Following on from the work on the transfer case, this evening’s task was to get the main gearbox to bits. I was pleased to find that it’s a newer fully synchromeshed version, which means it’ll be a drop-in replacement for my current box where double clutching is an option rather than a necessity.

Taking the bolt out of the layshaft. This was held in with about a pint of loctite. Had to use the 18" breaker bar on the socket and hold the main shaft still with vice grips wedged against the bench. Much grunting later I got it free.

Splitting off the bell housing was pretty simple.

Removed the circlip, washer and retaining plates for the main shaft front bearing. The bearing feels smooth in the hand but there was a distinct rumble when the shaft was rotated in the gearbox itself. Might have to invest in a new bearing.

Cover taken off the selectors. Managed to catch and bag all the springs and detents which interlock the levers. The selectors came out easily, but getting them back in could be a pain!

Gears have some mild surface rust but no other signs of wear and tear. More cog porn. The only nasty looking bit is the reverse gear. This can only be replaced by heating the gearbox casing and drifting out the shaft. Not in any way an easy job. The guy who sold me the gearbox at Sodbury claimed to have refurbished it not long before his Land Rover was killed off by a rusty chassis. I suspect that the reverse gear was just too much of a pain to replace when he did the job.