| Author | Message | ||
     Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 290 Registered: 01-2003 |
Well I own a 95 disco and use it as a offroader and a commuter. What I'd like to do is have a better mileage commuter (I drive 32 miles one way to work), so good mileage car would work, however that means I loose the disco(of course only if I sell it) as a offroader. So I started kicking the idea around getting a dedicated offroad trail/expedition truck. I drive many miles on road to go wheel. I have always wanted a series for there combination of approach and departure angles, easy repairs, and of course good looks. But I need advice on what I should look for to serve my purpose. What should I look for? Is there a better year for offroad? I think defenders are neat, but over priced and lack the character of the series. Also this is going to be a hobby car for wheeling, why not get a project car at the same time. Thanks for any help. | ||
| Art Bitterman (Aardvark) New Member Username: Aardvark Post Number: 35 Registered: 05-2003 |
Welcome to REAL Land Rovers! ••••••• SII-III will do the job; all basically the same. SIII does have sychromesh on all gears (II and IIA aren't on 1st and 2nd-need to double clutch). Supposidly the II and IIA gearboxes are sronger. 88's are better off road (IMHO) as the 109 is longer and has a longer turning radius. !09's do have more cargo area, but then the extra weight makes them slower! You said you will drive many miles to go off road; remember that a Series is 50 year old technolgy! Top speed is maybe 65 (I normally keep it around 55). You will learn to take the back roads instead of the interstate, putter along and smell the roses and check out the scenery! Series are easy to fix; no modern computers or sensors to go south on you! No Air conditioning (unless you go topless) and no power steering (ever wonder why the steering wheeel is so big?  ) or power brakes on the SII. They leak in the rain, and leak 90 wt. But!!! They are the best thing since sliced bread! Just don't expect a Modern Vehicle! Lots of luck! Art 1960 SII, 88", "Aardvark" | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 672 Registered: 03-2002 |
I just got a 67 SWB IIa about 2 months ago. I researched/searched for over 8 months. Here is a great place to start: Jim's Purchase Guide The rest of Jim's site is a wealth of info as well. There is quite a difference between the II/IIa and Series III vehicles, so pay attention to that. THis site will also get your education started: LR FAQ From there, you'll find all sorts of stuff to read and of course there are more lists and then the RN series board and Guns and Rovers. HTH, Mike | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 673 Registered: 03-2002 |
Ha Art! You beat me to it! | ||
| micky dee (Kincangokicker) New Member Username: Kincangokicker Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2003 |
my sugestion to you wold be a s three swb they have a moern padded dash resembling a defender ... look for chassi rot!... look for good brakes.. look for something with a salsbury differential as env type and rover axles BREAK... but 88's dont come with salsbury unless converted.... also check for rust free bulk heads... yes top speed is slow and the ride is uncommfie.. look for or convert to coils or parabolics... also volvo axles fit in there and seem to be the ultimate answer... why not consider a range rover .... classic at that.. | ||
| Chris Marcel (Gumarcel) Senior Member Username: Gumarcel Post Number: 659 Registered: 11-2002 |
I think that is the most periods I have ever seen in a paragraph. | ||
| Ike Goss (Leafsprung) Member Username: Leafsprung Post Number: 52 Registered: 03-2003 |
Mickey - ENVs are stonger than a salsbury. Bigger diameter axle shafts, Beefy ring and pinion etc. I run salsburies front and rear on my SWB and have ENVs front and rear on another SWB. Ive broken 3 salsbury shafts (one front and two rears) and have never broken an ENV. -Regards -Ike Goss PS: padded dashes suck | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 295 Registered: 01-2003 |
Padded dashes suck ... lol I realize that they are old school tech, but that okay. I'll get a car to drive fast. I don't really like going over 70mph in my disco anyway. It wanders and a fast lane scares me, even before I lifted it. What started this was a sIII 109 I saw here in SLC with idaho plates. I parked next to it and fell in love. I realized I needed one. I drive to moab, 3 hours, or colorado, 4 to 8 hours, to go wheel. So I want something that has some road friendly qualities. That said I am looking to use it for a more offroad purpose, I just may drive 300 miles to run a 20 mile trail. Thanks for the links, looks like I won't be doing much work today. I think a 109 would be a better choice for me, the size for gear, wife, and 2 65lbs dogs looks like it could work better for me. Given I wheel currentally a 100" wheelbase with fair to poor approach and departure angles, would a 109" be a huge jump in size? To be honest my long commute I should have a car for, so this truck is going to be a toy for going camping and wheeling. Ike- you use yours as a daily driver?, how does that work out for you? | ||
| Ike Goss (Leafsprung) Member Username: Leafsprung Post Number: 53 Registered: 03-2003 |
It works well, of course I dont really know what Im missing, I've never owned anything but series land rovers. -Regards -Ike PS: drive as many series as you can before you buy anything | ||
| micky dee (Kincangokicker) New Member Username: Kincangokicker Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2003 |
humm my mistake.•••••• thoughts on this lada axle conversion? .... why not consider a dormobile camper if you will be using this rover for camping? .... metal dash, padded dash, wooden dash, custom dash made from checker plate etc. etc. breaking an axle sucks and land rovers do this all day every day! so carry a spare? they are designed that way..... | ||
| Jess Alvarez (Jester) Member Username: Jester Post Number: 202 Registered: 11-2002 |
Well, all I can say is this: Having gone the same route as you propose and having asked advice from people who had experience in Series ownership, my recommendations are as such: As was mentioned before, dont expect a comfy vehicle. Expect it to be rough, primitive, noisy, difficult to drive....but you will love it. Importantly: Research your state's emissions requirements, and be sure that the model year of your new SII or SIII will either pass or is not required to test or pass. This is important if you intend to license the truck. Emissions failure will likely cost you either significant mechanic costs or significant time and money in parts and adjustments if you work on the cars yourself. Many people will tell you that the truck you are looking to buy is 'easy' to work on. Unless you are already familiar with engines and the concepts involved with them, don't necessarily take that advice. Many things ARE easy to do, but for the uninitiated, it is very easy to get in over your head. For those over your head cases, ask around and speak with a trustworthy mechanic that is used to working on British cars. When you do, be prepared to wait for the mechanic to order parts, and be prepared to wait for them to come in. Don't be afraid to ask questions. If somebody gives you guff about a 'stupid' question, ignore them and keep exploring. There are some out there that think that they should be the last people to own a Series truck, or that you, as a new owner, are not worthy of ownership or their information. Fuck em. Move on. Find someone who can and will help. They exist. Most Series owners are actually enthusiasts. It is the elitist enthusiasts that you want to steer clear from. Anyway, Series ownership can be a joy....and it WILL be a pain. But all the while, the phrase you want to always keep in your hip pocket...it is both a term of endearment as well as frustration. The Phrase?: "FUCKING ROVERS". Good luck and happy trails Jess | ||
| Jaime (Blueboy) Senior Member Username: Blueboy Post Number: 675 Registered: 02-2002 |
Andy, we also have 2 larger bow-wows (2 Labs) and carry a fair amount of camping stuff when we travel. for this reason we sold a D90 to build a hybrid '67 SIIa 109. the extra room is really handy and the longer wheelbase isn't that detrimental. it doesn't slow down D110s does it? while I also consider our '93 RR a budding classic, Series LRs in any shape or form are just very cool and capable. as you can see from this thread, guys like Art, Ike, and others will keep you going. Jess above sums it up pretty well - there are dicks and then there are LR enthusiasts. if you like LRs for what they kinda stood for, you'll like a Series. like assholes, everyone has an opinion. mine is forget the Series III as you might as well get a D something. and as Ike in his impartial way mentioned, metal dashes are better than padded anything. by the way, its great to see the "Aardvark" on this board. Jaime | ||
| Art Bitterman (Aardvark) New Member Username: Aardvark Post Number: 37 Registered: 05-2003 |
Jaime- Glad to be here. Interesting board! Always thought it mainly coil based info, but have found this forum and others here where I've gotten good info. It's the second board I check in the morning-right after my own! Blatent Plug follows: http://pub145.ezboard.com/bgunsandrovers | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 324 Registered: 01-2003 |
Okay, how do I learn to double clutch? Still figuring out how and where I want to go with this, thanks for all the info, its been helpful. | ||
| Jess Alvarez (Jester) Member Username: Jester Post Number: 210 Registered: 11-2002 |
You will learn by grinding off a pound or two.... Just kidding. It is pretty easy. From neutral: Clutch in, first gear in, clutch out, drive, clutch in, first gear out (neutral), clutch out, clutch in, second gear, clutch out. Same sequence for 3rd to second, but with a little tap on the gas to get the RPMs up to synch up the gears. I normally dont downshift from 3 to 2 because of it. Incidentally, these things are geared so low that I just start out in second to avoid the double clutching. That is what I would recommend. Jess | ||
| Andy Thoma (Andythoma) Senior Member Username: Andythoma Post Number: 325 Registered: 01-2003 |
Thanks, I never drove a double clutch before, closest I came was when a guy offered to let me drive a 1913 rolls royce silver ghost to the Hershey car show in Hershey PA. I was 17 and a friend of my family restored RR's and I worked for him. I turned it down after I learned I would have to double clutch, I figured a 1913 gearbox is not something you would want to learn on. There's a 66 sIIa 88" for sale here in SLC, I want to drive it, but not look like too big of an idiot. I'll drive the wifes car and double clutch it and pretend for practice first. | ||
| Michael Noe (Noee) Senior Member Username: Noee Post Number: 677 Registered: 03-2002 |
The owner will explain it to you and show you too. I wouldn't stress it, ain't nothing to it, just go easy. What's weird is the other day I found myself double-clutching our Mazda Protege. Jeez. Biggest thing you got to worry about is how much time you're gonna spend driving vs. tinkering. I can't keep my damn hands outta the thing. We have a nice weekend coming up, would be nice to go for a drive or two, but that'll be hard to do without a rear end. | ||
| Jaime (Blueboy) Senior Member Username: Blueboy Post Number: 676 Registered: 02-2002 |
lol Art! your's is the second I check after D-Web. Gotta remember even my 109 is a "coiler". Eek - probably pissed off Ike now with this heresy. There is a alot of LR knowledge around here plus good solid mechanical stuff as well. Again, its very cool you and few others are joining in. Jaime |
