Auto series

[dxmedia]

My wife is looking at taking her (auto only) driving test.

I'm thinking about getting a series (tax exempt) and fitting an auto box into it. For simplicity a rangy seems like the easiest option for wiring and the like, but apart from needing to cut and shunt the props what are the issues with doing this conversion?

Diesel would be preferable but v8's not an issue since I'm already running 1 lpg truck.

Manual isn't an option.

I've had a search and look on google and can't find anything which covers this??

Thanks.

[Lucy1978]

Jim Willy, who posts on this site, has a v8 auto in his series.

One problem you have is that the front axle, having UJ's instead of CV joints isn't designed to take full time 4wd.  You could swap it for a stage 1 front axle (read hens teeth and lots of cash) or I'm not sure if Ashcrofts kit to fit a 5 speed manual to a series transfer box will work with an auto, also quite a bit of cash.

[dxmedia]

Why aren't the uj's designed for permi 4wd?  The xj jeeps run uj's and that's a retro fit in to the permi 4wd zj's for strength?

[Lucy1978]

They weren't designed for it.  The series transfer box is part time 4wd so the front axles aren't designed to take it.  Having said that i know a guy who ran an LT95 in his series 3 with a V8, he didn't change his front axle and never had any trouble with it.   But they did upgradde to Cv's for the stage 1 which also ran the LT95 and permenant 4WD, so there must have been a reason.

[ian_s]

if you run the series axle in permanent 4x4 you get some very interesting wobbles through the steering wheel when turning tight corners.
if you can put up with that, i think so long as you keep the oils in the swivels topped up, and dont drive it really hard, the standard series front axle should be fine

[Cheggs]

Ashcroft do a kit for £155 that allows you to alter the LT230 transfer box so that 4WD is only engaged when the diff is locked, this is half the price of the kit to use a series transfer. Not that expense really :)