Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day lads,

What bellhousing pattern is the 3.9 engine? If this engine originally came from buick is the pattern the same as some other buick engine?
I ask because no-one seems to make an adaptor for smallblock ford to range rover but there are some smallblock ford to other GM type gearboxes which may possibly be a way round it?

Cheers,
Pete.

FIXR7 wrote:G'day lads,

What bellhousing pattern is the 3.9 engine? If this engine originally came from buick is the pattern the same as some other buick engine?
I ask because no-one seems to make an adaptor for smallblock ford to range rover but there are some smallblock ford to other GM type gearboxes which may possibly be a way round it?

Cheers,
Pete.

It is the same as pre 1964 Buick, good luck finding something to bolt it to.

Loanrangie wrote:

FIXR7 wrote:G'day lads,

What bellhousing pattern is the 3.9 engine? If this engine originally came from buick is the pattern the same as some other buick engine?
I ask because no-one seems to make an adaptor for smallblock ford to range rover but there are some smallblock ford to other GM type gearboxes which may possibly be a way round it?

Cheers,
Pete.

It is the same as pre 1964 Buick, good luck finding something to bolt it to.

Yeah ok...squat! Thanks Loanrangie!
What about adapting the range rover transfer case(BW?) to a ford AODE/4R70? Or is it possible to use a transfer case from an F-series that's already used the AODE?

Anything is possible given enough cash thrown at it, you can already get a C4-C9 that was fitted to pre factory auto rangies that used a cut down LT95 .

There is a fellow Named Simon in Canada who put a 5.0 HO from a mustang in his 101FC, He is a pattern maker for aluminum parts so he cast up an adapter to hook the LT95 to the Ford V8. I think he might be willing to make more of them if there was a demand. He is/was a member of the Ottawa Valley land Rover Club so you might be able to get ahold of him through there. If not I can dig up his email.

[edit] found his contact info listed herehttp://www.discoweb.org/forums/showthread.php?t=30963

Simon Schofield
Future Patterns and Prototypes
167 Industrial Boulevard PO Box 831 St. George, ON NOE 1NO

519-448-4605
519-448-4610 Fax

Future@execulink.com

Also within the next 6 months Advanced Adapters is supposed to have a new adapter for the LT230 that will allow you to mate a ton of transmissions to it. They already have one out for Series Trucks. Shoot them an email if you are interested.

A Ford 5.0 would be good fun in a Range Rover.

Thanks Yorker, great info!

Sorry you may have to educate me on which is which transfer case? Is the LT230 and/or LT95 another type of transfer case used in RR's or is it what you call the Borg warner job? Which is stronger?
My aim is to use an EFI 351w(I've built a few of these for Falcons I've owned) which may be a little more difficult due to it's tall deck height but not insurmountable methinks.

Pete.

The LT-230 transfer case was used after they stopped using the TT95 with its more or less integral T case. Range Rovers stopped using the LT-230 circa 1989 and went to the Borg Warner. (This applies to the RRs sold in NA, I'm not real savvy with what LR sold down under- your market may have differed.)

The LT230 is pretty darned strong IMHO- I know a lot of people have put serios power through them without huge problems. The weak link seems to be the center differential but there are well established cures for that.


There are also a bunch of one off adapters for the LT230 out there, I have a Ford T-18 4 speed adapted to a LT230 in my workshop. IIRC that adapter set-up was made by Keith at Rovertracks. Someday I'll build a 109 around that combo.

In any case you might want to send an email to Advanced Adapters and ask them about their new adapter- when it will be out and etc.
http://www.advanceadapters.com/

The LT230 came out in 82 with the factory fitted TF727 auto, and continued up untill 89 as yorker said when it was replaced with the B?W viscous unit, but it was continued in the discovery till the end on the series 2 in 2005. It is still fitted to current Defenders.

Thanks Yorker and Loanrangie,

It sounds like the LT230 is the more beefy item then. Does that mean the BW is not as strong or not as good in some way?

FIXR7 wrote:Thanks Yorker and Loanrangie,

It sounds like the LT230 is the more beefy item then. Does that mean the BW is not as strong or not as good in some way?

The BW is great when its working as it is a viscous unit so there is no ability to engage/ disengage, but when the F up they seize . The LT230 is probably one of the best T/cases ever fitted to a 4wd wagon.

Hey Loanrangie,
Do you know what model number the BW unit is called?
These guys list a bunch of info and model numbers....
http://www.rsgear.com/products/parts.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FIXR7 wrote:Hey Loanrangie,
Do you know what model number the BW unit is called?
These guys list a bunch of info and model numbers....
http://www.rsgear.com/products/parts.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I dont know the model number but it isnt a common US fitment that i know of, not in that link anyway and i'd steer clear clear and keep to a LT230 as they are stronger and rarely fail and there is a choice of ratio's available.

Well, it looks like(hopefully) I'm picking up a '93 Vogue this Saturday
So I'll have a BW to start with.
I did some searching and found some info suggesting it's a BW4462?
Why I'm looking for this is, maybe, there's a beefier version that I can use with a Ford AODE and not bother having to adapt the windsor to the ZF auto?