Opinions on manual transmission conversion
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Pro Wrench
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Las Vegas
Opinions on manual transmission conversion
I've been kicking around this conversion for quite awhile. There is a guy local that has everything needed to swap out the auto. Including clutch pedal flywheel pressure plate and slave cylinder. He also has a Lt230 still attached to it including both drive shafts and flanges.
I wanted a 230 any way to get rid of the Borg Warner non locking case, and I really would prefer to shift my own gears. I'm not sure if I'm forgetting something or over looking an obvious problem with this swap. I was concerned about speedo values being the same too. Opinions? Anyone w experience with this?
I wanted a 230 any way to get rid of the Borg Warner non locking case, and I really would prefer to shift my own gears. I'm not sure if I'm forgetting something or over looking an obvious problem with this swap. I was concerned about speedo values being the same too. Opinions? Anyone w experience with this?
Winching
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 676
Likes: 43
Is it an R380, LT77, or LT85?
The Borg-Warner to LT230 swap is worth it, but get the ZF auto instead of the 5 speed. The 5 speed they put in Rovers is a poor one that does not last. It's weak, and it overheats. It's sometimes coveted in the North American market because it was rare, but it markets where it was common, it's undesirable and the autos are often favored.
There are some people whose opinions will be overwhelmingly biased. Maybe they don't know how to drive a stick and must have an auto, or they hate autos and have to shift the gears themselves. My advice is not based on my own bias or what bias you may have. The fact is the manuals were not especially good ones, and the autos were not too bad.
The 4HP22 is not especially exciting, but it's a decent transmission that works well and is strong enough. You should be able to get a 4HP22 coupled with a LT230 fairly easily without paying too much, and it's not hard to swap in that way. If you drive hard or offroad, the chances are it won't last forever, but you can continue to find used ones easily.
If you do go with a 5 speed, it should at least be an R380 with the L suffix. The LT77, LT85 and R380J were lesser. With the R380, you can get upgraded Quaife gearsets. You could build it up quite good indeed, but it's not worth the expense.
The Borg-Warner to LT230 swap is worth it, but get the ZF auto instead of the 5 speed. The 5 speed they put in Rovers is a poor one that does not last. It's weak, and it overheats. It's sometimes coveted in the North American market because it was rare, but it markets where it was common, it's undesirable and the autos are often favored.
There are some people whose opinions will be overwhelmingly biased. Maybe they don't know how to drive a stick and must have an auto, or they hate autos and have to shift the gears themselves. My advice is not based on my own bias or what bias you may have. The fact is the manuals were not especially good ones, and the autos were not too bad.
The 4HP22 is not especially exciting, but it's a decent transmission that works well and is strong enough. You should be able to get a 4HP22 coupled with a LT230 fairly easily without paying too much, and it's not hard to swap in that way. If you drive hard or offroad, the chances are it won't last forever, but you can continue to find used ones easily.
If you do go with a 5 speed, it should at least be an R380 with the L suffix. The LT77, LT85 and R380J were lesser. With the R380, you can get upgraded Quaife gearsets. You could build it up quite good indeed, but it's not worth the expense.
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Pro Wrench
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 142
From: Las Vegas
I'm sorry I should have mentioned that. It is a R380. This trans has a bit of a strange rep. Some say it's fine some say it's weak. I have read alot about main shaft wear on the transfer case side.
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