.

Sprags and other T/F re-build stuff is cheap.

[discokid]

Zuffen

I have done so. The imposted sprag in a bolt in type but Ive still blown it

Its not the parts that are a killer its the labour and the stuffing around to clean/replace the coolers etc

Ive now changed torque converters to a far less agressive one and we will see how it goes

Im running a temp gauge on it now so I can see the temp of the oil. Seems to run anywhere from 80deg to 110deg depending on how hard you drive it

This is with and extra cooler and fan so my guess it that it was running hot before

[zuffen]

ATF doesn't stand heat too well.

Once it's been overheated it's dead. I wouldn't want to see an oil temp over 100degrees. Bigger better coolers.

I'd be interested in how it runs as I'm looking at using a T/F for a Rover with a supercharger Lexus engine. I have two T/F 727's and adaptors so can afford to blow one up finding out what they can take.

Surprised the R & P didn't give up before the trans.

[Suspension Stuff]

If you live in Qld Action Automatics at 6/29 Bailey Cres Southport quoted me $1900 fitted and $1600 and something not fitted to recondition my Zf auto with 12 months warantee. His number is 07 5526 3299.