Wading Plug - V8/R380

_ExpeditionMan

Well-known member
Dec 11, 2017
295
34
Texas
All,

According to the diagram below there should be a wading plug for the flywheel housing on V8/r380 Discovery 1's. However, I have been unable to find a part number for this piece. In fact I have only uncovered the wading plug for the TDI models. More confusingly I crawled under my truck this morning and looked for the wading plug receiver and found nothing. See other image. Am I blind or was this only on early V8 models? My trucks a '96. Can anyone show me where the wading plug is on their truck and provide a part number for it?


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robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,781
358
-
Ive never seen one. My 97 doesnt have one, and the other 2 r380s Ive gotten out of mystery year discos had the same bellhousing. I briefly had the later model superceded bellhousing in my possession (uses a different throwout bearing sleeve) and it didnt have it either.

Maybe very early 3.5 discos with lt77s had it, if any
 

_ExpeditionMan

Well-known member
Dec 11, 2017
295
34
Texas
Ive never seen one. My 97 doesnt have one, and the other 2 r380s Ive gotten out of mystery year discos had the same bellhousing. I briefly had the later model superceded bellhousing in my possession (uses a different throwout bearing sleeve) and it didnt have it either.

Maybe very early 3.5 discos with lt77s had it, if any

Thanks for the reply. It is very confusing that I have this documentation with clear images showing its existence but no evidence of it on my truck. I'll investigate my '96 owners manual and the rave to see if I can find anymore information. It certainly makes sense that there SHOULD be a wading plug though. I do tend to find water crossings and deep muddy water on my trips so I consider this a priority.
 
Last edited:

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
It doesn't say Land Rover manufactures the plugs specifically; only that they should be used before wading and removed after.

That's not something you'd leave in all the time, so I doubt one would be found on a vehicle.

All you're doing is plugging a drain hole. Is it not the same size and thread count as the fill or normal drain plug?

Cheers,

Kennith
 

_ExpeditionMan

Well-known member
Dec 11, 2017
295
34
Texas
Its code is 3290, but i think wading hole is only present in old V8's.
My 300 TDI has its 2 holes, but in my experience is better to use them plugged, and periodically to inspect them. Difference between clutch chambers with dust and plugged ones is great.

I have two 96 V8 D1s both are manuals and a spare transmission. None of them have these wading plug threads in the bellhousing. So either Land Rover decided there wasn't a reason to have it or they cheaped out and eliminated it for cost savings. Would be interested to see an image of a R380 attached to a V8 with a wading plug as shown above.