Right back to landrover related items today instead of engine!
Made a start on measuring up for the gearbox to transfer adaptor.....
The Muncie plus Chevy bellhousing comes in at a lovely and compact 16 7/8" this will also want a 1" adaptor plate on it for the bellhousing to block
The LT230 is 11 1/2" gearbox mating face to output flange end
This gives me a total length of 29 3/8" if mated face to face which is the preferred option over a divorced adaptor!
The R380 short box was 15 1/2" minus bellhousing, the bellhousing on the stumpy is 4 3/4" which gives me a total of 20 1/4" and 31 3/4" with the LT230 on it then with the adaptor plate for R380 to V8 it brings me to 33"
So using the muncie I'm 3 5/8" shorter!
Now as a comparison the series transmission comes in at 27" but my engine has been moved all the way forward now and its also a half inch shorter than the RV8 so I should get a proper length rear shaft on there. Or 29" with the adaptor plate in place.
This means the Muncie SM420 with a face to face adaptor comes in at near enough the same length as a series gearbox and transfer combo when mated to the LT230 using a face to face method.
After measuring I have two options for the transfer box adaptor. I can either mate it direct to the face using an adaptor plate which I'll make by hand or I can use a divorced adaptor as these would have been supplied with from the factory when mated to the Dana cases. Now the divorced adaptor will increase the length of the overall set up by 5" bringing me to 34 3/8th's
Recap;
R380 plus LT230 = 33"
Muncie LT230 face to face = 29 3/8ths
Muncie LT230 divorced = 34 3/8ths
Series plus V8 adaptor = 29"
So with the engine being 1/2" shorter than the RV8 and being moved forward another 1-2" because I have the room it means I'll have room for a proper sized rear shaft whichever method I choose but in the interest of space saving I'm going to try to get a new rear output gear made up for the gearbox as it has the speedo drive on it if not I can always run the speedo from somewhere else and do away with the whole set up there so I'd just need to mill a new back plate with a support bearing housing on it
Anyway onto the pics!
Muncie output drive
LT230 input drive on R380 shaft
Vid of the LT230 and Muncie on the output of the R380 they both fit snugly but its easier to mate it another way due to the shaft length on the SM420
Output splines on the Muncie
Speedo drive which I'd need to get recut if I use the muncie to power the speedo
Couple of box pics
Box length 10.7 as stated
Rear face to rear of the 2wd output is 4 3/8ths
The LT230 face to face drive would be made by machining a 1 1/8th shaft and simply slipping it over the inner one with a support bearing on the adaptor and the LT230 would obviously hold it perfectly central anyway but best be safe than sorry