78 Stage 1 Isuzu ex army

[rangieman]

Just got off the phone from a mate
He is looking at a 78 LR hard top that has a isuzu 3.9 , He is not sure of the gearbox or transfer case but thinks it has a rangerover gearbox

It has a army chassis with extended spring hangers on the chassis , jerry can holders and he can see where the tac plates were fitted
My question is and i know this poped up the other day about early stage ones in the army , This one has the standard s111 radiator support and grill

Could this be a early military stage one , Sorry no pics or id as yet :angel:

[scrambler]

That sounds like what was described as one of the development mules for the Perentie project. Strictly speaking they weren't a Stage 1, instead they were an upgrade to the existing Series III units. It will probably have the gearbox set further back than a standard Stage 1 (in fact it must if it has the standard radiator support)

Get the pictures! ;)

It could be really rare. I think the final word on the earlier discussion was that 2 (two) were built :o

[JDNSW]

That sounds like what was described as one of the development mules for the Perentie project. Strictly speaking they weren't a Stage 1, instead they were an upgrade to the existing Series III units. It will probably have the gearbox set further back than a standard Stage 1 (in fact it must if it has the standard radiator support)

Get the pictures! ;)

It could be really rare. I think the final word on the earlier discussion was that 2 (two) were built :o


Probably based on a six, which has the gearbox further back - but there is the possibility of course that it is not one of the development vehicles but one that has been modified after the army, and much later as a copy of the Stage 1.

But if it IS one of the development vehicles it is obviously a valuable piece of history.

John

[UncleHo]

G'day Rangieman :)

It could be a prototype vehicle, as Monangatta is in Vic, and that is where the testing and approvals was done, would diffinately be worth getting the Chassis No to check in the REMLR lists, but at that early stage could have still been owned by Leyland Aust/JRA but is worth checking out , the 3.9 ,4 cyl would have fitted into the Six Cylinder Engine /Gearbox bay It might also have heavier front springs (normally 11 leaf)

cheers

[Phoenix]

Grab it with both hands ;)

There is also a chance that the army had a couple of stage ones to trial, but chances are there isn't much in records about them. However there are some annomolies in the series 3 chassis listings. Like a hard top S3, a GS in yellow etc. It also may have been converted for using in sensitive areas where petrol and sparks are bad.

[rangieman]

Well thanks for the replys guys ,
When i was talking with my mate , which owns several series now and in the past

He was telling me it has a hard top has aircon mounted in the roof , power steering (ram type) all the army bar work and the interesting part that he thought it had a series t/c as it had the yellow knob or was that red , he didnt say both only the one colour , Oh and it was driven from QLD to vic where it was traded in

He has never owned a classic rangie so i dont think he could say what box is in it , he does own a couple of series with nissan diesel,s and gearbox,s in them , one being a s111 gs which i posted pics of awhile ago

He did say the job of fitting the engine was a very good job , which he said looked like it belonged there and it went like the powers :D

He is no computer guru and does nt own a computer either , I think he wil grab it as the price is very tempting ,so if and when he gets it and i get a chance to see ill post pics up , I did ask him to get the numbers (chassis) ect (stay tuned):D

[JDNSW]

Sounds interesting - I can't imagine a Series 3 gearbox standing up to the Isuzu for very long, but the transfer case might. Be very interesting to see what it really has!

John

[Jeff]

A friend of mine put a 3.9 Isuzu in an ex mil Series 3 about 15 years ago with a Nissan 5 speed box and Series 3 transfer case. He also put a Stage One bonnet and grill on it and it looked like a Stage One from a distance. It was a yellow hardtop and was around Sydney's northern beaches for a while after.

Jeff

:rocket:

[rangieman]

A friend of mine put a 3.9 Isuzu in an ex mil Series 3 about 15 years ago with a Nissan 5 speed box and Series 3 transfer case. He also put a Stage One bonnet and grill on it and it looked like a Stage One from a distance. It was a yellow hardtop and was around Sydney's northern beaches for a while after.

Jeff

:rocket:
This one has the standard series3 front:D
So its not that one and its only a 4 speed gearbox