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beginners guide to gearbox conversion - Rover v8?
kiwirex - 18/8/06 at 09:35 AM

Hi All,

First for a long time... seems a shame to make it such a noobie one.

So I've got a donor engine and box - Rover SD1 v8 + auto.
But I'd rather run a manual.

So what's involved in a conversion ?
What bits do I need? What order do they go in?

I see lots of boxes out of 4wd landrovers etc. Could I take the transfer box off and use one of them?

I understand Rover manual boxes are hard to come by, so a toyota supra 5 speed is a common choice.

Anyone know of a good "how to" guide?


Thanks,

Greg H

02GF74 - 18/8/06 at 10:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by kiwirex


dunno the answers but probably could find out more if you ask me nicely.

Obvious/easiest/cheapest? way would be to get a SD1/P6/P5 gearbox.

Series Land rover gearbox was based on rover 4 or 5 so in theory it should be possible to do what you suggest. The output flange would go where the overdrive fits as the transfer box offsests the final drive. You would need an adapter to mate 'box to engine.

A Range Rover/Defender box will bolt straight on but you'd ditch the xfer box.

I believe the crank for auto and manual is different, some maching is required - I don't know which way round it is but think the auto crank can be made to go into a manual but not other way round.

[Edited on 18/8/06 by 02GF74]

AdamR - 18/8/06 at 11:38 AM

There's also the T5 option.

In the UK T5 gearboxs appeared in Sierra Cosworths, but were also used in a multitude of American cars. TVR used them bolted to the RV8 as a stronger alternative to the Rover LT77. The gearbox input shaft spline is the same as a Rover one so you can use a standard RV8 clutch. Bellhousing-wise you can either try and find a TVR one or use the auto bellhousing you have with an adapter plate. I'm going the latter route.

No idea how common T5s are in NZ however...

HTH

[Edited on 18/8/06 by AdamR]

sammy - 18/8/06 at 12:04 PM

I got a RV8 motor from an auto SD1, and later on got an LT77 manual gearbox/bellhousing/flywheel etc from another SD1. The only item I had to change was the spiggot bearing (basically a bronze bush which the gearbox shaft lies in).

I'm pretty sure you cant just remove the transfer box from a Landrover gearbox (unless maybe you had the back end of a 2wd gearbox to replace it with!).

02GF74 - 18/8/06 at 12:43 PM

crank is the same - it is the spigot bush I was referring to.