Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Gents,

Who do I have to contact to order 3.15 gears for my 3.5l NJ?

I finally have the money

Ado

Frank or Mark Hardman

HARDMAN
BROS PTY LTD
385-395 LOWER DANDENONG RD,
DINGLEY, VICTORIA 3172, AUSTRALIA
PH: 61 3 9551 5566 - FAX: 61 3 9551 8060

EMAIL: info@hardmanbros.com.au

BTW u will love the gears!!!

Ado

Be aware that in the manual box the 3.15 gears do not just "swap in" replacing the existing gears, it does require machining of the transfer case where the shifter rail goes thorugh into the transmission, machining of the large gear to allow for a circlip, and also machining off the bottom of the shift lug which is mounted on the shift tail.

Installing the 3.15 gears is not a job for the average home mechanic, but requires work from an Engineer. You will need to pull the gearbox almost completly apart. So..... it is not a quick job, but it can be done.

The gears are great, esp for winching, and crawling over rocks and boulders, so well worth it...... just make sure you know what is involved !

Kiwijero.

That doesn't sound good at all. I thought it was much simpler than that. Has anyone had the gears installed in Melbourne?

Kiwijero wrote:Ado

You will need to pull the gearbox almost completly apart. So..... it is not a quick job, but it can be done.

The gears are great, esp for winching, and crawling over rocks and boulders, so well worth it...... just make sure you know what is involved !

Kiwijero.

Hi,
I'm sure ado won't mind me deviating slightly from his topic......

Anyway, normal driving where you would have been tootling along in 2nd and 3rd low (2000rpmish) where does this lead to now? I guess you'd be in 4th and 5th..? There are soooo many times I would like to go slower, a high 1st and such instant torque can make slightly jerky progress, but I guess what I am saying - are the 3.15's TOO low for 33's? (or will I just have to get some 35's....... )

Just after some 1st hand useage in all situations are they better? Winching would be so much easier on the clutch.

I have PM'ed JTOP to get an idea of the time frame to undertake this fitting but haven't heard back. Any ideas on a fitting cost incl machining?

Regards, NJ

Here is a quick graph I did up.....



My concern is they will be too low! Low 3rd as it stands now is great for 'clearing the treads' but only just....

What do you guys reckon?

NJV6, I went through comparing the ratio's as you have and in the end decided that the 3.15 gears matched the best (compared to waiting for 2.85 to be manufactured).
Basically (in low box) you get a new 1st gear, and then 2nd gear matches the old 1st gear, 3rd gear matches the old 2nd gear and so on. The only negative is that your top speed in the new 5th gear is quite a bit slower, and can mean you need to change up into high when you get off the dirt onto a faster track (logging road etc)

You have the same diff ratio as me, only difference being the 33" tyres ! However once I went to 35's, 1st gear was just too fast, I burnt out the clutch, and that dove me to fitting 3.15's. That said, going to 35's probably made the biggest single difference to off-roading for me.

With regard to costs, I think the machining work was about $150. We also did the clutch at the same time, so costs did mount up. You do have to pull the box apart, so I would assume between 10 and 20 hours.

I don't have any regrets, so i'd say if you do a lot of winching, slow crawling ove rocks/boulders, then go for it !! Then go to 35's !

Kiwijero

Ian Sharpe wrote:Frank or Mark Hardman

HARDMAN
BROS PTY LTD
385-395 LOWER DANDENONG RD,
DINGLEY, VICTORIA 3172, AUSTRALIA
PH: 61 3 9551 5566 - FAX: 61 3 9551 8060

EMAIL: info@hardmanbros.com.au

BTW u will love the gears!!!

while we are on the topic of contacting Frank, I have been trying to for several months now. I have emailed him numerous times, PMed him on the 4x4wire and on here. It has been 3 months now or even longer since I have heard from him; does anyone know if he is alright or did something happen to him?

Thanks,
Scott