I can't remember if I've mentioned it to you lot before but I am at the early planning stage for an 80" trialler.
I started off with the idea of using a 200tdi disco that i precured as a base, using the diesel engine and a manual box. However, after months of thinking about it i want to go back to a V8, they've served me well in the past and despite a couple of issues with the last one I think that I would miss the noise aswell as the 'zip'
Further work with the tape measure in the garage shows that putting three pedals in the footwell is going to be too much of a sqeeze so auto it's going to have to be.
so far then i have V8 + Auto = 80".........
Here are the options that i know about, and are based on research and not on any actual experience, so i would be grateful to hear from anyone that has.
Here are my options as I see them
1.) get a donor range rover and use the v8 and ZF HP22. pros of this are that it all comes in one package and i don;t even have to split anything, and that they're easy to come by. Con is that i would only have a 12" rear propshaft which is no good to me.2.) V8 and find a Borg Warner type 66 and series transfer box. Main pro of this is that this is a super short combination. Cons, can't seem to find a BW box despite them being fitted to loads of cars in the 70s and 80s. Also i think you need a V8 bellhousing. ALSO, the Ashcroft adapter to fit the tbox to the auto box is no longer made, or as Ashcroft put in a lovely lengthy email to me "we dont do that anymore", that was it!!
3.) Torqueflite 3 speed, ala early range rover. Pro's seem to be availability (tho I cant find one yet!) and strength. Cons are in my head only at the moment as I dont know how long they are, and what tbox i would mate it to. I seem to think that an 80" in my club has this set up and the rear prop is tiny so is it that short at all?Pick the bones out of that lot!!!
This is starting to keep me awake at night (inbetween feeding 3 week old which can't be healthy!)
Any opinions, constructive or otherwise??!!
Dave