Thread: Buying a County V8 - why we shouldnt?

Originally Posted by jakeslouw

The only thing the V8 County needs is.....

a top-hat linered 4.6 engine!

The low comp 3.5 is barely adequate. The twin carbs would be seriously iffy by now, and a nice Motronic EFI with Megasquirt ECU doing the sequential injection off the cam timing would improve the entire vehicle.

Just IMHO of course.....

Not biased, I just own one of the 3.5 V8 Counties.......

Mines a 4.4 P76 ... has plenty of go.

Tiki.

Tikirocker your county looks very in dual cab form....

I just picked up an 85 4spd V8 2owner, just needs a tidy up, will
post a pick soon..

Jeff

I bought my 85 County V8 two years ago and I am still in love. I have the 5 speed gearbox, which is as slow as a wet week between changes. The v8 has 240k on it and is a little tired but no smoke out the back.

Mine is the model with A/C . The A/C doesn't work and most folks say its not worth the trouble making it go because they were very ineffective. Having the A/C installed means no front vents and that is a real drag.

Any work behind the dashboard is a nightmare so be prepared for that. Getting in behind the air vents is a real challenge. The air and heater controls are all vacuum operated, with plastic bits crumbling from age.

I get 18k/litre plain unleaded petrol driving around Sydney with plenty of stops and starts.

I neglect my 4.7litre LC in preference to the LR which has "character" and sounds great.

My chassis is good but I do have rust in the doors. It seems to me the previous owners washed underneath thoroghly after a drive in salt water but did not flush the doors out. I have cleaned them up but one day new frames will be the go.

I paid $4k for the County (unregistered) and thought I had a bargain. I have tripled that with a new clutch, rebuilt gearbox, rebuilt front and rear brakes and a heap of other bits and pieces...even new rubber hubcaps.

Here she isnote the rear door mod.)


I have emptied the rear and turned it into a personal camper:

I bought my 85 County V8 two years ago and I am still in love. I have the 5 speed gearbox, which is as slow as a wet week between changes. The v8 has 240k on it and is a little tired but no smoke out the back.

Mine is the model with A/C . The A/C doesn't work and most folks say its not worth the trouble making it go because they were very ineffective. Having the A/C installed means no front vents and that is a real drag.

Any work behind the dashboard is a nightmare so be prepared for that. Getting in behind the air vents is a real challenge. The air and heater controls are all vacuum operated, with plastic bits crumbling from age.

I get 18k/litre plain unleaded petrol driving around Sydney with plenty of stops and starts.

I neglect my 4.7litre LC in preference to the LR which has "character" and sounds great.

My chassis is good but I do have rust in the doors. It seems to me the previous owners washed underneath thoroghly after a drive in salt water but did not flush the doors out. I have cleaned them up but one day new frames will be the go.

I paid $4k for the County (unregistered) and thought I had a bargain. I have tripled that with a new clutch, rebuilt gearbox, rebuilt front and rear brakes and a heap of other bits and pieces...even new rubber hubcaps.

Here she isnote the rear door mod.)


I have emptied the rear and turned it into a personal camper:

V8 county a good starting point for a isuzu conversion, just look at rijidij thread on his conversion. Murray loved his V8 but would not go back now that he has gone to the turbo isuzu.

I think you'd still be ahead with a V8 running on LPG over a Diesel these days ... costs alone are enough, and you still retain the power with a V8. Something to consider ...

Tiki.

Originally Posted by Tikirocker

...and you still retain the power with a V8.
...

Take a properly set up 4BD1T for a drive...

Originally Posted by isuzurover

Take a properly set up 4BD1T for a drive...

Would love to Ben ... next time you are in my neck of the woods please swing by! You can have a go with my 4.4 V8 County as well.