Thread: Ghosts 101 Adventures

Hi All,

It's been a while - I thought that I would give everybody an update on the 101... I've had some wins, and some not-so-wins..

SUSPENSION
After the recent Birdsville Trip I felt that the suspension was sagging (and hence caused one issue in relation to the oil filter hitting the top of the front diff). The Ho Har's who have driven my 101 had said that the shocks are stuffed, so it was time to do something about the suspension...
The end result is:
* The original springs have been re-tempered
* A 3rd spring has been added
* New EFS shocks

The Rear:


The Front:


Observations?
* I used Carrolls Springs in Melbourne
* Note that on the rear diff, they added a spacer to re-align the pinion angle.
* The 101 rides firmer
* The 101 sites 2-3 inches higher
* The 101 no longer wallows around like a boat
* I think that the prop-shaft rumble is worse... Previously I only had the rumble at a certain speed.. Now it appears to happen at about 3 different speeds.. After my test drive I got underneath the 101 and checked both the front & rear props.. They looked ok and didn't appear to have any movement. Unfortunately I now have to drive around 3 rumble spots instead of one.. I am a little worried about it..

OIL PUMP / PRESSURE
I have gone back to the original 3.9v8 oil pump / casing. With the new suspension height, I can't see the oil filter ever hitting the diff anymore..
I had an oil pressure gauge fitted, as well as a tacho:


Observations?
* When cold, the oil pressure quickly rises from 0 -> 30.
* When driving, the oil pressure sits between 20 > 30.
* Sometimes (only when hot) and stationary (and idling) the oil pressure drops down to 0, and the oil pressure light flickers on/off.
* The minute that I give it any revs - the pressure increases and the light goes off.
* This only happens when stationary - it hasn't happened in 250km of driving.

ELECTRONIC IGNITION
* Gav came over the other weekend and converted one of my distributors to Electronic ignition, and also checked the timing while he was at it.
* Gav said that the original distributor was knackered.. Which would explain why it's been running poorly.
* The 101 is however running rich.
* When cold - I have to have the choke out, or the 101 will stall.
* However if I try and drive it with the choke out - it coughs/splutters and back fires...
* I've learnt to let it warm up, push in the choke, and only then drive off. It's happy when warm.
* I am going to ask a local LR expert to have a look at the rebuilt carbies and hopefully all it needs is a good tune...

NEXT STEPS
* Get the carbies tuned
* Replace the exhaust system that's been repaired 3 times, and is past it. What do people think - go for 2.5" inch?
* Keep an eye on the props.

Cheers,
Grey Ghost.

Yes, go to 2.5" with the exhaust.

Originally Posted by grey_ghost

* The original springs have been re-tempered
* A 3rd spring has been added
* The 101 sites 2-3 inches higher
* The 101 no longer wallows around like a boat
* I think that the prop-shaft rumble is worse... Previously I only had the rumble at a certain speed.. Now it appears to happen at about 3 different speeds.. After my test drive I got underneath the 101 and checked both the front & rear props.. They looked ok and didn't appear to have any movement. Unfortunately I now have to drive around 3 rumble spots instead of one.. I am a little worried about it..

The rumble will be a direct result of lifting the vehicle by 2-3inches. A Ambo normally has less rumble than a GS because it is fatter and heavier and sits lower but raising it as you have done increases the drive angle so increasing the rumble.

I am sorry to say that I wouldn't worry to much because in my experience re-tempered springs quickly settle back to where they were before so maybe the rumble will reduce with use.

Can you list what shocks you used and any modifications needed?

Cheers

Garry

Not knowing much about the noise`s and rumble`s of the 101 .
But once lifting a car which has happened with your 101 after the spring`s were reset the Uni`s will be running at a different angle which can make a noise and also wear quicker as they are running in a slightly differnt angle
Id be keeping a close eye on your uni`s for a bit

Hi Garry,

I used this company in Melbourne (they also have a Sydney and Brisbane office):

Carrolls Springs Workshops - Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne

What I did was:
* Take a photo of the 101 (naturally they had never seen one)
* Give them the specifications for an ambulance (vehicle weight, front axle weight, rear axle weight)
* Gave them the existing (original) shocks
* Gave them the springs
* Asked them for replacements..

They said that replacement springs would be waay to expensive ($1,000 a pop) - and they came up with the solution.

I specifically gave them the vehicle weight for an ambulance - I wonder if Land Rover ran different springs/shocks on an ambulance compared to a GS? (I doubt it - maybe that's why my springs were a little tired, plus 40 years of use!)

They came back with the idea of re-tempering the springs and adding a 3rd leaf, and the shocks. The shocks are EFS although I'm not sure which model#.

I didn't modify anything (apart from adding the shim on the rear diff).

Cheers,
GG.

Interesting reading. I went to 3 leaves on the front when I first fitted the Cummins.. It was way too much, so I ended up removing the third leaf and replacing it with a 16mm spacer between the axle and spring. It gave it lift and was enough to compensate for the Cummins. On the rear axle I shaved 8mm of the front of the axle plates to lift the nose like yours now does using plates, so as to run the rear prop true as it was only 400mm long. Re the rumble, the only way to eliminate that is to lower the front of the engine, or tilt the nose of the diff up (which is huge work), or lastly, move the engine and box back 150mm min. The reason I know this works is because on my original 101 diesel conversion the big Nissan sat in the same place as the V8, and I ran the original box but moved it back 150mm. No rumble. With the second conversion, the Cummins and ZF box put the transfer case a long way back. It also eliminated the rumble...

Hi All,

Quick update... The exhaust on my 101 was well and truly past it, having multiple repair sections, pinches, rust, etc...

Well the 101 now has a 2.5" system.. And it sounds GREAT..

Sorry for the poor picture quality - I took these pictures while it was raining..







And the temp gauge (I can't remember the brand) has failed for a second time... So I binned it and went with a Speco (to match the other gauges). So I now have Temp, Oil Pressure, Tacho:


That's it for now...

Can you find the numbers on the shocks.
The make and model should be stamped in the body of them.
It could be good info for others who may want to follow.