H55F gearbox and transfer box

[Ben Stratford]

The cruiser went in today for oil seal work but has bigger problems.
The transfer output bearing is rattling around, there is metal wrapped around the speedo drive and the oil is heavily contaminated with Bronze.
Options are to find a substitute so I can get both boxes reconditioned and probably fit a new clutch at the same time. Or find recon units to fit now. Either way the car is off the road for a while!
Does anyone have gearbox recon contacts that they would recommend? Would anyone breaking a 60 have a substitute gearbox and transfer box available?
Would appreciate any help on this one.
Cheers ben

 

[Ben Stratford]

Ok, have decided to recondition both boxes using toyota parts only if possible. Have identified some specialists in Plymouth to tackle that job so will drop off the boxes on the way to work tomorrow.
More aggro - the clutch is covered in oil too so will ger a crank rear oil seal and a new clutch. Diff seals will also be changed while we wait for the boxes to be ready.
Also found the gearbox mount has delaminated on one side!

 

[moggy1968]

I was quoted 2-3k to recon the box, cheaper to get a second hand one

 

[Ben Stratford]

I was quoted 2-3k to recon the box, cheaper to get a second hand one

Was quoted £3k for reconditioned boxes from Holland exchange so probably another £250 to send mine back too, but it would take 2/3 weeks Moggy.
Thought about second hand but could be back to square one too soon.
As its my only car, time is important. I drive 20,000 miles per year mainly roads so figured it to be an investment.
So a local rebuild will hopefully see her back on the road in 2 weeks.
Initial estimate was £500 tfr and £900 for gearbox which i thought to be acceptable. Saw a second hand gearbox for £750 so not much of a differential.
Probably a days work to refit so its still going to mount up!

 

[moggy1968]

Was quoted £3k for reconditioned boxes from Holland exchange so probably another £250 to send mine back too, but it would take 2/3 weeks Moggy.
Thought about second hand but could be back to square one too soon.
As its my only car, time is important. I drive 20,000 miles per year mainly roads so figured it to be an investment.
So a local rebuild will hopefully see her back on the road in 2 weeks.
Initial estimate was £500 tfr and £900 for gearbox which i thought to be acceptable. Saw a second hand gearbox for £750 so not much of a differential.
Probably a days work to refit so its still going to mount up!

my quote was from a local company so your price soounds good, hope it works out OK

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

Although this might not be of use I have a late (90) 80K box and transfer box run on synthetic oil and driven by me for 3 years until the tinworm overcame the body and stored by me since.

 

[Ben Stratford]

Although this might not be of use I have a late (90) 80K box and transfer box run on synthetic oil and driven by me for 3 years until the tinworm overcame the body and stored by me since.

Thanks Andy, good to know spares are out there but I had already pulled the trigger on rebuilds.
The gearbox is ready but the idler shaft in the tfr box needed spray welding to build it up then machining back to standard. We are waiting for its return.

 

[Ben Stratford]

Spray welding wasnt possible as they couldnt centralise the shaft for some reason.
So sent shaft away to have one made. This was then sent off to be hardened. Then sent back to gearbox rebuilders.
Who then finished rebuilding the transfer box and I picked them up today. £1572 in total which was reasonable.
Have dropped the unit off which will be built back up with new crank oil seal, diff seal, clutch and transferbox support bracket.
Hopefully it will be ready this weekend so i can stop biting my finger nails!!

 

[Ben Stratford]

Got the truck back today all fully reassembled and just £400 for labour / clutch / spigot bearing / G&T oil.
Works very well indeed.
Can now look forward to some more tinkering.

 

[moggy1968]

Sounds like a very good price you got there, might be chasing you for their details because at that kind of price it's probably better to get mine fixed than get a second hand unit. SO it was about £2k altogether? Would the transmission repairers remove the box or do you have to deliver it to them?

 

[Ben Stratford]

It was £1580 for the rebuild using OEM seals and bearings. Had to get a tfr case idler shaft made too.
The work was done at A&R Transmissions Plymouth - I can give you the details.
I delivered the combined unit the collected once done and had the crankshaft rear oil seal and diff output seals done plus new clutch while it was away.
They can remove and replace if you leave the car with them too Moggy

 

[moggy1968]

It was £1580 for the rebuild using OEM seals and bearings. Had to get a tfr case idler shaft made too.
The work was done at A&R Transmissions Plymouth - I can give you the details.
I delivered the combined unit the collected once done and had the crankshaft rear oil seal and diff output seals done plus new clutch while it was away.
They can remove and replace if you leave the car with them too Moggy

nice one, having done one hopefully they won't mind taking on another if I decide to got that route, the alternative is to buy the low mileage engine and box from Andy Loamas

 

[Ben Stratford]

Yes, thats a good option as their history are known

 

[moggy1968]

Yes, thats a good option as their history are known

The only thing putting me off that was that my current set up is a mechanical 4x4 selection and all the bits for the hydraulic system have been stripped out, but it sounds as though converting the new box to mechanical selection isn't too hard

 

[Ben Stratford]

Mine is a vaccuum unit that selects it but can be problematic. Starting to look into why. Would prefer a manual selector conversion if possible. Should anyone have any conversion tips i would love to hear them

 

[Ben Stratford]

After just 2000 mils on the rebuilt gearbox and transfer box, it developed a slight whine in 5th. Took it back to the garage that rebuilt the boxes. Turns out the new shaft we had made for the transfer box failed.
So they then found an original Mr T tfr box idler shaft in Germany and have just installed it with two more new bearings at no cost.
Good recovery from a bitterly disappointing discovery.