Thread: Is Bigger Really Better?

Originally Posted by rovercare

Did they in the series rovers? I got no idea, I got over leaf springs many years ago, in 40 series Tojo days

The steering wheel went into a steering box on the firewall that pushed a linkage ove the chassis rail forwards or backwards. This went to a relay at the front that then operated a drag link down to the axle.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

The steering wheel went into a steering box on the firewall that pushed a linkage ove the chassis rail forwards or backwards. This went to a relay at the front that then operated a drag link down to the axle.

*shudders* ickypoos

My impression from comments by others with greater experience and knowledge than me is that to build a competent 4WD vehicle you have to get the balance right and you have to accept that there will always be compromises.

Ric130's comments about the benefits and drawbacks of his Jeep show that there are always trade-offs. Try to improve one thing like articulation and something else suffers like stability.

While it is true that there is good design and bad design and there are some materials that are more suited than others often there has to be a balance between strength and weight or between performance and longevity.

And of course a change that makes a vehicle better in one application makes it less suitable for another. One example that springs to mind is the auto gearbox. General consensus seems to be that they are great for going uphill but either a pain or downright dangerous going downhill.

While someone suggested that Land Rover components have enough reserve capacity to handle more power, I still expect that many components will wear out faster if worked harder. After all the chassis seems to work pretty well on a 110, but when it has to cope with the extra stresses sometimes imposed by a 130, it can crack.

We all have our personal preferences. I prefer an offroad vehicle to be nimble. I want it to progress with finesse not brute force. After driving a few Series IIA SWB and LWB, I had a short drive of my brother's Series I on an easy track. I loved it. It felt even more like an extension of my arms and legs than the Series IIs.

I think Land Rover has the balance about right for what I did with my Series III and what I want to do with my Defender.

Can take some piccies of a friends HJ47 steering setup this arvo if anyone is interested, and the old S1 over in the neighbours paddock to compare.

Hi vnx,

I have a RRC with a 350 in it. Bought after taking about 10 RRC's with 3.5's for test drives.

You don't notice the extra weight if the springs and shocks are right. People who talk of upsetting the 'balance' can't have driven one.

The effortless power is only one of the pluses. Parts are dirt cheap, aftermarket stuff is everywhere. There is none of the nonsense of oil pumps losing their prime or slipped liners.

Mine has always been on gas and currently costs right on 10c / km to run. It has a C9 auto and does crawl downhill in low range.

I don't see any of these attributes as a compromise. It's all good and I would buy another the same tomorrow.

cheers, DL

Hi DL,

Just wondering, how does it go offroad. What sort of things do you notice?

Originally Posted by 350RRC

Hi vnx,

I have a RRC with a 350 in it. Bought after taking about 10 RRC's with 3.5's for test drives.

You don't notice the extra weight if the springs and shocks are right. People who talk of upsetting the 'balance' can't have driven one.

The effortless power is only one of the pluses. Parts are dirt cheap, aftermarket stuff is everywhere. There is none of the nonsense of oil pumps losing their prime or slipped liners.

Mine has always been on gas and currently costs right on 10c / km to run. It has a C9 auto and does crawl downhill in low range.

I don't see any of these attributes as a compromise. It's all good and I would buy another the same tomorrow.

cheers, DL

Originally Posted by 350RRC

You don't notice the extra weight if the springs and shocks are right. People who talk of upsetting the 'balance' can't have driven one.

Even the LS1 weighs the same as a Rover 2.25 4 cylinder.

If you look at slunnies photo's in the first one the joint on the bottom of the drop arm is the main one that gives trouble.It is a cup that collects water,grit and rust's,flogs out and it can fail,I know of one death from it.We had very clear instructions to check them every service,inspection as any movement would cause wobbles in the steering.The biggest problem with LC's is the front springs are back to front so as they compress the spring moves forward pushing the wheel harder into the bump.As far as engines go I think everyone should get there engines tuned properly as many have said they have no power but mine seem to go fine and like the balance between power and economy. Pat