Thinking about importing

[scottjal]

How crazy am I for thinking seriously about importing this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=150293109810


Sold my Disco a while back with plans on something much more primitive in the SWB range. Just browsing shopping now.

 

[galen216]

Tough call, most of the stuff coming out of the UK on ebay is crap. Looks like a defender bulkhead. Ask for more photos of the frame and bulkhead. Lots of pics of both.

My first truck came from the UK and while it was patched together several times it was still in pretty good shape. There is something about this one I like, I noticed it too.

 

[scottjal]

Yeah you never know, could be a horror show under that fresh paint so I will hold for something that I can walk around and poke a stick at here and there. Overall look of this one with the defender front looks really nice though.

 

[apg]

Well, "it's a bitsa." Bit of this, bit of that. The one piece windscreen - I don't think was offered until 1977 or later. Bulkhead and hinges for the bonnet ain't right for a supposed 1973, either. And the rear diff...is that a Salisbury? Nope...ENV maybe? Def not 'standard' on a '73 88"....

Unless you have a very good friend in the UK who can actually kick the tires (and do a compression test for ya'), buying a vehicle like this is a crapshoot. Don't come up snake eyes....

Good luck!

 

[Ron]

" Def not 'standard' on a '73 88"...."

Ah, yes it is.

Ron

 

[superpowerdave]

I'm with Ron, rear diff looks exactly like the one on my 73 Series 88.

 

[apg]

Curious. Doesn't look at all like the diff on the vehicle I've been driving for 36 years - and pulled apart just two months ago to extract a broken axle....and what about the one-piece windscreen?

 

[Gordo]

I saw it too, I'd be leary if it was me buying any series I cant see. My first rover was a 66 rhd imported from england. At the time, it was in SC so I sent my uncle to look at it, as he lived close. He said it looks pretty good, little rusty underneath, so I bought it for 2500. It ran good and drove fine, but under closer inspection the frame was pretty rough around the rear crossmember/frame. I ended up selling it again for 2200 bucks and I was happy to get that as it really needed a frame and I didnt have the room to totally restore it at the time. Just a word of advice. Gordo

 

[galen216]

and what about the one-piece windscreen?

It's from a Defender. Which means it is probably a Defender bulkhead too.

 

[Ren Ching]

sandy

it's a standard rover axle with the typical reinforcement section welded to the underside of the long tube. exactly like the one that was on my '72. The one piece windscreen is just a regular LR split screen with the divider removed and the glass replaced with a single piece. The windscreen hinges are standard SIII, and the hood hinges are defender to match with the defender bonnet.

I never understood why people go to the trouble to make a series look like a defender. if if anything I would want to go the other way with that.



rgrds,
dave

Curious. Doesn't look at all like the diff on the vehicle I've been driving for 36 years - and pulled apart just two months ago to extract a broken axle....and what about the one-piece windscreen?

 

[bmohan55]

How much stock should anyone put in the "buyers feedback", this guy seems to deliver what he says?

 

[apg]

sandy

it's a standard rover axle with the typical reinforcement section welded to the underside of the long tube. exactly like the one that was on my '72. The one piece windscreen is just a regular LR split screen with the divider removed and the glass replaced with a single piece. The windscreen hinges are standard SIII, and the hood hinges are defender to match with the defender bonnet.

I never understood why people go to the trouble to make a series look like a defender. if if anything I would want to go the other way with that.

Didn't Rover start using a one piece windscreen circa 1977? And the three wipers definitely wasn't 'standard' on any earlier vehicles. The diff on my '72 looks quite different, and I've owned it since new - though the 'truss' under the long side has long since fallen off. (Got a later axle ready to replace the original, 'cept it *doesn't* have that truss.) My point is that the vehicle appears to be an "itsa bitsa" - parts from this vehicle, other parts from that. Nothing wrong with that, really, and the photos of the engine bay appear to be period-correct - except for the carb. But whenever buying something made from mix'n'match parts, I'd sure want to drive it first.

And I agree, the only 'reason' to go with the Defender breakfast is to install a larger/longer engine - which wasn't done in this case.

Cheers

 

[Leslie]

AFAIK, the split windscreen left with the changeover from Series to D110 and D90. Even the Stage One 109" from '79 to '82, had split screens.


I agree, practically, no need to put on a longer snout unless needing more room for an engine, but, even a V8 *can* fit w/ it in place. If you wanted a Defender but can only afford a SIII, add the Defender breakfast, swap bonnets, and change out the windscreen.... close to leaf-sprung Defender then..... FWIW......

 

[ptschram]

My '78 SIII 109 had the two piece windscreen, if that comment is worth anything.

I've seen some rear axles with trusses and many without. Was this something that was done as a blanket change, or was it an option at one point? I have an axle from a '67 six cylinder 109 without the truss and an axle from a '67 88" with the truss. Curious!

PT

 

[eric w siepmann]

If you wanted a Defender but can only afford a SIII, add the Defender breakfast, swap bonnets, and change out the windscreen.... close to leaf-sprung Defender then..... FWIW......

If you want a Defender than buy one. Trying to make a series into a Defender will ultimately cost more. I Defender clone is still a clone. If you want the V8 and "better" daily driving, start out with one. It will cost you much less in the long run.

Personally, I think a well kept and built Series is more capable than a Defender. A few stock Series 3's really impressed me with their abilities on the trail. Look at Merc Jim's truck, Ike's trucks, or a Timm Cooper Creation.....

FWIW I sold my 97 D-90 to Buy a 1966 2a with no regrets. Been wanting to do it for quite some time. Anxiously awaiting Ike to finish my Bulkhead so I can make some progress this late fall.

Axle trusses may have been am option. I think they are listed in the options pamphlet for series trucks out there...

 

[Leslie]

If you want a Defender than buy one. Trying to make a series into a Defender will ultimately cost more. I Defender clone is still a clone. If you want the V8 and "better" daily driving, start out with one. It will cost you much less in the long run.

Not arguin' w/ you, I wholly agree, but, "on the cheap", a bonnet swap on a SIII will get the 'look' of a Defender..... no, *I* wouldn't do that, but, can understand why it happens......

Personally, I think a well kept and built Series is more capable than a Defender. A few stock Series 3's really impressed me with their abilities on the trail. Look at Merc Jim's truck, Ike's trucks, or a Timm Cooper Creation.....

Uh...... Jim's, Ike's, or a Timm Cooper creation is stock??

 

[eric w siepmann]

Uh...... Jim's, Ike's, or a Timm Cooper creation is stock??

Nope. Just support for the argument for series rovers over defenders. :victory:

 

[Leslie]

Gotcha.....

 

[eric w siepmann]

Gotcha.....

Hows that resto coming? Haven't seen any pics recently...

 

[Leslie]

In shakedown mode. Debuggin' the nigglin' issues.


Would take off out of the driveway and around the block, but then the next time, I'd pull out onto Orebank and step on it, then it'd bog down and die. Would either tow it home or limp back a few feet at a time. Go into diagnosis, come up w/ a cure, implement it, then take off again.... same problem. Come up w/ another cure, and go that way....


Finally, I've dropped the tank, flushed, and used POR-15 tank sealer kit on it (and it's not an old tank either, but, yeah, it had crud in it, rust scale from the insides....

It *should* be, on the road, well, this weekend. Needs a bath, though.... it doesn't fit in the garage, my driveway (heck, the whole house) is fully shaded, and, truth be told, I can rebuild a master cylinder or change a head gasket, re-ring pistons, etc., but I really suck when it comes to washin' a vehicle.