Considering purchase of Series III with holden motor.

[Gippslander]

I am considering purchasing a Series III with a Holden 202 motor and fairy overdrive in a safari wagon where do i need to look for rust, cracked frames or other common faults i would be having to finalize the installations of motor and gearbox plus getting it licensed. Are these units considered reliable and how much fuel do they use i presently have a P38(thirsty) and a Discovery 3 diesel very economical(wife's car), the Series III would be set up for long distance touring with boat either on top or towed all information will be gratefully received.

Gippslander

[Lotz-A-Landies]

The SIII with holden motors travelled all over the country and were in many ways more servicable than the Rover engined ones. they usually get about 17 or 20 MPG

If you are used to a P38 and a Disco 3, you won't be impressed touring with a series 3. I would be suggesting looking for a Isuzu County wagon or a Tdi Defender wagon. The wagon bodies are externally the same and the coil suspension makes long distance travel bearable.

Places to look for rust on all 3 models are on the "A" pillar outside of the vents, the drivers and front passenger footwells, in the rear chassis cross-member and the front of the chassis rails (dumb irons). Or generally any extensive areas of surface rust on the outside of the chassis which may indicate the vehicle was used on salt water beaches and be rotten inside.

[pfillery]

I have a series 3 with a 186 motor and couldn't be happier with it as a general vehicle.

I have several overdrives, one of which is due to go in at some stage (I've been unemployed for 5 weeks now and still haven't gotten around to fitting it) which should improve things too. I have mine on LPG too which saves a lot in fuel, runs cleaner (virtually no gunk in the exhaust pipe) and I can get usually 400 - 425 km to a 60 litre tank of gas. In comparison with using petrol, I saved the full cost of gas installation in less than 3 months which is extraordinary to consider, I can't understand why more people wouldn't do it. My gas tank isn't huge but you'd get good range with a bigger tank (I went with what I could find easilly at the time) or if I filled it with gas and petrol, I have not used petrol in it for over 6 months.

To sum up, Rover 4 cylinder engine trumps Holden engine but Holden engine trumps Rover 6 cylinder engine in my opinion, at least for ease of servicing and availability of parts.

[Series3 GT]

I'm not so sure about a series III long distance tourer but it's worth a look if it's not too badly rusted. I've heard the 186 is better than the 202 but I'm not too sure about which is the better engine. It's a big debate that will go on as long as these two engines are around. I don't think there's too much of a difference. The Holden sixes are very easy to find parts for and the go on for a while if serviced right but almost every engine will go for a while if it's regularly serviced. Give it a look and let us now what the chassis is like. I agree with pfillery Rover 4 cyl trumps Holden engine but Holden engine trumps Rover 6 cyl, a lot of people will disagree but that's my opinion.

[Gippslander]

Missed out on the Series three thanks to being stuck at work was not get up to have a look and purchase so i will continue looking. I know it is not everyone's idea of a tourer but to take the dirt roads up into the NSW out back or up the dirt in the mountains i thought would be a change. thanks for those who took the time to reply.
Gippslander.:D

[rovercare]

Was that your P38 I seen in Traralgon today with a couple of spunky women in it?

[Gippslander]

Well sort of that was my daughter and friend i think i am in Indonesia so not 100% sure she was supposed to be driving it.:angel: