Running Gear conversion options? (Distant Future)

**Pezwa83** · 16th April 2016, 05:38 PM

SOoooooooo,
As my SIIa/ III hybrid is already a mongrel of sorts, Im now thinking a complete running gear fitout would be nice to have. The main kickers for me are disc brakes and (the more obvious one) a V8. Ive noticed quite a few range rovers selling very cheap recently, with running gear complete. Most of them are cheap because the body is rusted/ruined.

The other option is a Disco 1, as above - can get them relatively cheap with all running gear in tact.

Main question is: whats the easiest/ least cutting, panel work involved to fit said poweplants. Whats the best selection of running gear to chose?

Thanks in advance.

Note: My mongrel is a SIIa chassis/panels with SIII engine/running gear, 2.25P.

1976 Range Rover Range Rover Wagon | Cars, Vans & Utes | Gumtree Australia Mackay City - Walkerston | 1092019562

**mick88** · 21st April 2016, 06:32 AM

Check out Banjo's thread.
He is currently fitting a Series body onto a Disco chassis and has a thread running showing the progress.

Cheers, Mick.

**101 Ron** · 21st April 2016, 06:46 AM

Many years ago a Landrover dealer dropped a rover V8 and LT 95 running gear into a short wheel base series 2a using I think, the standard diffs.
Most of it was bolt in and fitted well except for engine mounts and prop shaft lengths as the owner used a short 101 landrover bell housing.
101 landrover bell housings are like hens teeth.

**mick88** · 21st April 2016, 09:24 AM

Somewhere on here there is also a thread about a series 2A 88" with a Rover3.5 litre V8 in it. From memory I think it bolted straight up to the series gearbox. It had/has been in the vehicle for many years and with sensible driving the series box has been able to stand the pain!

Cheers, Mick.

**Homestar** · 21st April 2016, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by 101 Ron

Many years ago a Landrover dealer dropped a rover V8 and LT 95 running gear into a short wheel base series 2a using I think, the standard diffs.
Most of it was bolt in and fitted well except for engine mounts and prop shaft lengths as the owner used a short 101 landrover bell housing.
101 landrover bell housings are like hens teeth.

I have a spare one of those teeth...

**Homestar** · 21st April 2016, 11:40 AM

Ok, what rear diff have you currently got? If it has a Sals then you're half way there. Depending on how much grunt you want from the V8 conversion, why not just stick to the standard diffs and put a disk brake conversion on it? Would be much easier than cutting, modifying and installing RRC or Disco units - unless you just make it a straight hybrid and skick your body on a complete RRC chassis and drivetrain.

Look closely at what Engineering certificates may be required before you start - There can be quite a few roadblocks depending on what you want to do and where you live - that's if you want to keep it legal, etc.

Cookeys disk brake kit works very well and allows you to keep the standard steel series rims, which no other conversion allows for.

**67hardtop** · 21st April 2016, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by Homestar

Cookeys disk brake kit works very well and allows you to keep the standard steel series rims, which no other conversion allows for.

Sorry to say this gav, and absolutly nothing against cookeys conversion, which i think is great,( id already bought the heystee conversion), but my heystee conversion allows me to use my standard series wheels also. I dummied it up in a vice one day on my bench just after i got it all from paul heystee and with standard defender ventilated discs and 4 pot calipers, i fitted a standard series wheel with a 750x16 tyre. All good clearance. Just putting my tuppence worth in��

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

**Homestar** · 21st April 2016, 06:02 PM

Originally Posted by 67hardtop

Sorry to say this gav, and absolutly nothing against cookeys conversion, which i think is great,( id already bought the heystee conversion), but my heystee conversion allows me to use my standard series wheels also. I dummied it up in a vice one day on my bench just after i got it all from paul heystee and with standard defender ventilated discs and 4 pot calipers, i fitted a standard series wheel with a 750x16 tyre. All good clearance. Just putting my tuppence worth in��

Cheers Rod

Sent from my GT-I9507 using AULRO mobile app

All good mate, that's just what I was told - nothing like some first hand information.

**Pezwa83** · 21st April 2016, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Homestar

Ok, what rear diff have you currently got? If it has a Sals then you're half way there. Depending on how much grunt you want from the V8 conversion, why not just stick to the standard diffs and put a disk brake conversion on it? Would be much easier than cutting, modifying and installing RRC or Disco units - unless you just make it a straight hybrid and skick your body on a complete RRC chassis and drivetrain.

Look closely at what Engineering certificates may be required before you start - There can be quite a few roadblocks depending on what you want to do and where you live - that's if you want to keep it legal, etc.

Cookeys disk brake kit works very well and allows you to keep the standard steel series rims, which no other conversion allows for.

Cheers for all the advice and feedback,
Yes I've got a salsbury in the back. However I have always put disc brakes on all vintage vehicles Ive owned. Just think it's good safety insurance. I personally think it would be easier and cheaper to take complete diff/brake assy's and weld on spring mounts.

Im not sold on the V8 idea yet (would be nice though), but will get the diffs sorted first.

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