Thread: Land rover series 3 need ideas & help 4 diesel conversion & traveling adventure build

I have a 1974 series 3 12 seat wagon UK import that has fairy overdrive, land rover diesel roof rack. jerry can holders, tropical roof. door locks!, wide offset rims(orig landrover) 2 fuel tanks. room for second battery under lhf seat etc. not registered at the moment.

I really want to know what happened with this vehicle it sounds amazing. It could have become a Mars rover!

This thread keeps popping up when I search for pretty much anything. Welcome back

there's a lot of stuff on your list that just isn't legal / possible or very practical. You can't have a PTO and an overdrive, for instance. Also I have no idea why you would want a tractor 3 link on a car but I doubt you would get a roadworthy in any state with that hanging off the back.

Protecting a vehicle from an EMP/Solar flare seems like an odd requirement, to achieve this you'd need to shield every wire in the vehicle and this would be extremely expensive and impractical.

Running your front bullbar as an oil cooler probably sounds like a good idea (I've heard this before) but if you puncture the bar in an accident you now have no oil pressure and engine oil all over the front of the car, which would likely cause a fire. Not to mention that the bar would be extremely hot after driving, you'd take skin off your legs and arms trying to lift the bonnet.

My advice would be pick up a 300tdi defender, they can have a middle front seat fitted and would be a good start for whatever this project becomes. Get to know your way around it and slowly add things as you need them.

Originally Posted by nerdieboy

i thought that only toyota made built proof diesel engine? (for example a 3L-code four cyl 2.8L)

Like the 1VD-FTV??

Isuzus smoke Toyotas. The engine mentioned above just smokes.

well wholly thread revival bat ma

Originally Posted by nerdieboy

hi there,
i am new to this, its my first time that i sighned upto a site and put post on a forum period in my life. (and i even did studies in IT since 1998 to 2004)


I had always liked and admired land rover series 4WD cars. they are ugly looking beast that other people hate them, to me it looks like a old farm horse tractor and simple shape (i was brought up on a farm and going back to the country side real soon) and other reason i like them is that they are slow (more easier to keep your licence) i never lost a point on my yet and want to keep that way, i don't care that they are slow because i don't like speed because that kills and other people make mistakes on the road also.


so i am in the process of getting one and need help in ideas of doing one up so i can drive it every day like any other car can.
i had experience in driving my dads nissan patrol LWB ST 2.8L turbo diesel 1995, since i got my Ls in 2000, so i do have the experience and the know how to drive a vehicle in the dimensions of driving a car of this size as a every day car


anyhow i get to the point on where i need help


0.what is the best diesel motor suitable for the LWB series 2a/3 wagon that will fit with ease and still using the original gearbox with a fairy overdrive (roverdrive preferred):

it needs to be reliable, built proof, cheap spare parts if needed, easy to fix and to repair and to diagnose problems, cheap maintenance, preferably none EFI computer (preferably mechanical diesel injected), can be turbo or NA does not matter (just need to have good power for efficiency and good torque), the engine is cheap to buy, and its easy to get it registered with that motor. 4,5 or 6 cylinder?

also if possible any donor engine can be hand crank also which is geared down with pullies or small gearbox to start by a hand crank?



and later on when i have the car would also have this done on the car over time, the following below list:


1.full length roof rack with ladderDIY ally racking, not hard also not really required because you can make it with #2
2.roll cage inside cab or outside of the body or both overkill just dont roll it, but DIY isnt too hard if you dont want it registered
3.full solid front brush bull bar (round tubes used if possible & have any type liquid inside the cavity use as a engine oil cooler etcUse it as an air tank. easily doable as DIY by modding an other bar
4.front mounted winch PTO /hydraulic /electric don't know which 1 to get) mechanical lever in cab to turn on/off & directions standard for all mechanical winches DIY fitment once youve bought it, stay mechanical/manual hydraulic #56
5.bottom rear PTO drive ditch this and hang it off the hydraulics from above or forget about an overdrive
6.fairey overdrive (rover drive is the one i want easy but you loose the option of the direct fit PTO and add driveline complexity you dont need, fit the taller high range gearset
7.spare tyre mounted on the bonnet (the original old look Standard
8.i want split rear door
9.air snorkel with an oil bath air filter if possible
10.Pintel hook Haymeen Reese style (so you can have ball or Pintel and also adjustable height) get the combo ball and pintle it bolts straight on, dont worry about height adjustment make the trailer suit or drive accordingly if it doesnt
11.spare rear mounted old fuel metal jerry cans x2 plastic oulasts and out performs steel, copy the ex mil mounts
12.driving spot lights not a requirement and over rated along with extra complexity
13.front three seater seats but really comfortable with head rest attachment these are not a good long term fitment besides the series seats are comfortable for all day driving anyway
14.gauges: oil pressure, oil temp, amps, volts, gearbox temp, F & R diff temp, outside air temp, fuel pressure, coolent level/pressure, too much crap, you dont need it learn to listen to the engine and feel for it
15.chassis strengthen for more realiabilty in keeping it straight if its rust free its fine unless you're planning on using it for demo derby work
16.lockable diffs front & back (mechanical lever preferred in the cab if they exist the macnamaras can be fitted and modded for cable actuation
17.front free wheeling hubs (without the cons of oil lubrication starvation just no.
18.rear back windows in cab can be open & have fly screen also (want to go camping or sleep in the back when tired on long trips gull wing safari windows do this.
19.LPG tank for engine and also so you can cook with it also diesels dont run lpg
20.long range fuel tanks
21.water tanks
22.split rims with skinny tyres preferred with wheel spacers so it has a wide stance and also cheaper to run with skinny tyres not legal on spacers, 7.50r16 was fine for the camel trophy on the stock center
23.side steps and rock rails protection make it part of your external roll caging
24.kangaroo jack mounts all round part of your roll caging
25.solar panels this is why you cant have a full roof rack
26.minimum 2 heavy duty battery setup 800- 1000 cca you only need one starter
27.minumum 2 heavy duty battery setup deep cycle you'll only need one 100ah battery with a decent panel
28.two way - CB radio and UHF radio not a compatible option with 46
29.am & fm car radio with GPS maps, dab+, dvb-T, world radio also, no such beast that is directly easily mountable, and 46 compliant
30.air compressor electric or engine operated any decent supercheap pump will do
31.front overhead compartmentinternal no, external no, adds weight and rollover internal you'll crown yourself on it
32.heavy duty radiator not required the 2.25d is happy at 40 degrees ambient pulling 2+t offroad uphill
33.electric thermo fans or mechanical engine fan? leave the mechanical for reliability
34.heavy duty gearbox radiator oil coolersnot required
35.rear heavy duty spot lights LED? portable lights are more useful and can be mounted if needed
36.cabin lights LED easy diy fit
37.engine bay lights LEDjust no.
38.adjustable engine idle in cabinits called a hand throttle and is standard on most stock diesels
39.water in diesel filter standard fittment
40.original rear round small tail lights and on the front stock fitment
41.extra mirrors mounted on the front guards easy bolt on
42.when the spare water tank, hot tap is open can be heated by the car engine heat by the exhaust or by the motor etc (so you can have shower or wash your hands)get a glind
43.a high lift as well easy to buy and design to fit a cage
44.need the brakes redone so you don't have to re-bleed the brakes or clutch when sitting for to long not achievable, even with new cars
45.storage compartments in the body or underneath the car or hidden false floor in the well deck and behind the rear bulkhead
46.can keep running when there is EMP and solar flare event its a series, this is a standard option
47.car balance compass you have an inner ear, just lean on the b pillar to keep it in alignment
48.halo led lightsno.
49.marking lights all round the side of car and on top of front windowno
50.car insulated from heat and soundits a landrover, not a mercedes, wear shorts and earplugs
51.front glove box compartment buy a 2a and fit a hinged panel
52.full car rust treatment and prevent rust all together if possible galv it
53.hand crank to start the car standard on a series, it takes about 45 minutes of prep to crank start the diesel
54.also if i build it up right so it does not leak any oil or let any water in the cabin? (is this possible) its not
55.electrical black out army style switch just turn the lights off
56.army or bush or navy or desert camouflage coloured or a bit of everything mix camo works for an area, navy cam will not hide you in the desert, combinng them hides you nowhere
57.turbo oil cooled radiator (if its only a forced induction 2.25D is na, not required
58.water to air inter cooler radiator No turbo
59.in cabin adjustable lever for the exhaust sound from quite to noisy when need more power or when to be real quit the fuel cut control does this for you
60.old style yellow number plate for it (example: DRT123only available through certain heritage listings
61.rear pto output drive this is delt with further up
62.rear tractor link lift (can go up and also go down with pressure (not many old tractors can do that i know one an its a belarus acheivable by changing the lift ram on the oem 3 point but not legal here
63.engine able to run multi fuel (diesel, kerosean, brake oil, cooking oil, etc its the 2.25d, this is a standard option
64.

etc if you know anything more that i missed that i can do please tell me?


also does anyone know can you open the front windscreen glass windows down while having the roof still on with a tyre on the bonnet at the same time? you can but dont the roof lifts off


sorry if i ask to much from you
sorry if i posted in the wrong place or if there was things like this all ready posted i never used this before


most of the work will be carried out by myself and also if i can make some friends on this site you can help to
so i need help and input please (please don't give me your silly replays like ''with money anything is possible",

Originally Posted by akelly

there's a lot of stuff on your list that just isn't legal / possible or very practical. You can't have a PTO and an overdrive, for instance. Also I have no idea why you would want a tractor 3 link on a car but I doubt you would get a roadworthy in any state with that hanging off the back.

Protecting a vehicle from an EMP/Solar flare seems like an odd requirement, to achieve this you'd need to shield every wire in the vehicle and this would be extremely expensive and impractical. not so its only solid state electronics that are effected, retro fitting a S1 charing system to a diesel makes a series complelety emp proof and electrically operable

Running your front bullbar as an oil cooler probably sounds like a good idea (I've heard this before) but if you puncture the bar in an accident you now have no oil pressure and engine oil all over the front of the car, which would likely cause a fire. Not to mention that the bar would be extremely hot after driving, you'd take skin off your legs and arms trying to lift the bonnet.

My advice would be pick up a 300tdi defender, they can have a middle front seat fitted and would be a good start for whatever this project becomes. Get to know your way around it and slowly add things as you need them.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

well wholly thread revival bat ma

these things happen, no matter how strange it seems. Kapow!

I never remember to look at the date, I just see there's a new post and join on in....

Originally Posted by akelly

I never remember to look at the date, I just see there's a new post and join on in....

Sorry to confuse you! It kept popping up pretty much no matter what I search for. Amazing list of responses to those questions that's actually amazing. This car sounds insane.