I changed to shorter gears and with most driving it is ok but sometimes you just need some more "oomppf" to get thru a mud hole or up a steep hill. And this is where the little L28 has not enough torque. It can't pull it in second gear low range. So if I had about 20% more it would do it already.
I'm sure the engine is a F54/N42 with dished pistons, this is how all Patrols came. They are made up to '88 like that.