L

lappers88

New Member
Hi everyone (newbie here), been looking on this forum for quite a while now looking at tips for my new series 3. I have recently bought a series 3 88" truck cab landy and having driven it for 2 days (to work and back) I have decided I would like to make it more driver friendly (as far as a series can be!)
I have read up on the 200tdi conversion and am hoping to carry this out when the right engine comes along, but.. with this new engine is it worth changing the gearbox too? Having spoken to a local guy he recommended changing the gearbox to a r380 as it should fit, is this correct? Is it worth doing? The problem I am having with the current box is actually finding gears can be quite hard - I dread driving through town as the changing from 3rd to 2nd is near impossible. Is this just the way the series 3 gearbox should be or is there any parts changing i could do to make the gears more findable?
Also one last thing, disco diffs: are they a viable(ish) alternative to and overdrive?
Thanks
Luke
 
you'll get used to it, it wont take long, take her on a good long journey, changing gears in them is a nightmare because the gearstick is so long, although a recon/new box actually feels like it has a 'notch' to engage, but not a massive difference.
 
lappers88 said:
Hi everyone (newbie here), been looking on this forum for quite a while now looking at tips for my new series 3. I have recently bought a series 3 88" truck cab landy and having driven it for 2 days (to work and back) I have decided I would like to make it more driver friendly (as far as a series can be!)
I have read up on the 200tdi conversion and am hoping to carry this out when the right engine comes along, but.. with this new engine is it worth changing the gearbox too? Having spoken to a local guy he recommended changing the gearbox to a r380 as it should fit, is this correct? Is it worth doing? The problem I am having with the current box is actually finding gears can be quite hard - I dread driving through town as the changing from 3rd to 2nd is near impossible. Is this just the way the series 3 gearbox should be or is there any parts changing i could do to make the gears more findable?
Also one last thing, disco diffs: are they a viable(ish) alternative to and overdrive?
Thanks
Luke
Click to expand...
i think all series gearboxes are like that my old one was like stirring a can of paint with a golfclub there are threads on here about changing bushes where the gearstick goes into the top of the box to make it a fair bit better but dont worry too much bout finding gears i used to get into the routine of making sure when going from 2nd to 3 rd and back move the stick all the way across coz theres only 4 gears theyre all in opposing corners it just takes a little gerrin used to thats all ;);)

have fun matey :D:D:D:D
 
Sticky gears can be caused by the clutch not disengaging properly or wear in the gearbox. It's worth bleeding the clutch and changing the main gearbox oil. Strain the oil through a tea strainer and see if there are any bits in it.
Even though the S3 box has synchro it sometimes helps to double declutch between gears - clutch pedal down, into neutral, clutch pedal up, clutch pedal down, into gear, pedal up. This will help if the clutch is a bit soggy, too.
 
if yours is a petrol definately put in 3.54 diffs, if its diesel try just swapping rear and trying it .200 tdi will need 3.54 diffs which ones you use will depend if you have oil filler in rear of case , where as any thing can be fitted r380 will be too long you could fit lt77 defender style but get your series gearbox recond it will be alot easier i have fitted most kinds at one time or another but i run 200 tdi series gbox 2 x 3.54 diffs in my light weight
 
The r380 will go in, but you'll need to either have special props made, or move the engine forward, shorter props on a swb are not a good idea, better stick with the series 'box.
Disco diffs are a good idea I have them on mine, the gearing still wont be tall enough even with them, but a lot better than the series ones.
The landy 'box has a long heritage, they take some getting used to as mentioned, its not like shifting gear in a mondeo.
 
Your front axle will not like the permanent 4wd provided by the r380 or lt77 box, thus opening another new can of worms.
 
Bromsgrove Defender said:
Really.....

Are series diffs not interchangeable then front to back so to speak?
Click to expand...

Yes the swb diffs are the same front and back and are interchangeable with diffs from later landies too. But that ain't got nothing to do with why the front axle isn't suitable for permanent 4wd. It has no CV joints. The U'J's it does have are not designed for sustained high speed strain as would be applied if you drove around in 4wd all the time.
 
hughesy said:
Yes the swb diffs are the same front and back and are interchangeable with diffs from later landies too. But that ain't got nothing to do with why the front axle isn't suitable for permanent 4wd. It has no CV joints. The U'J's it does have are not designed for sustained high speed strain as would be applied if you drove around in 4wd all the time.
Click to expand...


Thanks Hughsey.

Erm at the risk of being a pain............

I assume there is some reason why you couldn't use rear prop U,J's then ??
Thought someone already said you'd have to change the propshaft?

Or am I being thick??
 
Hughsey is right, and I think your getting the uj's mixed up, the ones we are talking about are not the ones you can see underneath, they are inside the axle tube inside the swivel housings at the ends.
If you google half shaft photos for defender and series you'll see that a series half shaft has a uj and a deffy has a CV joint.
There are folks on this forum that run the perma 4wd box on uj front axles and they work, I wouldnt want to do it though, thats part the reason why mine has a disco fron axlem but thats an even smellier can of worms.
 
dr pepper said:
Hughsey is right, and I think your getting the uj's mixed up, the ones we are talking about are not the ones you can see underneath, they are inside the axle tube inside the swivel housings at the ends.
If you google half shaft photos for defender and series you'll see that a series half shaft has a uj and a deffy has a CV joint.
There are folks on this forum that run the perma 4wd box on uj front axles and they work, I wouldnt want to do it though, thats part the reason why mine has a disco fron axlem but thats an even smellier can of worms.
Click to expand...


Yup pennies dropped thank you both:D :D
 
Last edited:
A LT230 transfer box can be made to run rear wheel drive only for running about and 4wd when diff lock used thiswhat i do when fitting 5 speed gear box in series
 
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