The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi All,

I am not having much luck with the gearbox(s) which I have put in my V8 series L/R 88"

Both the late SIII and SII box which have been fitted have not lasted and have failed within 500 miles of each other.

I am thinking of putting a LT95 4 speed box in next with a 101 bell housing and shorter input shaft. I think this should give me enough room for a rear prop and I can keep the classic series front end look.

Has anyone done this conversion before and are there any tips?

If this works I will change the front axle with a stage 1 to give me CV joints as the LT95 is permanent 4 wheel drive.

Thanks,

Bryan

I put a standard LT95 coupled to a P6 (it's got a shorter water pump 'nose' and pulley than the SD1/RR/serp front cover) v8 in a lightweight, without the 101 bellhousing and it fitted. Just. It tended to eat the UJ at the front of the front prop due to the relatively horrible angle. From what I know now I'd use a Stage 1 v8 front prop, but I just cut down I think a standard lwb rear prop to the right length. The rear prop was short, but not outrageous. The back of the engine/gearbox combo basically pointed at the diff. Didn't use a CV axle, just the s3 standard UJ'd half-shafts. Only really felt them when the centre diff was locked up. It also used to 'wring' the splines off the ends of the rear half-shafts too so I replaced the military fine-splined drive plates with civvy ones and used cheaper standard half-shafts and just changed them every so often. Front end remained the same - stepped back like a proper landy! Initially I put the rad in the tailgate, but carb icing, or at least running too cold, made me put it in the front. Can't remember what I used, but don't think it was exotic. Just a big Kenlow fan squeezed in immediately behind the grill. I modified the whole of the front, wings, bonnet/etc to hinge forward for maintenance. Exhaust manifolds were I think early RR. One came out central and the other towards the rear. The bulkhead needs 'adjusting'. Mine I hit with a hammer on one side! and cut a chunk out with an angle grinder for the other. New transmission tunnel tidied and covered up the whole thing.