Is it AWD?

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:19 pm

I have got my hands on an l series box that I have been led to believe is AWD.

How do I determin if it is or not? Anyone have photos of one or know of some tell tail signs?

It definately does not look like your usual dual range box as it doesn't have a top selector rod. It has the normal gear shifter and a leaver action on the drivers side which I assume is the 4wd selector.. Possibly it is just a single range part time box.

Dave

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:20 pm

Any numbers on it?

FujiFan · Post by **FujiFan** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:42 pm

If you can post a pic or two that would really help.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:43 pm

Any pics Dave? maybe of both sides?

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:44 pm

I knew u guys would say something like that. Will need to try and upload some later.

Dave

H-top · Post by **H-top** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:25 pm

If it makes your doodle tingle a little bit when u touch it;
it's an L series AWD box.

Post by **Alex** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:34 pm

cant ya tell by the 4wd selector?

ie youd only have the two notches when shifting it by hand, awd hi range and awd low range?

part time box should have three notches? fwd/4wd hi/4wd low?

just guessing but

alex

Post by **TOONGA** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:42 pm

h-top wrote:if it makes your doodle tingle a little bit when u touch it;
it's an l series awd box.

roflmao

TOONGA

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:07 pm

I will try the doodle thing.

U could be right Alex.. I will try that. I honestly have never seen one in the flesh. The good news for board members is it will be for sale if it is AWD.

Dave

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:09 pm

Only has 2 notches alex but still could be single range. FWD and 4WD.

Dave

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:58 pm

DIBS on the box if its AWD:) MWAAAHAHAHAHAHA

Anyway of telling if its got a diff lock?

Hope it is... only problem is i'm pretty sure it would be top$$$$$$ and you won't let it go for $$:(

Anyway dibs:p

FujiFan · Post by **FujiFan** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:00 pm

If it is indeed the rare breed, There will be a bulge on the extension case that will match the one in your pantaloons once you have worked it out ;)This is where the centre diff will be. There will be a lever on one side of this ext case that will be for diff lock, which will have a vacuum actuator connected. Far as I know will be same for both S/R & D/R AWD.
Would still like to see a pic just in case it is AWD so I too can pleasure myself accordingly:p

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:07 pm

Does sound like it would be a single range "AWD" box then. (AWD when that lever is in 4WD position). I guess you've tested that the lever definitly is FWD and 4WD by rotating the input shaft and watching what happens with the stubs and tailshaft output?

Note that while these boxes are "AWD" they are not really true AWD. When 4x4 is engaged they aren't like a normal part-time L series box with a locked centre. These have an open centre diff and don't really drive the front and rear at the same time. They don't have a Viscus centre diff like Liberty's and WRX's etc.
Still way better for on-road driving than using front wheel drive in a part time box!

The AWD L series box I had was a little different to this.
- Had vacuum actuated centre diff lock.
- The a dual range selector with only 2 positions (but the positions were low or high).
It wasn't 1.5:1 low, it was the crappy "not so low" one - that's why BrennyV used to burn his clutch out in the sand quite alot when he was using this box.

Might be an idea to do some spline rotation and counting to work out the final drive ratio, and also whether or not the low range is the good 1.5 ratio or not.

Post up the code from the bellhousing if it's still there, Google or FROG might have the definitive answer

guyph_01 · Post by **guyph_01** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:33 pm

Hummmm.. I've heard that an l single range Awd with diff lock box can be converted to DR with a donor DR gen 1 lib box and using the L series Low gear for the better lower ratio. That's what i'm planning to do. Or if its one like Andrew had I'll just get the better Low gear in:)

P.s... Love the little car Andrew, was quite funny to see you driving it:p

isnowi · Post by **isnowi** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:00 pm

FYI, this is what an AWD D/R l series box looks like.

This one is form a jap import touring wagon, 3.7 final drive with the not so good low ratio.

Link to high res.
http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/2200/p1010137m.jpg

sublime · Post by **sublime** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:11 pm

AndrewT wrote: Note that while these boxes are "AWD" they are not really true AWD. When 4x4 is engaged they aren't like a normal part-time L Series box with a locked centre. These have an open centre diff and don't really drive the front and rear at the same time. They don't have a Viscus centre diff like Liberty's and WRX's etc.
Still way better for on-road driving than using front wheel drive in a part time box!

Hmmm... The L series AWD box does indeed drive both the front and the rear at the same time! However when a wheel starts spinning you loose drive to the opposite end. This is the same with a conventional diff and hence the need for an LSD. The handling of an L Series is transformed by an AWD gearbox, a least until wheels begin to spin!

My understanding is all single range AWD L Series gearboxes have the locking centre diff. When locked they act exactly like the part-time box (without the dual range).

Simplest way to check gearbox is to find the diff lock switch/lever which near the back.

FROG · Post by **FROG** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:17 pm

Is the code stamped onto the casing somewhere
If it is - gimme gimme gimme

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:50 pm

sublime wrote:Hmmm... The L series AWD box does indeed drive both the front and the rear at the same time! However when a wheel starts spinning you loose drive to the opposite end. This is the same with a conventional diff and hence the need for an LSD. The handling of an L Series is transformed by an AWD gearbox, a least until wheels begin to spin!

My understanding is all single range AWD L Series gearboxes have the locking centre diff. When locked they act exactly like the part-time box (without the dual range).

Simplest way to check gearbox is to find the diff lock switch/lever which near the back.

yeh that's what I meant, just pointing out that it's just a normal open-diff in the middle, which isn't quite the same as what most people know as "AWD" - ie, a VLSD centre as per Libs, WRX's etc.

That photo is exactly how the one I had looked. You can see the big round thingo just behind the pitch brace bracket which is the vacuum bit for centre diff lock actuation.

FujiFan · Post by **FujiFan** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:55 pm

Yes and the annoying 23 spline stubs...
My collection of L'series 4WD boxes will soon be complete. When it is I plan take photos and document the fundamental differences, with the info that is available.

steptoe · Post by **steptoe** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:39 pm

You reckon 23 are annoying, I reckon 25 is a painus, requiring CV shafts sourced and installed.
I have 25 spline box, I have 23 spline shafts removed from a DR 5 speeder, just how hard is it to read the manual and swapem? One step short of replacing front oil seal I bet !

Word from one subie wrecker was that these AWD boxes in MY won't allow fit of the big flat vacuum canister, looks like they will fit but need refit of heater hoses in furewall