Series Landy's

[George130]

OK guys tell me whats it like using a series Landy as a daily driver.
What are the traps to look out for.

Yep thinking of maybe downsizing from the 130 and being seriously swayed by the idea of a Dormobile.

[JDNSW]

Edd,
I drive my 2a daily, and use my 110 for trips to town, so I can probably comment on this from the point of view of using both regularly.

First one, is what Series are you talking about? For a daily driver, forget the Series 1, you'll probably have trouble finding a good one anyway. There is little to choose (from the daily driver point of view) between the 2/2a and the 3, except that the S3 heater works, at least as well as the 130 one does.

The leaf springs, even in good condition, do not ride as well as the 130, although it is said that fitting parabolics largely overcomes this. Brakes are adequate if in good shape, but not as good as the 130, and can be upgraded fairly easily by fitting larger drums on most of them, but only the late S3 had dual circuit brakes and power assistance. Trim is fairly basic even by 130 standards. Gearboxes are noisy by 130 standards, and you can expect to want an overdrive. Most body and chassis parts are readily available and cheap. No Series Landrovers had power steering, and while it can be fitted, it is not simple or cheap. But on standard tyres, with pressures as recommended they are not too bad - but foreget oversize tyres!

The big problem is engines, none of them are as good as the one you have for a daily driver, with the possible exception of the Stage 1 Isuzu (see below).
The most common engine is the 2.25 petrol, which comes in three and five bearing forms, and is very reliable, durable, and easy to work on. BUT, it is not particularly powerful by modern standards, and, mainly because of the low compression and design for reliability, it is thirsty. But could still be reasonable to use. Parts are readily available and cheap by 130 standards.
Probably next most common is the 2.25 diesel. These are very low powered even by the standards of the day, but reasonably economical. They are not particularly durable, and are expensive to overhaul. Both of these engines have often been replaced by Australian engines, usually Holden sixes. The quality of the conversion varies from professional to awful. The gearing does not suit them very well and carburettion and lubrication may not like steep slopes, but many people have been very happy with them. Some of these engines can give parts problems, as the particular model fitted may now be very old.
The 2.6 petrol six is excellent to drive, but has woeful economy, and parts are getting to be a real problem. Probably not good for a daily driver.
For performance in traffic, it is hard to go past a S3 Stage 1 V8, and converted to gas, you could afford to feed it.
Probably the best engine fitted to any Series Landrover is the Isuzu 4BD1 fitted to some Stage 1s, but these are very rare - I have only ever seen about half a dozen, all of them tray top utes.
I hope this helps,
John

[George130]

Thanks for that. The one I saw but has been sold was a series 3 with a holden 6 in it. I know where a series 2 or 2a is, Don't know which one. My thoughts was a holden 6 dual feul would beeasy to fix and cheap for parts so I could buy a spare engine at the time of purchase and rebuild it ready for later on. Also the Dormobile thing means I'm set for camping and if I allocate my current running costs I might have more play money for extras.

[George130]

The other option is a short wheelbase soft top and I fight the missus for it.

Showed her a picture of the convertible 90 and she loved the idea of it but warn'ed me that she would want it for her car.

[101RRS]

Noise

Breeze even though the doors and windows are closed

Interesting brakes

Lack of heat in winter (depends on the car)

Poor fuel consumption compared to your diesel

Good handling but ruff ride

Retreads work well cause you don't go fast enough

Oil leaks but you will be used to that

Sedate motoring

Great fun to drive

Simple mechanics.


I used to drive a series 1 softtop as my sole car for 7 years - it was great as long as you left long enough to stop. Commuted Nowra to Newcastle and back each weekend.

Later had a series 3 - ride and turning circle much better than the series1 - despite 20 years age difference - everything else seemed the same. Drove the series 3 from Gosford to Sydney and back each day for 2 years then moved to Canberra where it was my daily commuter for 3 years - then bought a disco.

The 2.2 litre engine works better than a holden 6 (at least up too a 161) particularly when the engine is fresh, a decent airfilter and extractors. The LR engine matches the standard gearing better - maybe different with an overdrive.

I would buy your doormobile but you might want to also buy a small cheap car also as the daily runner.

Gazzz

[incisor]

Noise
but not overthetop if you add a bit of rubber and foam

Breeze even though the doors and windows are closed
never had the problem, both with ragtop and hardtop i dont have a problem. costs about $30 bucks to put decent rubbers on the doors.

Interesting brakes
real interesting at highway speeds

Lack of heat in winter (depends on the car)
never had the problem, but i have a kneecap heater https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Poor fuel consumption compared to your diesel
!!!! you got it in one

Good handling but ruff ride
parabolics go a long way to sorting that but 1000 bucks for the ride

Retreads work well cause you don't go fast enough
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

Oil leaks but you will be used to that
prior to me starting to fit the diesel my old thing rarely marked it's territory...

Sedate motoring
i can fix that...

Great fun to drive
go to the top of the class !

Simple mechanics.
thats no way to talk about me!

The 2.2 litre engine works better than a holden 6 (at least up too a 161) particularly when the engine is fresh, a decent airfilter and extractors. The LR engine matches the standard gearing better - maybe different with an overdrive.
the overdrive turns them into a much more useable vehicle IMHO but then there is the interesting brakes...

[George130]

Thanks. I might have chase a series 3 to test drive https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
I guess the biggest issue is the 150km round trip each day for work. Currently I sit on 90kmh for most of it. County might be the go also, Get my V8 then to.

[Frenchie]

Originally posted by George130


the biggest issue is the 150km round trip each day for work.

I think you would get sick of that very quickly.

[incisor]

buy a suzuki town car and a county https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[JDNSW]

Originally posted by George130
Thanks. I might have chase a series 3 to test drive :D
I guess the biggest issue is the 150km round trip each day for work. Currently I sit on 90kmh for most of it. County might be the go also, Get my V8 then to.

I quite happily drive my County on trips to town (120km round trip) but don't look forward to trips into town in the 2a for the following reasons -
Very noisy above about 85kph, despite good seals and some insulation, mostly gear noise (should have replaced some gears in the overdrive when I overhauled it but they are PRICEY) and wind noise, although tyres are partly a problem.
Poor hill climbing and acceleration compared to the County.
No power steering - only a problem in car parks.
Poorer turning circle (but better than a 130)
Fuel consumption is 50% higher

You should also note that if looking at a 2/2a that the S3 was the first with synchromesh on all forward gears - all earlier Landrovers only had synchromesh on 3 & 4, although second is constant mesh (The gearbox actually dates to 1932 I believe).

[Phoenix]

Well I can probably offer some insight into this, as my series 3 ragtop is my daily driver.

However, I only drive a round trip of 6 km's a day, although i'd happily drive 4 times that far. Further could be painfull.

I've only once driven a series landrover with a series engine, and that was my brothers S3 SWB before he killed it. My S3 has a holden, the engine is ok, but mismatched, i'm looking at ditching it.

The ragtop is actually very warm in winter, and it's about 2 degrees here in the mornings at the moment. My heater has been replaced with something else with a stronger fan, but it works very well, I turn it off after a while. Draughts aren't too bad, but i'm only in 60 zones. However at high speed there aren't many problems. A series 3 is defenitely the way to go if you are going to drive it regularly though.

[George130]

Well the Dormobile E-Bay was sold for $5,800. Only bidder used the buy it now button so the 8 days I had to do my research has gone. Have a meeting next week to discuss my current lease and options. If I can sell the 130 for what I owe then I'm quite interested so now its looking at what is out there in
1. a county to convert to gas
2. a Series III hopefully rag top
3. a mates 80 series cruiser for a grand and a couple of grand to finnish it (Prefer a Landy) or
4. an old Rangie on gas.

If costs are to high then I just keep the 130 and plod allong.

I'm finding it harder to fund regular trips on the weekend with my current lease plan.

[Frenchie]

I would go the County or old Rangie. They are as comfortable as modern Defenders (probably more so for the Rangie), and you should be able to pick one up that has already been converted to gas.

[Maggot4x4]

Originally posted by George130
Well the Dormobile E-Bay was sold for $5,800. Only bidder used the buy it now button so the 8 days I had to do my research has gone. Have a meeting next week to discuss my current lease and options. If I can sell the 130 for what I owe then I'm quite interested so now its looking at what is out there in
1. a county to convert to gas
2. a Series III hopefully rag top
3. a mates 80 series cruiser for a grand and a couple of grand to finnish it (Prefer a Landy) or
4. an old Rangie on gas.

If costs are to high then I just keep the 130 and plod allong.

I'm finding it harder to fund regular trips on the weekend with my current lease plan.

How much are you chasing for the 130? I may be interested in a trade with a V8 Rangie with complete LPG system.
PM me if you prefer.