Series Model ????

[whitehillbilly64]

Well the Supra owner ( Oldest Daughters 18yr old boyfriend ) Has seen the light, and thinks he wants a Series Land Rover.
So what to look for.....
To suit this Driver, I was thinking a LWB over the SWB. wet weather handling better with LWB ????
Holden 6 or 2 1/4, does the 2 1/4 handle the LWB ok ????
No Rust in firewall and chassis, so one that has sat in a barn for 30 yrs.
What model ???? S2 or 2A with the stronger gearbox, but nice steel dash.
Truck cab/Ute or full top ????
Any thoughts and comments please

Whitehillbilly

[JDNSW]

Well the Supra owner ( Oldest Daughters 18yr old boyfriend ) Has seen the light, and thinks he wants a Series Land Rover.
So what to look for.....
To suit this Driver, I was thinking a LWB over the SWB. wet weather handling better with LWB ????
Holden 6 or 2 1/4, does the 2 1/4 handle the LWB ok ????
No Rust in firewall and chassis, so one that has sat in a barn for 30 yrs.
What model ???? S2 or 2A with the stronger gearbox, but nice steel dash.
Truck cab/Ute or full top ????
Any thoughts and comments please

Whitehillbilly

Handling is much the same, lwb or swb, neither is anything like a modern vehicle. lwb has a larger than convenient turning circle, making the swb much handier. All depends on what he wants it for. Wet weather handling is very largely a matter of what tyres you put on it.

I would prefer the 2.25, as it fits the gearing better than a Holden engine. Series 2a is generally preferable to Series 2, as there was continuous improvement - but the improved bits can all be fitted to a Series 2. He'd find a 2.25 diesel very low powered, although the fuel economy can be quite good.

Truck cab has better vision if used in traffic, but these are rare in swb, although fitting a truck cab to any swb is relatively easy. Swb, being lighter, will perform better and return better fuel economy. Swb is easy to upgrade brakes by fitting lwb brakes. Upgrading lwb brakes is not as simple. On the other hand, the carrying capacity of the lwb is obviously better.

In the end, it is likely to come down to what you can find in suitable condition!

[Chops]

At 18, he'd probably be looking for something he can pack up, go away, and probably sleep in,,, (yeah I know,, not something we really wish to envisage with our daughters,,but reality strikes [bigsad])

However, if he's into tents and camping already, and not really wanting to take the kitchen sink away with him,, he may prefer something that in the bush will lead the way down all those harder tracks, to show up the newer boys,,, something that I found quite handy in the SWB S3 I started off with. [biggrin]

[Mick_Marsh]

He needs a 100" coiled Series 3 Stage 1 with a 3.5 V8.

[SG1 Bones]

As it's been said 'It's a matter of what he plans on using it for'. My personal choice is the 109" due to the more room/carrying capacity. I had planned to have a two door hard top so I could camp in the back of it when by myself and I had a SIII with a red 202, but I ran out of time fixing it up. So I got a SIII ute (registered) with a V6 3.0 litre and a Supra 5 speed gearbox. I now have new plans with it due to requiring it for work (carpenter) and play. I did have a S2a 109" but it was too much for me to get back on the road.

I would interrogate him more to see what he wants to do with it and what he wants to get out of it and then go from there. He may need to compromise at first, like having an Holden engine in it, but things like that can be changed down the track.

Nathan.