Too old for remote touring? 500K km 110 V8

[I Love My Landy!]

Hi all,

I intend on doing a few remote trips in the next few years with my wife and kids, but I'm not sure if my vehicle is up to it. I have a 1984 110 V8 with 500,000 km on the clock. I'm not too worried about little things going wrong (I can fix most of them), it's the chance of major driveline failure that worries me.

- The LT95 gearbox and transfer case were rebuilt ~ 260,000 km ago. Gearbox shifts very well. Transfer case whines a fair bit, with a lot of 'wah wah' at 100 km/h. The centre diff has NOT been rebuilt. There is a lot of backlash in the driveline (not from the drive flanges - they are newish), including when off road with centre diff locked.

- New clutch and rebuilt master and slave cylinders.

- The motor is a bit tired but I am rebuilding a replacement.

- Front diff, axles and CV's are original. No noises from front axle at all and minimal play in pinion shaft (?) bearing. Swivel housings rebuilt. Rear axle has maxi-drive locker and HD axles - almost as old as the vehicle but no noises. All wheel bearings oil fed.

- No play in universal joints but there is play in the splines of the propeller shafts.

- Steering box recently rebuilt.

- Recently installed new shocks, springs, bushes etc.

- Brake system recently overhauled.

If I can get some opinions please that would be most appreciated.

Thank you,

Edward :)

[Dave_S]

I did some serious remote touring in a stock standard Series III with a 2.25 petrol engine. If I were you, I'd give the car a very serious once over, fix anything that needs doing, get a comprehensive spares pack and an HF radio and go touring.

With a V8 you're going to need a lot of fuel, so get some extra tanks and jerry can holders fitted. We carried about 330 litres of petrol and it was barely enough.

[PAT303]

Same here,I started off in 2.25's and needed lots of fuel,you sound like you don't mind spending money keeping your vehicle sound,I'd go no worries. Pat

[I Love My Landy!]

Same here,I started off in 2.25's and needed lots of fuel,you sound like you don't mind spending money keeping your vehicle sound,I'd go no worries. Pat

My father and I do all the work ourselves which saves us a lot of money. It helps us learn about the vehicle as well.

[rar110]

Buy a v8 D1 that's going well and swap in the motor and box. An auto would be my choice. You would have probably need to change the rear prop shaft.

[Graeme]

The transfer case howl is most likely due to worn intermediate shaft and bearings so needs an overhaul, but the noise will drive you insane anyway if not fixed.

[jimr1]

Hi Edward , I went on a 5,000 kl trip in my 1986 v8 110 some years ago . We did have a budget for any brake downs , tows , or damage . Fortunately we didn't have many problems , other than small items , That was the plastic hub cap on one wheel started leaking . My 110 is duel fuel . Gas was a problem in the outback . One other problem that took a bit of finding , was the bog weights in the bottom of the dizzy the small springs stretched . My advice would be , make sure you have good hoses ,and belts , your alternator and fuel pump are up to scratch . If your drive train is fare ish , keep every thing greased ,on oiled go for It . If you break down put the kettle on and have a cuppa . Most of the roads are flat and strait , Land Rovers just soak up the ks . One other small tip , put a decent radio in , not tapes , if you do you will get to know every song , on every tape word perfect !!.. Good luck Jim :):)

[PAT303]

[QUOTE=I Love My Landy!;2391888]My father and I do all the work ourselves which saves us a lot of money. It helps us learn about the vehicle as well.[/QUOTE :cool:. Pat

[eeyore]

Hi Edward,

I have a '85 110 ute with 550k. It's the Isuzu version but aside from that, its general condition sounds very similar to yours. LT95 gearbox rebuilt at 250k, swivel hubs / brakes / suspension / drive flanges & UJs at 500k. Still has original axles, cv joints, diffs etc. In the last four years it has done two Kimberley / Pilbra / central Australia trips, around 15K each. Only issues it had were a crack in the (original) radiator - repaired at a local radiator shop - and the headlight wiring loom melting (prior to fitting relays). Driveline UJs needed replacing pretty soon after returning from both trips too.

In my experience, these 80s 110s are pretty strong and can take a lot of off-road punishment. I wouldn't be worried about its age, but rather how well its been maintained. Yours seem to be well looked after in that regard. I don't know what effect the petrol V8 has on overall reliability (eg electrical / fuel / cooling) but in terms of chassis & driveline stresses, I'm sure it doesn't pound them like the Isuzu does!

Cheers
Simon

[Blade74]

I love hearing about these high Km defenders powering on.

[Phil B]

Hi
Great to hear your LR is still strong after 1/2million km's!!!
When you say "remote" what does that mean?
Having a major break down halfway between say Sydney and Broken Hill is a completely different prospect to a major breakdown in the middle of the Simpson
I suppose what I am saying is could the lets face it "old" drive train put you and your family in a life threatening situation if it failed and left you stranded?

[Dave_S]

Hi
Great to hear your LR is still strong after 1/2million km's!!!
When you say "remote" what does that mean?
Having a major break down halfway between say Sydney and Broken Hill is a completely different prospect to a major breakdown in the middle of the Simpson
I suppose what I am saying is could the lets face it "old" drive train put you and your family in a life threatening situation if it failed and left you stranded?

If you are sensible, you won't be facing a life threatening situation because of a catastrophic mechanical failure anywhere in Australia. You should always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Pack an HF radio or sat phone and have enough food and water in reserve to last a week. So long as you don't leave the vehicle, you will survive. The same rule applies to a brand new vehicle.

Having said that, if you need to be rescued, you may have to leave the vehicle behind. If you can accept that this is a risk, go for it. If not, stay on the tarmac.

It's a bit like any kind of travel - never take anything you can't stand to lose.

[I Love My Landy!]

Hi
Great to hear your LR is still strong after 1/2million km's!!!
When you say "remote" what does that mean?
Having a major break down halfway between say Sydney and Broken Hill is a completely different prospect to a major breakdown in the middle of the Simpson
I suppose what I am saying is could the lets face it "old" drive train put you and your family in a life threatening situation if it failed and left you stranded?

With a wife and two young ones I will be sensible with the areas I go, and I will always travel with at least one other vehicle. I wouldn't put my family in a life threatening position. I guess the main reason why I want a reliable truck is simply to make the trip as comfortable and enjoyable for my family as possible. Less breakdowns = less stress, less changes to schedules, etc. I don't want mechanical failures to rob me of my little time off work with the family, especially with all the planning and cost of doing a big trip.

Edward :)

[Phil B]

X2 for both of the above
I have been in a life threatening situation in the dessert (caused by my stupidity) and it's not something you want to happen to you.
Simple things like partner vehicles, sat phones, enough water and fuel and above all good planning are essential. It's not so much fun being stranded with no back up planning, believe me.
I wasn't for one minute saying you would put your family in danger. Just sharing my thoughts, that's all.
Regards

[I Love My Landy!]

X2 for both of the above
I have been in a life threatening situation in the dessert (caused by my stupidity) and it's not something you want to happen to you.
Simple things like partner vehicles, sat phones, enough water and fuel and above all good planning are essential. It's not so much fun being stranded with no back up planning, believe me.
I wasn't for one minute saying you would put your family in danger. Just sharing my thoughts, that's all.
Regards

No worries Phil, I know what you meant and I agree :) Travelling solo into truly remote areas with a young family would probably be too stressful for me - would defeat the purpose of the trip.

Good to hear everything worked out out well in the end (well I assume it did anyway!)

Edward :)

[Graeme]

Even late model vehicles can require recovery from the Simpson, as a LC200 owner recently discovered when he broke his gearbox trying to recover a stuck vehicle and trailer. The stuck vehicle, once freed, pulled the LC over the rest of the dunes with another vehicle towing his trailer.