Offroad-Express

I started to drain the oil out of my spear gearbox and transfer box. I was just going to use the gearbox only. First when I pulled the drain plug, water came out. I was a bit concerned and told myslef it was because its been sitting outside for yonks. All the oil then came out. Then I checked the stuff in the bottom of the drainplug and it had LOTS of metaliky and gold stuff in there. I assume the gold is the bearings? I am really worried about how much came out. Should I just stick with my current gearbox and put up with whining in 4th underload and whining in 1st and reverse?
Or switch it and hope for the best?

I may also convert it to an auto as well down the track.

If it isn't a big job to change it then you have nothing to loose but some time and oil Can you engage all the gears in the other gearbox without to much trouble? Does it "feel" right?

What sort of truck have you got Turoa ? the gold flakey stuff is from the snycro rings so if they are worn you wont get the smoothest gear changes as for the water in there its not the best combination with all the metal .
Let me know my father is a gearbox guru

Its a landrover series 2a gearbox. I think they only have syncro on 3rd and forth? I will take a pic off the stuff in the drain plug soon and post it.

Cheers

just spoke to the expert ,now that we know its a 2a the flakey stuff is from all the bronze bushes and thrust washes etc the whine in 1st and reverse is probably because the hardeness on the straight cut teeeth is worn off and the whine in 4th is most likely bearings in the transfer box hope that helps

ahh. Ok. Is a drainplug of metallicky stuff too much?

yes afraid so you are down to the last 5% of life for that box.

dammit. I'll just leave the gearbox swap then. No point in putting in another box which is worse than my current one

So the whining in 1st and reverse is all right?

you should get a bit more out of it but as you know its an old box and if it doesn't get alot of use should be alright and its only 1st and reverse which dont get that much drive time do they,maybe turn the stereo up a bit louder if it has one may this will also make the whine go away.

Cool. Thanks for your help. Ill run my current gearbox, and I will look at getting an auto adapted to the rover t-case.

Cheers