L300 standard transmission

[philipp86]

Hi everyone. So I have been thinking about buying a Delica for quite a while. The one thing that has kept me from buying one a few times has been the relative difficulty of finding a Delica with stick shift. I was recently told that the the standard transmission in the Delica's is very weak and breaks relatively easily. And since they are so rare it's hard to find new transmissions. Just looking for some opinions on this? What do you guys think? Thanks.

[strada-caster]

I have a strada (truck version of delica). it has pretty much the exact same driveline as the delica. I also have the standard transmission, V5M21. also the km145 fits.

the following is for V5M21 or km145, can't recall, maybe both.
what I know about this transmission is that it was originally 4 gears only. the 5th gear was a quick addition on an auxiliary shaft, and is not meant for towing up a hill at all as it is the weak link. apparently under heavy 4x4'ing the transmission can flex, this can be helped with a stiffer bottom plate replacement (try the search function or google or other websites)

[thedjjack]

I have a strada (truck version of delica). it has pretty much the exact same driveline as the delica. I also have the standard transmission, V5M21. also the km145 fits.

the following is for V5M21 or km145, can't recall, maybe both.
what I know about this transmission is that it was originally 4 gears only. the 5th gear was a quick addition on an auxiliary shaft, and is not meant for towing up a hill at all as it is the weak link. apparently under heavy 4x4'ing the transmission can flex, this can be helped with a stiffer bottom plate replacement (try the search function or google or other websites)

Almost all 5 speeds are 4 speeds with a 5 gear added to the tail shaft. Problem is 4th is 1:1 and 5th is actually an Overdrive gear. Distance from input and running through a gear add strain when in 5th. Stffin'ing pans are cheep insurance.

I can talk to the L300 5speed...Love it...but it is geared for 80km/h I usually keep it around 3,000rpm on 31" tires which is around 100km/h....diff ratios are the issue (4.11 or 33" tires would be better).

The transmission seems similar to Ford/Mazda trucks but for the L300 has external shifting with cables...the syncros are weak and from my reading fluid type makes a big different.

You can get a stiffening pan for them that looks like it helps (people managing lots of HP/torgue through them)....

I shift mine very slow given the linkage on the L300 and double clutch down shifts (especially cold (I will add a oil pan heater if I move to cold again), run full synthetic, and do not down shift to stop (brakes are like few hundred to re due but rebuilds are lots $$$$ stop down shifting in my youth)...

I think the L400 transmission would be much easier to find parts given the conventional shifter location and shifter length would be an easy mod... If you factor in a rebuild in the purchase and a stiffening pan etc....and run 33" tires, regear, or drive under 110km/h I suspect it would be great...

I have never driven the L400 yet one with a 5speed....I am ok with sitting over the wheels, but I grew up on motorcycles and it seems safer then those crazy fun things...

[Firesong]

I have a L300 std tranny.
Would I get one again... no
Not because of worry but because of the speed difference on the road.
The ratio isn't the same and as such you will be crawling on the highway.

I get amazing fuel mileage in the city. If I was never to drive it on the highway
it wouldn't be a problem. But at 100km it's rev at 3000rpm and higher.

I've had it on the trails, bogged down in the mud, in the mountains, pulling trailers,
stuck in and breaking snow trails ice fishing through major snow and never had
a worry about tranny failing.

FS

[strada-caster]

I have a L300 std tranny.
Would I get one again... no
Not because of worry but because of the speed difference on the road.
The ratio isn't the same and as such you will be crawling on the highway.

I get amazing fuel mileage in the city. If I was never to drive it on the highway
it wouldn't be a problem. But at 100km it's rev at 3000rpm and higher.

I've had it on the trails, bogged down in the mud, in the mountains, pulling trailers,
stuck in and breaking snow trails ice fishing through major snow and never had
a worry about tranny failing.

FS

I second that opinion. my comment about the 4x4'ing above would be probably only for something as hard as rock crawling. all other 4x4'ing you should be fine as Ive done pretty much the same activities as firesong according to this post and no worries for me either.

speed, with 31" tires, 4.63 differentials, im at 2850'ish for 100km/hr, 3250'ish for 115km/hr

[thedjjack]

No problem running 31 tires and happy at 90-100km/h

Long drives around BC and as far as San Diego (down I-5 for the most part)....

I would still go 5 speed over automatic

[thedjjack]

with 31" tires, 4.63 differentials, im at 2850'ish for 100km/hr, 3250'ish for 115km/hr

You have stock 4.63 Axle Ratios? I am 4.88 stock.

[strada-caster]

with 31" tires, 4.63 differentials, im at 2850'ish for 100km/hr, 3250'ish for 115km/hr

You have stock 4.63 Axle Ratios? I am 4.88 stock.

thats what it says under my hood, the strada is slightly different from the delica and pajero.

[almac]

does anyone know if the 4.63 will fit into a L300?

[Firesong]

I would be curious about this as well??

FS

[strada-caster]

does anyone know if the 4.63 will fit into a L300?

I know there is a thread somewhere with key dimensions and pictures of a front and rear differential for an L300. I have used it before to determine what size diffs I had on my truck, but I can't recall right now. If someone can forward that thread to me, I could get a few pictures of my diffs and dimensions. Then we can determine if delicas can use a strada diff gears.

I recall when i was looking at them before, they are very similar but I'll get some pics to confirm this a little better first.