The V8 Owners Forum -

can any one help me?
i am trying to build a 3.5 v8 escort cabriolet i have both cars and have started to strip them. i plan on using a capri back end and drive shaft on the escort base, but i am having trouble working out which gear box i can use. i know capris have been converted before so thats why im using it as a base. any help anyone can give would be gratefully recieved
Cheers
Dan

If you want a manual box there are plenty of guys on here who will advise. If you want to go the auto route, the TH350 or 400 is a compact auto that will fit as well without too much fettling. It aint cheap, but its a stonking box.

hi there thanks for that i am looking for a manual so hope someone can help me out and if i do go auto i will deffinetly look at one of those boxes
cheers
Dan

Rover LT77
R380
T5

All good manual boxes, depending on your budget!

what cars do these boxes come from or can i get them else where. aso can i use a capri gearbox
Cheers For the help
Dan

Hi
LT77 is in SD1 rover, TR8, various DAF V8 vans, Range rover, Disco, Morgan +8, Marcos, some TVR V8 wedges and some early ones with the 3.5 V8, some manual Jags.
R380 later DAF V8 vans, later Range rovers and Discos, Satanta Landrovers.
T5 in various forms is in alot of amarican fords that have a manual box, also found in some Sierra cosworths (2WD ones) (I believe they are quite different though, don't know how). The one that is of interest is the T5 fitted to TVRs with the rover V8 as it has a bell housing to fit the two together.
The best box for your money is an R380 out of a DAF, anything out of a DAF is not sexy on Ebay and it will not fit a rangerover without modification. The box is a big step up in strength from the LT77. A 4WD R380 can be converted with a DAF tail cone. There are various sets of ratios with the R380, the van ones tend to have a low first, but this is not always the case.
Mike

kiwicar wrote:Hi
LT77 is in SD1 rover, TR8, various DAF V8 vans, Range rover, Disco, Morgan +8, Marcos, some TVR V8 wedges and some early ones with the 3.5 V8, some manual Jags.
R380 later DAF V8 vans, later Range rovers and Discos, Satanta Landrovers.
T5 in various forms is in alot of amarican fords that have a manual box, also found in some Sierra cosworths (2WD ones) (I believe they are quite different though, don't know how). The one that is of interest is the T5 fitted to TVRs with the rover V8 as it has a bell housing to fit the two together.
The best box for your money is an R380 out of a DAF, anything out of a DAF is not sexy on Ebay and it will not fit a rangerover without modification. The box is a big step up in strength from the LT77. A 4WD R380 can be converted with a DAF tail cone. There are various sets of ratios with the R380, the van ones tend to have a low first, but this is not always the case.
Mike

cheers for that i do have a 1989 range rover vogue that the engine is coming from so could i use that? i thought it wouldnt be that quick as i do want to use it and looking for some good performance figures and speed.
cheers
Dan

you cant use any of the 4x4 boxes without changing the back of the gearbox. They all have transfer boxes bolted on instead of the 2wd tail cone. Whether you can do this or not depends on your abilities and being able to find the end of a 2wd gearbox. Chances are that will be attached to a box anyway so use that.

katanaman wrote:you cant use any of the 4x4 boxes without changing the back of the gearbox. They all have transfer boxes bolted on instead of the 2wd tail cone. Whether you can do this or not depends on your abilities and being able to find the end of a 2wd gearbox. Chances are that will be attached to a box anyway so use that.

so you recommend using a daf box or which one?
cheers
Dan

Daf R380 is the cheepest newest and most likley to come up, however generally have a low first gear as I said earier. SD1 lt77 is the second most likley BUT will be much older. It depends on your budget. The rangerover box will have a higher first but as has been said it needs a 2WD tail cone. Check ratios before you make your choice.
Mike

hi there will this gear box be good enough if i refurb it, its on ebay item number 120251413528
cheers
Dan

Its an LT77, it lacks a bell housing, and the gear lever but it is a box, the more you can get in one bit the better, but with the bell housing, gear lever and clutch linkage off the range rover should get you there. also it will have a sensible 1st gear. Don't pay too much for it though there will be others if you don't get that one.
Mike

cheers for that mike ill keep you updated. if i get this one will i need a 2wd cone or not?
Dan

Rangerover bellhousing is useless in a car as well its huge in comparison. Its much longer engine to gearbox ways so leaves the gear stick much further back. Add that to the list of changes needed to convert a 4x4 box to a 2wd box. You will need to change the input shaft as well I think.

katanaman wrote:Rangerover bellhousing is useless in a car as well its huge in comparison. Its much longer engine to gearbox ways so leaves the gear stick much further back. Add that to the list of changes needed to convert a 4x4 box to a 2wd box. You will need to change the input shaft as well I think.

cheers for that so i am best to get the gear box off ebay and use a different bell housing etc