93 Rangie Viscous coupling dead.

[A*D*A*M]

Hi all,

The Viscous coupling unit in my '93 Rangie has seized.

I'm thinking of replacing it with a LT230, (cheaper, stronger, full 4WD engagement). I've got a few questions for anyone who's done this before.

Can anyone out there give me a full list of parts that I need to do the conversion?

Is it a bolt-out, bolt-in job, or do I have to find someone to do welding, machining, etc?

Any special tools that I need beyond usual spanners, sockets, screw drivers, drills, etc?

Are any LT230s in different models superior to others or are they all the same? The defender case has a lower high range and same low range doesn't it? I'm running 32's, I'm thinking defender LT230 will bring me back to about stock gearing on the road.

And finally, any recommendations from anyone about where I can get the bits that I need at a reasonable price in Sydney? My quotes so far are around $1600 for a second-hand LT230 with over 200 000k on it. $2600 for a reco one. My search hasn't been exhaustive though.

Well thanks for any help you can give me. I searched but couldn't find what I needed.

Adam.

[justinC]

Hi Adam

LT 230 conversion I did recently required the fitment of the front tailshaft from donor vehicle,(Different length)
The transfer gear bore had to be drilled a further 30 mm as the spline on the auto trans adapter shaft out of the ZF was too short and the gear in the transfer case bottomed out.
The LT 230 low / high shifter assembly bracket needs to be supplied off the donor vehicle. So does the pivot point for the diff lock etc. ( this is attached to the bracket, make sure you get it.)
The whole exercise is a piece of cake if you have acces to a donor vehicle, or buy all the bits from someone who knows what they are doing.
A difflock warning lamp may also help, although I haven't got one on mine...

PM for more help, or I think that AQUARANGIE has done this aswell and may help with further suggestions.

JC

[Hobie18]

Hi Adam

I'm in the process of doing this now, I broke/cracked the housing on my viscous coupling at Ormeau last weekend. Luckily we had a LT230T from an 88 turbo diesel. I think the ratio in this is 1.22:1 which should maintain about the same gearing for high range

Another thing which is different is the handbrake setup, the front driveshaft from a LT95 is the correct length

[Aquarangie]

Another thing which is different is the handbrake setup, the front driveshaft from a LT95 is the correct length

The handbrake set-up can be adapted from the VC transfer. The small mounting on the VC was used and I re-mounted it to the RHS engine mount. Its a dead set PIA as you need to remove the mount to do this but I didn't have the LT230 linkage (I did but the boofhead I bough the LT230 off bent the crap out of it and it was unusable )

I agree, buy one complete with all the bits. Also note that the hi-lo linkage is different on manuals and autos and can't be retro-fitted as the manual is part of the main selector set-up I have noted.I made this mistake on mine and tried to save money and ended up spending it unnessacarily as I didn't get the complete package

Also note if you poach one from a 94 onwards you'll need the output shaft as the splines are longer. If you 93 is a manual, you'll need a transfer from the same year.

The most common ratio is the 1.22 high range. The Defender 1.41 is quite a price from the LR wreckers, also the earlier TF auto ones are taller at 1.003.

Anyway, bes of luck with it.

Trav

[A*D*A*M]

Thanks Guys,

How many KM can I expect to get out of an LT230? I know, probably depends on use and maintenance, but as an average? If I buy a second hand one with 200 000 KM on it, will I be up for a rebuild straight away, or will I get another 200 out of it?

Can anyone recommend somewhere to buy reasonably priced bits in Sydney?

Cheers,
Adam.

[justinC]

ADAM,

Mines done 430,000km...Still good with no noises or failures. Key to long life apart from no abuse, is to change the oil regularly.

JC

[Vogue]

Hi ADAM, did you do your conversion?
I'm about to to the same and was wondering if you had any extra advice on top of the help from others?

[Maggot4x4]

Can anyone recommend somewhere to buy reasonably priced bits in Sydney?

Cheers,
Adam.

Try LVS near Campbelltown

[Vogue]

I've just bought a zf and lt230 complete with all the extra bits for the conversion from TriumphRover in SA.
Any tips regarding removal of old transmission and fitting new one?

What should i do with the console? Just cut it back or???

[A*D*A*M]

Vogue,

No I haven't done anything yet. Been away a bit with work, no time, excuses, excuses. I'm just driving it around waiting for my diffs to go bang. (will give me an excuse to put Nissan/cruiser diffs in. Did I hear someone say divorce?)

Do you mind telling me what you paid for Trans case and all the bits? I was quoted around $2300 delivered. Ouch.

Maggot4X4

I'll give LVS a call when I get a break.

Thanks,
Adam.

[Vogue]

Yeh, i paid $2300 for a zf, lt230 and all the bits delivered. It's all from a disco that's only done 50,000km. Arrives monday!!! Then the fun begins

[A*D*A*M]

$2300 for LT230, linkages plus a ZF trans doesn't sound too bad. Who was that through? My quote for $2300 was just for the LT23O plus linkages.

Adam.

[Vogue]

That's from TriumphRover in SA. Talk to Phill.

www.triumphroverspares.com.au

[A*D*A*M]

Well I got Bruce Davis to do all the work in the end. For about $2400 I got a brand new LT230 with 1.41 ratios fitted. Much neater job than I would have done too!

A lot of coin but, some quotes I got were about the same money for a "low mileage" box plus I had to do all the work myself.

The 1.41 ratio accelerates better around town and off road running 265/75 (32.4 inch) tyres. Revs a bit high at 100kph though, about 2400rpm. I was planning fitting 285/75 (33inch) tyres when these ones wear out anyway, so should just about be perfect.

Adam.