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[stealth]

My first landy was a 1970 series2 single cab. It went through a few mods and improvements while i had it. In the end it had aHolden 186, LR clutch, Nissan Cabstar 5 speed transmission and hi ratio transfer case conversion. Happily cruise at 110kph and in 1st low could nearly climb a tree. I made my own king cab by taking a short wheel base rear cab and shortening it down to 30" and bolting that onto the single cab and modifying the roof to fit. Even added a sunroof! I put Defender style front panels on it but kept the original S2 radiator. It always ran hot so I added an extra radiator under the floor behind the fuel tank with an air scoop and plumbed it into the front radiator. it was actually an air conditioner condenser but it did the trick. Added about an extra two litres of water to the cooling system and the scoop looked a little like a P51 Mustang set up. The extra cab space allowed me to put some bucket seats in it I got from some modern (then) Japanese wreck importers. A little mod to make them sit lower and they were very comfortable. The rear cab space allowed enough room for two passengers sitting facing inwards. rear tray was steel with canvas canopy. I sold it to someone in Sydney and bought a new 130 cab chassis in 2003. I wish now that I had taken that $45,000 and repeated what I had previously done. I would have gotten a County wagon (or two) and rebuilt something similar.

So lets suppose a 130 chassis is available with single cab. Doing the similar king cab conversion (length variable) and rear tray custom to what ever you want, what running gear,engine suspension set up etc could some of our members design? I choose the130 chassis because the 110 is too short to allow a decent cab extension and still have a decent tray length.

[uninformed]

If it were me and I were serious about it, I would look at getting longer doors made for the extra length.

As far as engine. If old school tech I would go the isuzu with Isuzu 6 speed and lt230. I would even consider remote mounting the transfer to get weigth further back. If I was free with funds i would get custom axles made, I would use ruffstuff housings with sixty9 diffs, 35 spline axles maybe even d60 longfield cv in 101 swivels and hubs, disc conversion ..... The sixty9 has better clearance than a stock D60

If I were going portals I again would go ruffstuff housings with MD portals. Probably even run rover built up centers. MD lockers, Hy tuff shafts modded ashcroft cvs.

Oh and defintely rearsteer.

other engine could be the latest LR v6 diesel or even the 3.2 from the transit with getrag 6 speed

I would reduce the rear overhang/chassis length and run the shortest tray I could get away with. I would push the engine back so the front pulley is atleast back to the front axle center line....

[Slunnie]

I guess the first question which all of the answers will hang off, is what do you really want to do with the end result.

[stealth]

Nothing special. Just throwing out the topic to see what better vehicle could be produced on the LR chassis to make a custon tray ute. Well probably more interested in drive train ideas. No rock climbing monster or anything.

[Slunnie]

Ah ok. I think 3.0 TDV6 with it's auto and the transfer case swapped out for an LT230. I like the TDV8 but its not better enough to balance out its parts availability into the future or the tech that will get developed for it for aftermarket. This would be very powerful and smooth combo that is fuel efficient and readily available. I would also expect it to fit the Defender, well maybe just. This motor is also designed to be used on big angles, so great for 4WDing.

If you're just after sheer power then a 6.0 V8 and auto from a Holden and LT230 adapted to the auto.