High torque manual gearboxes
Discussion
I've got an American truck engine sitting in my shed which is just begging me to swap it into an offroader to make a stupid weekend toy, but the problem is it makes about 300lb-ft at 1200rpm and heads up to 425lb-ft at 3000rpm.
I know there's a huge number of autos that could take that no problem, but I'd prefer to have a manual for the fun of it. So far my searches for gearboxes that could take the torque seems to be limited to big American pickup gearboxes which are hard to find here or luxury diesel cars like BMWS but the ratios aren't great for low range.
Anyone got any suggestions for a suitable gearbox that won't just blow up? Bonus points if it's got a transfer case as well.
I know there's a huge number of autos that could take that no problem, but I'd prefer to have a manual for the fun of it. So far my searches for gearboxes that could take the torque seems to be limited to big American pickup gearboxes which are hard to find here or luxury diesel cars like BMWS but the ratios aren't great for low range.
Anyone got any suggestions for a suitable gearbox that won't just blow up? Bonus points if it's got a transfer case as well.
You want an NV4500. That’s the answer. Takes the torque, parts are around, and bolt a divorced NP205 behind it. Heavy but unkillable.
If that’s too hard to find then an LT95 out of an old Range Rover or 101. Crude as hell but strong. Ratios are rubbish though.
Avoid BMW and car boxes. They’ll shat themselves first time you actually use that low end torque.
If that’s too hard to find then an LT95 out of an old Range Rover or 101. Crude as hell but strong. Ratios are rubbish though.
Avoid BMW and car boxes. They’ll shat themselves first time you actually use that low end torque.
First question is whether you have a transfer box already, and I assume it's a divorced one if so?
And how much length do you have to play with?
I think those are the factors which will narrow down the selection a bit.
Can't see an issue with a car-derived gearbox myself, provided it's able to take the torque. Is your preferred transfer case and axles reasonably well served with different ratios being available to change things to suit?
And how much length do you have to play with?
I think those are the factors which will narrow down the selection a bit.
Can't see an issue with a car-derived gearbox myself, provided it's able to take the torque. Is your preferred transfer case and axles reasonably well served with different ratios being available to change things to suit?
That's less than 600NM?
The V6 manual Amarok was turned down compared to the auto, to 500NM, so it would probably last quite a while before you broke it, it's the same gearbox as the 2.0L, so very common. It's also got a very low crawl ratio, over 50:1, low 1st is lower than it is in any manual Land Rover except the Pumas.
A Subaru STI 6-speed manual will take 600NM all day, it's AWD and you can fit a solid center diff if you want, but no low range.
My other guesses, apart from things people havn't already mentioned, would be the gearboxes behind the 3.0L V6 Audi diesel or S4, and the gearbox behind the M57 BMW engine in the E90 330d or E60 530d. There's an adapter to fit the BMW gearbox to Land Rover transfer cases.
The V6 manual Amarok was turned down compared to the auto, to 500NM, so it would probably last quite a while before you broke it, it's the same gearbox as the 2.0L, so very common. It's also got a very low crawl ratio, over 50:1, low 1st is lower than it is in any manual Land Rover except the Pumas.
A Subaru STI 6-speed manual will take 600NM all day, it's AWD and you can fit a solid center diff if you want, but no low range.
My other guesses, apart from things people havn't already mentioned, would be the gearboxes behind the 3.0L V6 Audi diesel or S4, and the gearbox behind the M57 BMW engine in the E90 330d or E60 530d. There's an adapter to fit the BMW gearbox to Land Rover transfer cases.
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