SLICKSHIFT
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zeaphod
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In my experience with a LT77/200TDi, it wasn't worth the (admittedly easy) bother of fitting it. A little less throw of the gearstick, but not much. After a bit of digging I discovered it was originally designed for the R380 and is an effective upgrade for that.
300bhp/ton
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Slick shift makes a HUGE difference on an LT-77.
However, Op needs to know what gearbox they have. Most factory V8's will be the LT-85. No idea what they mean by 350, unless they mean 350 Chevy SBC, but then that is hardly factory......
However, Op needs to know what gearbox they have. Most factory V8's will be the LT-85. No idea what they mean by 350, unless they mean 350 Chevy SBC, but then that is hardly factory......
300bhp/ton
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Where is reverse gear?
LT-85 looks like this:
And has a super long throw, making gearchanges quite slow. But it is a relatively strong box.
LT-77 looks like this:
300bhp/ton
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I don't think its that, just that everyone has an opinion, but often not based on logic, common sense or 1st hand experience. Or they just have unrealistic expectations.
The slick shift kits reduce the throw by quite a lot and make the gearchange quite a bit more positive. But it is still a 4x4 with a half a yard length gearstick.
However, if you drive vehicles back to back with and without the Slick shift, it is very very evident they are hugely different. e.g. my brother has a slick shift in his 90, but I don't. We also have a V8 90 with the LT-85 in.
The slick shift takes a bit of getting used too, but once you are, it feels perfectly natural and is more positive to shift gears.
300bhp/ton
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Yes. Both LT-85 and LT-77 have reverse next to 1st. For rhd, away and up. R380 has reverse opposite 5th, ie towards you and down.
I have a slickshift for the r380.
I purchased it new as my partner complained about the sloppy gear change.
I then adjusted the box without fitting it...
And the slick shift is still in its box, never having been fitted.
What im saying from the above is that all the devices do is compress the movement. It will make "error" smaller, but only because it makes every movement smaller.
I also suspect that a lot of the "improvement" people see is simply as they bothered to adjust the unit when fitting the slick shift, whilst they could have just adjusted it without purchasing anything new.
(i, pretty much, did the worst of this - i spent the money and then didnt fit it!)
Id suggest to anyone thinking of buying one to adjust their unit before getting out their credit card, as you may find, like i did, that with simple adjustment on a stock unit, the motion becomes perfectly acceptable, without spending any money.
I purchased it new as my partner complained about the sloppy gear change.
I then adjusted the box without fitting it...
And the slick shift is still in its box, never having been fitted.
What im saying from the above is that all the devices do is compress the movement. It will make "error" smaller, but only because it makes every movement smaller.
I also suspect that a lot of the "improvement" people see is simply as they bothered to adjust the unit when fitting the slick shift, whilst they could have just adjusted it without purchasing anything new.
(i, pretty much, did the worst of this - i spent the money and then didnt fit it!)
Id suggest to anyone thinking of buying one to adjust their unit before getting out their credit card, as you may find, like i did, that with simple adjustment on a stock unit, the motion becomes perfectly acceptable, without spending any money.
I’ve fitted one to my lt77 box, found it very difficult to get it set properly. Yes it solves gear changes feeling like stirring a bowl of soup but often difficult to get into gear without a lot of force, and having to ‘find’ the gears, especially downshifting 5th to 4th.
I wouldn’t recommend it.
I wouldn’t recommend it.
300bhp/ton
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Sounds more like something else going on tbh. Certainly this is not the case on my brothers 90 with the slick shift.
I think this is a key here as well. I had a friend with one fitted and I hated it. But my daily drive for the last 18 years has been an stock lt77 so th normal gear change is what I am used to, what expect a land rover to feel like, and what I have adapted my driving and gearchange style to suit. He was used to small modern Japanese two seater sports cars so hated the defender box!
300bhp/ton
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I would say no. The slick shift isn't about reducing slop, it reduces the actual throw (usually at a trade off of slightly more weight). If you have slop or difficulty finding gears, then there is something wrong already. However, a good standard setup vs the slick shift still has a HUGE difference.
On the farm and between myself, my brother & Uncle. We have at least 8 vehicles to compare to covering LT-77 stock (in good condition, in fact multiple example), LT-77 with slick shift, LT-77 with Disco shifter in an 88 coiler, LT-85 in a factory V8, R380 in a 300Tdi and MT82, as well as an LT-95.
Michady
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KISSMYAURA
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i identify as a 10mm spanner
