S1 as weekend getaway and long distance tourer ermm?

[whatthe]

Always liked S1's and I have found one that is in really good condition with a holden red motor in it.
My question is in several parts so please be patient.

I will replace/ restore things as I can, but for now is it plausible for me to use it everyday or will it just pack in. What I'm trying to say is how tough are the diffs gearbox brakes so -on. To everyday traffic and wear. I have never driven but obviously its not an escort cosworth, I know that much.

I want to know what alternatives I have in replacing stuff,:-
Engine: is the red motor reliable & would it be easy to get another one
Diffs: diffs are there any alternatives, what about diff locks, how strong are standard?
Gearbox: same questions
Brakes: drums all around ermm, any conversion kits out there?

I wanna stay as close to original as possible but make it reliable enough to tour the bush for several weeks in at christmas. If you get what I mean. I'm not bothered about comfort or speed, just reliability and safety.

Thanks any help would be good. Paul
ps, how do the "strap"on the suspension work? I don't remember these from the S2 & S3

[abaddonxi]

Land rover series 1 1953 80 inch, good running order - eBay 1940 - 1970, Collector Cars, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 13-Sep-09 18:00:00 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160359870092&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT) :angel:

[JDNSW]

Motor should be easy to get parts for and replace if necessary. The drive train is robust and most parts are easy to get. Steering box if original is hard to get parts fro, likely to have problems and nowhere near as good as later ones (which can be fitted). Brake master cylinder is hard to find, but Series 2 one can be adapted. You should note, if you are not familiar with early Landrovers, that these only have synchromesh on third and fourth, so skill in double declutching is almost essential.

Major likely problems

1. If the vehicle is unregistered, you will need engineering approval on the engine conversion. Tyre size may also need approval.

2. Gearing is too low geared for the Holden engine, which without a change in gearing (overdrive, RR diffs) will make it unsuitable for touring, although probably OK for daily driver, particularly with the larger tyres.

3. It is over fifty years old - you would need to be very sure that all mechanical bits were in good shape before using for touring. Rear wheel bearings are a possible failure point, and are not easy to replace on the road.

John

[Lost Landy]

G,day I just got my 1958 series 1 registed, it has the origanl 2 litre engine, 750 x 16 tyres.
The Landy is most comfortable doing 80 kph, it may well do 90kph but i dont like to having the motor at near max revs.
I think an over drive would be the way to go as you keep the diffs, gear box ratios all orignail and its quite simple to fit/remove an overdrive.
Brakes are well up to the task of stopping, having a 6 cyl up front you might want to fit a remote brake booster or go the long wheel base 11' brakes.
With my old LWB series one I had removed front & rear diffs (hub to hub) & fitted a set of series 2A diff & housings so that parts were easier to get.

[spudboy]

Ohhhh - you'd be a masochist then :eek:

They are a really primitive piece of kit, and I can't imagine doing more than 40 or 50 Kms in one go in one! When I got mine, it came with a special set of earplugs on a string attached to the dash! Serious!

I personally don't think much of the Holden conversions, so I'd be thinking of converting it back to a LR engine if it were me.

The straps you mention (underslung from the body under the axle) are to stop excessive suspension travel. When you've drooped enough, the strap catches the axle.

[JDNSW]

Ohhhh - you'd be a masochist then :eek:

They are a really primitive piece of kit, and I can't imagine doing more than 40 or 50 Kms in one go in one! .......

When I owned a Series 1 in the early sixties, I had no hesitation driving it long distances - my longest non-stop (well, no sleeps) drive was from near Longreach to Sydney - and the roads were nowhere near as good then as they are now. I think the modern generation has gone soft! Admittedly it was less than ten years old.

John

[101RRS]

From 78 - 86 my series 1 86 was my daily driver - travelling every weekend from Nowra to Newcastle and return - before the current freeways. I also did longer trips as far as Brisbane and Melbourne. Initially I had the 2 litre engine and later a holden 161.

I never had any issues with engine and gearboxes (double shuffle is the go) but brakes and steering were ongoing issues.

Brakes required constant adjustment because of the high mileage I did and were a bit slow in pulling up. Later I put an inline brake booster in which improved the brakes but highlighted the adjustment problems.

The oriiginal steering box is awful and soon replaced it with a series 2 - however the mounting bracket is poor and allows movement - so some further bracing helps here and after that steering was great. Related was wheel shimmy at high speeds - so make sure the pins in the swivel hubs are not loose or worn.

I used to travel at about 100kph without too many troubles - drive the holden to the valves bounce and back off until it stops. With standard landy gearing you can easily pull the redline in top gear.

I never bothered with a radio - would never have heard it.

Garry

[BigJon]

I used to travel at about 100kph without too many troubles - drive the holden to the valves bounce and back off until it stops.
I never bothered with a radio - would never have heard it.

Garry

:arms::clap2::burnrubber::Rolling::Rolling:

[rangieman]

:arms::clap2::burnrubber::Rolling::Rolling:
X2 :Rolling::Rolling::wallbash::bangin::Rolling::Roll ing:

[spudboy]

Well, I am approaching 50, so that's probably something to do with it :D

PhTest's original proposition was to use it for an everyday vehicle, plus some touring. I don't reckon a Series I is that vehicle in this day and age.

The brakes are shocking, accelleration glacial, safety features nil, noise level appalling. Having said that I will probably never sell my Series I because I love it, for all the reasons I am sure you do.

It's just not the thing to get around in every day, unless you are unbelievably stoic.

I had a nasty experience in my Karmann Ghia 6 months ago, which made re-assess driving a very old car every day (The Karmann is 50 years old). Coming round a bend on my way down to town, with double white lines, some idiot was trying to overtake a white van. Missed him by about a metre - he JUST cut in in time. Would have been very messy for me in the Karmann, with only a seatbelt as a safety device. No crumple zone, drum brakes, no collapsible steering column, no intrusion protection bars on the doors, no head restraints on the seats, etc etc.

[numpty]

I agree, not a choice as an everyday vehicle, although I occasionally drive ours on the 130k round trip to Brisbane Airport for training days. (fire training that is.)

And last weekend we did a 200k return run to visit friends. At 70km/h, the speed I find it is comfortable at, it runs sweetly and the brakes are more than up to the task, provided you are aware all of the time what is going on around you.

Oh, and by the way.........I'm 56. ;)

[Shonky]

I think the modern generation has gone soft! Admittedly it was less than ten years old.

John

Oi! :p

Any week now I will have Gus on the road, and I will be commuting and touring in him.

He was made in '58 - I was made in '88.

Mark (longing4alandy) is soon to start using his early 2A as a daily also, and he is only a few years older than me.

Not all of us Gen Ys are whining, flighty, unemployable walking bean bags!

(PS - Alright yes, in general I agree with you. :( )