R380 gearbox in a 350
Discussion
Thanks guys,
The R380 option is realistically a non starter... £1100 for a new box inc bellhousing and remote, then start modifing the car... No
T5 box, I'd have to start modifying things again!... No
The rebuild route I think. There's a guy in Leeds who comes recommended from the Land Rover crowd locally, and he seems to talk common sense..
I've spoken to a number of "specialists" in the last few days... They all seem to agree that the synchro is the weak point, the oil is critical and that most leak from the selector shaft to a greater or lesser extent. Power through the gearbox doesn't appear to be a problem. Those who have factory fresh R380 gearboxes seem to want to trash the LT77 and replace it. (can't think why!)
At nearly 100K my gearbox is worn. I'll see what a rebuild does before spending silly money on a R380 which doesn't seem to be the bees knees of the gearbox world anyway.
Regards
Brian (and a Red 350i)
The R380 option is realistically a non starter... £1100 for a new box inc bellhousing and remote, then start modifing the car... No
T5 box, I'd have to start modifying things again!... No
The rebuild route I think. There's a guy in Leeds who comes recommended from the Land Rover crowd locally, and he seems to talk common sense..
I've spoken to a number of "specialists" in the last few days... They all seem to agree that the synchro is the weak point, the oil is critical and that most leak from the selector shaft to a greater or lesser extent. Power through the gearbox doesn't appear to be a problem. Those who have factory fresh R380 gearboxes seem to want to trash the LT77 and replace it. (can't think why!)
At nearly 100K my gearbox is worn. I'll see what a rebuild does before spending silly money on a R380 which doesn't seem to be the bees knees of the gearbox world anyway.
Regards
Brian (and a Red 350i)
Yep,
Fitted one to the Rally/Race project but it's a Tw*t of a job. Needed the rear mounting moded as the rear case is deaper and longer (Output is in the same place though). It sits a bit low for my liking but as it's SCCR and was cheap it's staying there until I can afford a Quaife unit. They can be got fairly cheaply if you hunt around - try Bernie at competition transmissions. Best route to replace the LT77 (which is a good box) is to go for the T5 unit which can be got for around £350 notes.
Cheers,
GB
Fitted one to the Rally/Race project but it's a Tw*t of a job. Needed the rear mounting moded as the rear case is deaper and longer (Output is in the same place though). It sits a bit low for my liking but as it's SCCR and was cheap it's staying there until I can afford a Quaife unit. They can be got fairly cheaply if you hunt around - try Bernie at competition transmissions. Best route to replace the LT77 (which is a good box) is to go for the T5 unit which can be got for around £350 notes.
Cheers,
GB
Fact.
The reason the R380 didn't replace the LT77 in TVR's was because Land Rover focussed on there own programme for the R380 - ran the LT77 out when they went into production with it and didn't have a 2WD version available until some months later - Oops. In the mean time TVR moved to the T5 and sensibly never moved back. Other lower volume manufacturers stockpiled LT77's and then used the R380 2WD. The box is generally better (LR reliability stats prove this) but in a TVR the LT77 is more than perfectly fine I'd always suggest refurb of an LT77 than replacing it with the R380 for the reasons stated previously. I'm only using it as I got a set of SCCR gears made some years ago when at LR.
GB
The reason the R380 didn't replace the LT77 in TVR's was because Land Rover focussed on there own programme for the R380 - ran the LT77 out when they went into production with it and didn't have a 2WD version available until some months later - Oops. In the mean time TVR moved to the T5 and sensibly never moved back. Other lower volume manufacturers stockpiled LT77's and then used the R380 2WD. The box is generally better (LR reliability stats prove this) but in a TVR the LT77 is more than perfectly fine I'd always suggest refurb of an LT77 than replacing it with the R380 for the reasons stated previously. I'm only using it as I got a set of SCCR gears made some years ago when at LR.
GB
Yep done it. It's tight and the car needs ideally to have the rear wheels on ramps to make it easier.
On my gearbox I have fitted helicoils in the bellhousing, ground part of the webbing off the gearbox so cap head bolts can be put in from the rear and thus the box without the bell housing can be put in and out - it's stil VV-tight (This mod is as per Works TR8/SD1 rally cars).
Tas
On my gearbox I have fitted helicoils in the bellhousing, ground part of the webbing off the gearbox so cap head bolts can be put in from the rear and thus the box without the bell housing can be put in and out - it's stil VV-tight (This mod is as per Works TR8/SD1 rally cars).
Tas
Tower View made up a cradle for me that holds the gear box and also strengthens/stiffens the chassis so the offending bar can be made unboltable. To drop the gear box now is piece of proverbiable. About 20 minutes last time IIRC. But thebox comes out quite often as clutch and gearboxes are consumables 
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