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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Thinking of an overdrive
Hey guys,

As per title I'm thinking of fitting my 91 110 with an overdrive to give it a bit more flexibility and some longer legs.

Has anyone on here got any experience of them?

My boss had on on his series and loved it and I can see the appeal of effectively a 6th gear.

I have only just started looking so don't really know any brands for them, does anyone have any suggestions?

Also to preempt I have decided against the disco transfer box route as it is a fixed gearing ratio and
I have heard it can make a heavily loaded 110 a bit difficult to get moving, particularly uphill.


Thank you in advance Very Happy

Dog
Post #307769 13th Feb 2014 2:18pm
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g-mack



Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

United Kingdom 
i thought the disco box only had different 5th gear ratio ! i might be wrong mind! My 109 thread

my youtube channel
Post #307786 13th Feb 2014 4:58pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3334

United Kingdom 
I think shaggydog was referring to just swapping the transfer box so the different ratios apply across all of the gears.

I run the disco transfer box on my TD5 110 with 33inch tyres and it pulls fine. I am running at 185bhp+ however so that helps Very Happy

I looked at the overdrive but they're expensive compared to the transfer box route and more complicated therefore more to go wrong.... 
Post #307788 13th Feb 2014 5:07pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Thanks for spotting that guys!

I did mean the transfer box, I don't like the idea of getting bogged down trying to start away from a standstill on a mountain road with 6 people and camping gear in the back.

That said if its not a problem its not a problem so open to persuasion.

Currently running standard 200TDI with 265/75/16's if its any help?
Post #307826 13th Feb 2014 7:40pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2560

Scotland 
I'd be looking at the Roamerdrive (formerly Roverdrive) that Rocky Mountain sell in the UK.

I've not got one, but I've been in vehicles fitted with one and while the fuel savings claims are probably pretty optimistic they do have a positive effect on the noise level in the cab through the reduction in engine revs. The vehicle I drove with one fitted was a Tdi and it was only ever any use on the motorways, and even then on a steeper hill you had to drop it into fourth to keep the revs up and the turbo spinning. For flat-level cruising though, fantastic bit of kit.

I would only fit one to a Tdi if I was doing a lot of motorway miles. I do a fair amount myself but not enough to warrant the bill at the moment!
Post #307832 13th Feb 2014 7:59pm
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
Shaggydog the 200 tdi discovery used the Discovery transfer box and seemed to cope just fine! The only time i could foresee it being a problem would be doing a hillstart with a heavily laden trailer but then you could pull away in low range and shift into high range once under way. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #307839 13th Feb 2014 8:20pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2560

Scotland 
Quote:
Shaggydog the 200 tdi discovery used the Discovery transfer box and seemed to cope just fine! The only time i could foresee it being a problem would be doing a hillstart with a heavily laden trailer but then you could pull away in low range and shift into high range once under way.


They also had smaller tyres than the 265s fitted to shaggydog's 110.
Post #307840 13th Feb 2014 8:21pm
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Lou Sparts



Member Since: 15 Apr 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 1501

United Kingdom 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver
265,s have the same rolling radius as 235/85/16 so only maginally (about 8%) taller than discovery tyres should,nt make a lot of difference.

Just my opinion of course. 2005 Td5 90 XS

Steve
Post #307843 13th Feb 2014 8:26pm
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Marky Boy



Member Since: 25 Oct 2013
Location: Maidenhead
Posts: 96

United Kingdom 
Hi just to give you my perspective I had the 1.22 gears fitted yesterday by Ashcrofts and so far really pleased with the difference. I have a 2004 TD5 110 CSW
It's made for less gear changes, 3rd and 4th now are all I need around town instead of slipping into 5th and it's a lot quieter on the motorway making 70mph cruising easy.
It is a bit more sluggish but empty it will accelerate up the inclines on the M40 around Wycombe in top gear.

I do plan to get it chipped in the near future (probably by IRB) so the slight loss in "performance" shouldn't last for long !

So just over 24 hours on and I am well happy.
Post #307852 13th Feb 2014 8:41pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Markyboy- how much was the conversion? was it a DIY or did you get it fitted?

Lou- correct the difference is 2mm in diameter so about the same as a years wear on tyre so definitely food for thought in comparison to a disco.

Retro- Roverdrive looks good but the price looks a bit rich! Interesting your comments on it though. I don't think I do enough motorway driving at the moment as my commute is usually 50mph A roads and then country lanes to need it if it is only really most noticeable in a motorway cruising situation.
Post #307927 13th Feb 2014 11:58pm
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camelman



Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3334

United Kingdom 
there's a few disco transfer boxes kicking about on ebay, looking at the sold prices, they go for around £150 +/- 
Post #307955 14th Feb 2014 8:38am
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g-mack



Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

United Kingdom 
dont forget not all disco t boxes have diff lock!!! My 109 thread

my youtube channel
Post #307961 14th Feb 2014 9:37am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16947

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
You can easily get round the Disco lack-of-difflock issue by either just swapping the Disco gears into your existing Def t-box or by swapping the front wheel drive take-off housing from the Def box to the Disco box.

It is often cheaper to do this than to buy a Disco2 box with difflock.
Post #307968 14th Feb 2014 10:31am
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Marky Boy



Member Since: 25 Oct 2013
Location: Maidenhead
Posts: 96

United Kingdom 
I got the conversion done by Ashcrofts via thier fitting centre in Dunstable. Its a 1 day service, drive in drive out for £720 and you get the loan of a courtesy car for the day.

It was by far the best fit for my personal circumstances.
Post #308019 14th Feb 2014 2:11pm
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shaggydog



Member Since: 12 Aug 2012
Location: Kent
Posts: 3346

United Kingdom 1991 Defender 110 200 Tdi USW Arles Blue
Thanks guys Very Happy

I'm liking the idea of just swapping the gears (he says naively, I'm sure its more involved than it sounds). Also gives me the added bonus of maybe getting a PTO winch I have been looking at......

Hmm decisions decisions.
Post #308026 14th Feb 2014 2:28pm
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