Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I'm thinking I'd like to upgrade my 1981 Rangie's gearbox in the near future from the original LT95 4spd to a 5speed. Which would be the best to go with - and yes, a budget will be the determining factor!

Currently running a 3.5ltr carby motor but that too will be upgraded sometime down the track to something a bit more meatier!

Cheers

mu-stu wrote:I'm thinking I'd like to upgrade my 1981 Rangie's gearbox in the near future from the original LT95 4spd to a 5speed. Which would be the best to go with - and yes, a budget will be the determining factor!

Currently running a 3.5ltr carby motor but that too will be upgraded sometime down the track to something a bit more meatier!

Cheers

If you want something bolt-in then the R380 and LT230 is your best option. The LT77 (or LT77s if you can find one), while a lot cheaper, are nowhere near as strong, especially since you want to increase performance later.

Ben,

Check your PM's mate ... re custom springs.

Swap out an LT95, I thought these were the strongest LR-units? Is it just for another gear?

Yep, got to agree with that. I can't see the point swapping your LT95 unless it has a fault or you want an auto.

Yep, got to agree with that. I can't see the point swapping your LT95 unless it has a fault or you want an auto.

Sure it's big, has a huge throw but it's so tuff.

walker wrote:Yep, got to agree with that. I can't see the point swapping your LT95 unless it has a fault or you want an auto.

Sure it's big, has a huge throw but it's so tuff.

Different models have different throw. my old one had a large throw, and my current one is much less. the bloke who rebuilt it said somthing about a late model selector.

Go for an auto (zf hp22/24) over a r380, lt77 or lt85 as they are stronger if you want to upgrde power.

My sudgestion would be buy a whole 3.9 rangie or disco smashed from http://www.fowles.com.au/search/default ... ry=salvage or from http://www.pickles.com.au/search.html .Expect to pay around the 2k mark for a smashed one with good running gear. Then do a straight swap with the 3.9 aswell.

Andy

Performance of an old 3.5 carb motor will be dissapointing with 5 speed, after being used to the ratios in the LT95.

You need a good bit more power, or a 1.41:1 LT230 from a 110, which drops the high range gearing back to near where you are with the LT95.

The 1st gen R380's had stronger gears and larger bearings, but in the re-design (from LT77), rover introduced a bad stress raiser in the main shaft, which makes the weaker overall compared to late LT77.

The 2nd gen R380, fixed the mainshaft and increased width of gears and size of bearings again. These are far better than LT77.

Not long after they bought out the 3rd gen, which is still current. These are the best of the R380. More refined and better to drive than an LT85, but not as strong as modified LT85.

Generation of R380 is determined from serial number. From memory they are 'J' suffix, then 'K' then 'L'.

Thanks fellas.

Bugeye, you have the wrong bloke

Some of the reasons for swaping boxes, I thought:
1. I'd get a bit better fuel consumption (probably marginal);
2. Reduce the shift;
3. More usable gear range (with 5 gears rather than 4);
4. Faster shift - mine's very 'notchy' think it must be been rebuilt not long ago;
5. I rather manuals over autos but if someone his convincing enough, I might consider it;
6. Basically trying to upgrade the truck with newer technology.

Feel free to pooh-pooh any of these ideas as I don't always know what I'm talking about!!

MuStu,
I would personally shoe -horn the 2.8 turbo and box into the RR....

Seriously, the LT95 is the best choice. A) it is already in there.
B) It is sronger than the LT77 and R380
C) It can be rebuilt by someone who knows what they are doing reasonably cheaply and you know you will then have a geabox for life..
And D) It is already in there.
BTW, I like autos...

JC

As justin said, stick with the LT95, and keep the LT95 out of the rangie you are wrecking for spares. If you want lower revs when cruising, you can change to higher ratio transfer gears (0.998:1). Most 9.3:1(?) "high compression" 3.5:1 rangies from about 1983 on should have had these gears.

All LT95s are noisy, but that doesn't necessarily mean they are on the way out. The first signs of trouble are often when the gearstick moves when you go on and off the accelerator.

Alrighty then, will stick with the existing box.

Many thanks for your ideas on this.