Best Hybrid Components

[4bt109]

Planning on a 109 Hybrid. I have a SII 109 5door and a Cummins 4bt so far. Two basic routes for the drivetrain. 4l80e/NP205/Dana 44/Dana 60 or use Range Rover/Disco LT235 and axles.

I would also like to use my stock frame and convert to coil springs. So the Land Rover components would seem to make more sense.

Question is what years of US Range Rover/Disco offer the the LT235 What is the best year to use for axles and why?

Thanks

[ArmyRover]

I'm guessing you mean the LT 230.

That transfer case was in the range rover in 87-88.

Disco was 96-04, but only through disco I all had cdl, disco II all lt230's but only some had cdl.

On the axles the in 93 they started to change the RRC over to 24 spline which is better than the 10 spline. Disco's had them from the get go. I would go with the 24 splines. Or if your going through all the trouble to mount new spring mounts etc I would look at swapping to stronger non-rover axles front and rear.

[4bt109]

Thanks for the quick reply. Does anyone offer replacement frame components like the mounts or will I have to scrounge them from a yard?

[ArmyRover]

www.roversnorth.com

Atlantic British - Land Rover Parts & Land Rover Accessories | Range Rover, Discovery, LR3, LR2, Defender, Freelander and Land Rover Series Parts & Accessories

One of the guys that know discos better will probably be able to tell you the exact years of non-cdl cases.

Good luck and welcome aboard

[XtremeMarine]

Easier way of going about it would be to source a rolled or body-totalled 94-95 RRCLWB. Instead of trying to convert your frame to coils, which would take forever; the LWB has a 108" wheelbase, and a similar rear crossmember. You would have the right type of frame, the correct wheelbase (you can stuff the extra inch no problem). The right axles. A V8 which will bolt up to an LT230 without a conversion kit. An autobox designed to handle the load, even if you put in the diesel. 16" wheels. Disc brakes at all four corners, and so on...

Even if you found one with a slightly tweaked frame, it would be easy to bring to a frame shop and straightened out with it in the form of a rolling chassis. Even some of the outriggers are already positioned correctly to put a 109 body on.

[gordo]

Built an 88 hybrid not a 109 but I always wondered if an LWB chassis would work, never checked the actual wheelbase but I believe it is 108. Since the rear wheel already sits forward in the wheel well on a 109 you may have to extend the rear axle back. I dont think it would be that difficult to put spring perches on your 109 chassis. Dont know if anything is in the way or not though. Just lots of measuring. A 110 chassis will work but it too may have some issues.
The LT230 is a strong box. Thats the only part of the rover drivetrain I would recommend. The width of the series axles is narrow in comparsion with the RRC/D1 axles. I used Defender flares to get around this but if you dont want to do that you will either need very skinny tires that tuck up in there or a die grinder! Obviously the dana stuff is much stronger but I'd imagine wider than the RRC/D1 housing. Older Toyota housings are narrow and pretty dang strong so you might want to consider that. the Elock Cruiser axles would be my first choice. Hub to hub and they are very close to the same width as the RRC/D1 axles but again wider than the series ones. Check out the FLRC website below in my sig. Go back a couple pages on the bullentin board (general discussion) and you will see a series getting earlier toy axles. Its a SOA conversion not coil but its an option. If you click the photo album you can view TONS of photos of my project. I already had a running RRC trail truck and to keep it simple and cheap I reused the running gear, minus the Tbox which was upgraded to an LT230. Options are endless but my only advice is to keep it as simple as possible. Ive got probably 1000 hours in mine and it took just less than a year to finish. I could probably build one now in 500 hours, (lots of head scratching and researching the first time) but it a huge undertaking.
Keep us posted with photos because as far as I know this is the only hybrid board around. Gordo