My saggy old lady

[Chomby]

Hi all,

I'm looking into getting my Series 3 feeling and performing a bit better off road. Since I've sorted the lack of power issue I'm now looking into my suspension and tyres which seem to be the only thing letting me down when I'm out and about. Currently I have the military shackles and leaves with 235/75R16 Goodyear Wrangler's that I traded some Sunraysia's with home brand tyres for. I'm very interested in keeping the split rims and getting some 9.00R16 tyres but I'm not sure of a) where to get them and b) wether they'll fit.

I am looking into parabolic springs (perhaps 2") eventually (when finances and wife allow) but as a more current idea I'm also looking into converting into SOA. Does anyone have experience with 9.00R16's? More specifically wether they'll fit and where i can get them. Also if anyone has tried converting to SOA if they could voice they're opinions on how it went.

If anyone could help with these questions it would be muchly appreciated :)

Thanks,
Brendon

[101RRS]

You can get 9.00x16 MRF Bar Treads from Ag Tyre Service in Moree. Not sure they will fit under your standard setup - though they are standard on the 1 tonne version of series landies.

Garry

[V8Ian]

Ask Banjo about the suspension, he's just done his.

[series3]

From what I understand, the 9.00x16 tyres will give a stock motor a hard time, and your diffs/axles an even harder time. A good method of getting the old girl beter off road is softening the springs.. there are some who have perfected this idea on the site.

9.00x16's will also throw out your ratios a bit I imagine..

[JDNSW]

9.00x16 were optional on 2a at least, and standard on the One Ton. But the One Ton was lower geared and had the six cylinder engine. With standard gearing and either of the four cylinder engines you will spend a lot of time in third gear and low range.

The One Ton also had lower geared steering, and 9.00x16 tyres won't improve the steering effort.

Spring over axle has been done on Series Landrovers, but I have yet to hear of an example that was considered a success. Engineering approval, if you need it, is unlikely.

As mentioned, 9.00x16 tyres can be found but tend to be expensive.

John

[Chomby]

Was the one tonne the swb with cutaway guards? cause mine is a lwb soft top which was a 6cyl 2.6 Landy engine but I had an incident where those pistons were destroyed. I've swapped to a 202 with 186 head. So the 202 should handle the extra strain but I'm not sure wether it has lower gearing in it (i do start in 2nd though).

Thanks,

[101RRS]

The One Ton was a 109" model that was not generally sold in Aust. As the name says it had a 1 ton load carrying capacity. It did not have cutaway guards.

"The 1 Ton 109" - produced from 1968 to approx 1977, covering late IIA and early series III Models. It was basically a Series IIB Forward Control built with a standard 109" body, featuring 2.6 litre petrol engine, lower ratio gearbox, ENV front and rear axles, (Salisbury front and rear on later Series IIIs) though some late IIAs were fitted with ENV axles in front and Salisbury on the rear. The chassis frame was unique to the model and featured drop-shackle suspension similar to the military series Land Rovers. 900x16 tyres were a standard feature and these machines were commonly used by utility companies and breakdown/recovery firms. Only 170 IIa and 275 (approx) Series IIIs (1 Ton) were built for the home market.

So your vehicle is not a 1 tonne and your standard axles/front rover diff will not survive trying to turn 9.00x16s. Also the holden motor does not rev as well as the rover motor so also may have issues (but the the tyres will act like an overdrive so it might go OK). If you do go to 9.00x16 you will need 4.7 diff ratios, stronger axles in the rear and major diff/axle/UJ work at the front (Rover Diff) - the rear Salisbury should be OK.

Garry

[UncleHo]

G'day Chomby :)

If you vehicle is a standard civilian series 3 with out the raised military spring mountings,(not long shackles) then I would suggest that to get better spring articulation you fit Parabolic springs and matching shockers,this will give you about a 1+inch lift,without having to modify either UJ's or chassis X members (driveshafts rub on full deflection) if you wish for more clearance then fit 8.25 x 16 tyres ;) a local bloke has them on a Toyo-four runner, quite sucessfully on beach work they are standard A/T pattern


cheers

[Chomby]

UncleHo: this is exactly what i am now thinking..

Garry: thank you for your info :)

Anyone: what height is the 8.25x16 and where can i get them? and are the parabolic springs something i could find at my local 4wd shop or would landy ones be a hard find?

Thanks all,

[isuzurover]

Edit: UncleHo: this is exactly what i am now thinking.. what height is the 8.25x16 and where can i get them? and are the parabolic springs something i could find at my local 4wd shop or would landy ones be a hard find?

Thanks,

The old tyre sizes 7.50x16, 8.25x16 and 9.00x16 are getting hard to find in decent tread patterns. You would be better off going to a similar p-metric size like 255/85-16 (33" diameter).

Rocky Mountain Parabolics are available from FWD Motors in Brisbane. However I have posted some threads on how you can modify your own springs if you have the time, inclination, and a friendly local spring works.

SOA is not legal in QLD.

[Chomby]

The old tyre sizes 7.50x16, 8.25x16 and 9.00x16 are getting hard to find in decent tread patterns. You would be better off going to a similar p-metric size like 255/85-16 (33" diameter).

Rocky Mountain Parabolics are available from FWD Motors in Brisbane. However I have posted some threads on how you can modify your own springs if you have the time, inclination, and a friendly local spring works.

SOA is not legal in QLD.

I don't want to go to metric sizing because i cant find them tall enough without compromising on going wider. (skinnier is better IMO)

Ill have a look at your posts regarding modifying my springs and at FWD Motors.

Do you mean SOA is ilegal for landies? hiluxes have them stock..

[isuzurover]

I don't want to go to metric sizing because i cant find them tall enough without compromising on going wider. (skinnier is better IMO)

Ill have a look at your posts regarding modifying my springs and at FWD Motors.

Do you mean SOA is ilegal for landies? hiluxes have them stock..

255/85 are metric and fairly narrow - about the same size as an 8.25x16.
Silverstone make a 280/85-16 and I think michelin make a XXX/100-16. Both of which are about the same size as a 9.00.

SOA is legal if it came from the factory - the current modification rules specifically state that SOA conversions are illegal. They may become legal if and when QLD finally ratifies the NCOP.

[101RRS]

If a vehicle has SOA like HiLuxes and my Land Rover 101 as built then yes they are legal but if a vehicle was not built like that, then engineering approval is required - and some jurisdictions may have decided that this type of modification must not be done.

In a series landrover I would expect the lift would be too great as the front driveshaft will hit the bell housing cross member (the 101 does not have one).

So without major modifications the the chassis I suspect it is not actually possible to do a soa/high lift on a series. I think the lift that an army chassis has would about the max you could lift.

Garry

[Chomby]

255/85 are metric and fairly narrow - about the same size as an 8.25x16.
Silverstone make a 280/85-16 and I think michelin make a XXX/100-16. Both of which are about the same size as a 9.00.

SOA is legal if it came from the factory - the current modification rules specifically state that SOA conversions are illegal. They may become legal if and when QLD finally ratifies the NCOP.

Thanks very much for clearing that up. I've been looking at michelin and silverstone the last week with no luck but ill have another gander. Its a shame about the SOA, found some converted that looked rather nice
YouTube- Rock Chucker (Metal Masher) at Land Rover National Rally

Thanks again for your help

[Chomby]

If a vehicle has SOA like HiLuxes and my Land Rover 101 as built then yes they are legal but if a vehicle was not built like that, then engineering approval is required - and some jurisdictions may have decided that this type of modification must not be done.

In a series landrover I would expect the lift would be too great as the front driveshaft will hit the bell housing cross member (the 101 does not have one).

So without major modifications the the chassis I suspect it is not actually possible to do a soa/high lift on a series. I think the lift that an army chassis has would about the max you could lift.

Garry

I was aware of the crossmembers being an issue. my rear tailshaft has been grinding on the rear crossmember because i think the engine mounts on the 202 i installed were too far back hence pulling the tailshaft forward (not happy)