LT77 box in Stag-engined Stag?

[tedlit]

So while I was pondering what to do about my newly-dead Stag, this occured to me...

Given that LT77 boxes are ridiculously cheap (here, at least), does anyone know if there was an "adaptor plate " made to fit the LT77 'box to a Stag engine ? I've seen plenty in Stags with the Rover v8 conversion.. but never one in a Stag-engined Stag.

I initially thought it was because those boxes appear to be a bit fragile in TR7's.. but both my SD1 and Land Rover have LT77 boxes (or some revision thereof) and they put out far more torque than the TR7's engine ever did.

[alan_thomas]

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tedlit wrote:

So while I was pondering what to do about my newly-dead Stag, this occured to me...

Given that LT77 boxes are ridiculously cheap (here, at least), does anyone know if there was an "adaptor plate " made to fit the LT77 'box to a Stag engine ? I've seen plenty in Stags with the Rover v8 conversion.. but never one in a Stag-engined Stag.

I initially thought it was because those boxes appear to be a bit fragile in TR7's.. but both my SD1 and Land Rover have LT77 boxes (or some revision thereof) and they put out far more torque than the TR7's engine ever did.

The LT77 was fitted to later TR7's and this is the one you need. I remember readingbut have not been able to find the link that the TR7 bellhousing, clutch and flywheelwill fit but I am not sure if you use the TR7 engine plate as well. I remember also you either had to remove a dowel or fit one. Will try to find the link tomorrow when I am snowed in at work! If they are cheap it would be worth getting one and having a play around.

The LT77 box is so much better than the std manual + overdrive. I refurb'd one a few years backwhen it became a bit 'hissy'and mated it to a sprint engine.All it need was 2nd gear syncro ring and new layshaft bearings and it was an easy rebuild.

- Alan

[mjheathcote]

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Apparently there was an article in the club magazine back in October 86, issue 79, when this was done. Unfortunately I don't have the copy, my first Magazine was November...

However a few magazines latter there was a follow up and there was a problem with the TR7 clutch plate not being man enough and a TR8 clutch plate was going to be tried instead. Never knew the outcome of that.

[tedlit]

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All interesting stuff. If it really is possible (isn't anything "possible" if you throw enough cash at it?), I wonder why it's not done more often? Whereas the overdrive 'box is nice enough, I'd much rather have a 5-speed Stag. I had one years ago (Rover v8), and it really did seem to suit the character of the car better.

I may pick up a couple of late TR7 LT77 boxes and see what happens.

[PaulW]

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Things to consider the gear lever location will need mods, cross member also, and doubt propshaft will be correct length LT77 is quite a bit shorter but bolt patterns are the same.

At risk of being stoned at next owners day why not just fit the engine as well !!



PaulW

[GDPR]

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If you're going to be stoned at the next owners day, then maybe you shouldn't publicise it so readily or make sure your stash is well hidden.......

[tedlit]

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I've got one Chevy-engined Stag, one no-engined Stag, and one Stag-engined Stag. I guess a Rover-engined Stag would complete the collection.

The main reason for not just swapping in a complete Rover unit is that they're actually pretty hard to find... unless you go the Land Rover route, which means the 3.9, and they're so rare in manual gearbox form you end up with a) a nasty BW35 out of a P6, or b) giving up and sticking a small block Chevy in there. 3.5 5-speed Land Rovers don't really exist here, and SD1's here are rarer than hen's teeth.

On the other hand, 77-81 TR7's with 5-speed boxes are ten a penny and absolutely no-one wants them.