Pappasmurf
Well-Known Member
Did you watch the test drive video. I couldnt tell if there was a huge difference, certainly not enough to justify the £1500(I think) price tag. Unless its quieter in person of cause.
I've got a thread called 'building the gearbox of my dreams' where I talk about this in more detail. I also put in an Ashcroft limited slip centre diff and changed some transfer box bearings while I was at it Yes, they're a bit dear, but compared to many Land Rover accessories like decent winches or galvanised chassis, its not that excessive, and I use it a lot more than I would use a winch. Much quieter at speed. Nice to have another gear to shift into at about 60 or 70. I occasionally gives me a little whine, when it's in 'standard' gear at lower speeds, but as you go faster it disappears, either drowned out by the rest of the Land Rover noise or it's a sufficient high frequency that I can't hear it. But this is b no means all the time. If it's in overdrive high, it's quieter, although there are more gears working. Last time i looked, there was no one on the internet who claimed to have broken one. The worst people say is that they can be noisy.
Jerry Coles
Member
I fitted a Roamerdrive to my 300tdi 90. A word of advice- it's a heavy bit of kit and trying to install it in a confined space close to the handbrake is difficult. Once you have removed the blanking plate and are ready to fit it get some threaded rod or bolts with the head cut off and insert them into two or three of the fixing holes. You can then slide the unit along the threaded rod taking the weight of the unit and not damaging the seal. Took a weight off my arms!! once in th correct position then insert the rest of the bolts and nip them up finger tight. You can then unscrew the rod and fit the bols insted. Made the job so much easier!!
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
It essentially gives you an extra gear, so will allow you to cruise at the same speed for lower rpm. It won't magically make the engine less noisy however.
Pappasmurf
Well-Known Member
So what's the difference co.pared to a Disco 2 transfer box?
300bhp/ton
Well-Known Member
More gears. And it won't blunt performance.
Discovery's have smaller tyres and run a 1.2:1 transfer box. A Defender fitted with 7.50 x 16 or 235/65R16 tyres and a standard 1.4:1 transfer box will give about the same mph per 1000rpm.
Fitting a 1.2:1 transfer box and the bigger tyres will give you a higher mph per 1000rpm. The trade off is usually less peppy acceleration, not so good towing, especially pulling away. And depending on the vehicle and engine in question, you may struggle to pull top gear on steep hills at speed.
Over drives were popular in the 60's thru 70's on lots of British and other cars, such as MG's and Triumphs. They don't just give you one extra gear you can engage the over drive in any gear. So it actually turns your 5 speed box into a 10 speed!!! And will work in low range too. It even gives you multiple speeds in reverse.
However in normal driving you would either leave the OD in all the time and run with a gear set similar to a 1.2:1 in terms of mph per 1000rpm in each gear. Or you could drive it like a 6 speed with 6th gear being a separate lever.
