Stage 1 V8, My dream landy?

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Originally Posted by TimNZ

Question for the masses, is the value of the Series 3 Stage ones substantially affected by how "original" they are?

I'm not talking fit an LS, coils, disks, coiler axles etc, just more subtle like Rover 4.6 and R380/LT230?

(I'm in dreamer mode till it gets here)

Cheers,

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Hi Tim,

I am also the proud owner of a Stage One V8. Mine is a 1981 truck cab. I have owned it for about 20 years now and just wondering how much you had to pay to score your very original 5 door safari wagon.

I have changed mine a little, 3.9 litre with holley 450, edlebrock performance manifold, Genie extractors and a nice performance cam shaft. Sounds and goes very well. Probably could do with disk brakes. I am sure if you put a 4.6 in your wagon disk brakes might be something to think about.

Looking forward to seeing what you do with yours.

A few of images below of the 3.9 being built and also an image from a trip away in the truck cab with my boys many years ago.

Regards Warrick.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/06/277.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/06/278.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/06/279.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/06/280.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...018/06/281.jpg

That looks very, very, nice Warrick! I probably, (definitely), paid too much for the car, but in time it will be forgotten and not matter!

Out of curiosity, are you running the stock high ratio in the transfer, or a higher ratio too let the 3.9 stretch its legs?

Cheers,

Mine is a 3.9 and it's still running the standard high ratio, I can go down to 30kmh in 4th and it just pulls away. My old 110 had a 3.9 in it running 0.996 high range gears and was far better on the highway with no real disadvantage anywhere.

And it's (almost) home :)

https://i.imgur.com/nv5xtLa.jpg

Cheers,

What a beautiful vehicle! Stage Ones really are the crucial elements of a male duck's urinogenital system.

I'm sure that you'll have plenty of fun with this Stage One. Great stuff.

John

Hmm, a V8 in a Defender,, it’s how they should be.
A nice buy Tim, looking forward to seeing how you do with this [biggrin]

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Originally Posted by Chops

Hmm, a V8 in a Defender,, it’s how they should be.
A nice buy Tim, looking forward to seeing how you do with this [biggrin]

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I’m trying to convince my Boss to join up here and post about his upcoming build. His Brother was driving my Bosses Tdi powered D1 a month or so ago and cooked it, so he’s scrapped the vehicle (fully loaded with all the nice gear which he’s kept some and sold other bits) but has just bought a Defender (not sure what year) with a knackered engine and box and is about to order a crate V8 from the states to go in it. Will all be engineered, not sure on box or driveline yet, but yes, V8’s in Defenders good... [emoji106][emoji4]

Drove mine up to Cape Reinga 2 weeks ago 2200km, 300l gas, big grin. 3.9 std range rover transfer gearing , had to fill up with 91 up the top end, that made a few things like turning off the engine cringe worthy.
Highway cruisings fine but I hate being pushed along in windy hilly sections, no brakes no steering no handling, prefer to hook second or third and trundle around at a comfortable speed up hill theres plenty of power down hills a different story
Noisy input bearing dripping gearbox yeah we have that to , wish mine looked that flash instead of the multi coloured panales I have

Time to do a few odd jobs on the Stage 1 so it at least stands some sort of chance of passing a pit inspection! On the list of jobs to do is:

Change the brake booster for a working one
Change the black fluid, I mean brake fluid
Sort of the springs rubbing on the chassis
Put some electricity in the battery
Clean the gearbox so I can see where the many leaks are coming from
Put some coolant in the coolant system, (it only has water by the looks of it
Re run the plug wires so they aren't directly contacting metal
Remove the domestic (TPS) wiring
Check all the other fluids etc

Brake fluid in all it's manky glory:

https://i.imgur.com/K5iER9n.jpg

The PO fitted parabolics and they are rubbing on the chassis at the front mount (of the front axle). It looked like the front bush had collapsed, but on inspection it is fine, so I may need to "adjust" the curve of the outer spring.

https://i.imgur.com/QCuzWXw.jpg

Also the U bolts for the springs just don't look right? Should they be a bit heavier?

https://i.imgur.com/Oj4Hmsi.jpg

The engine has a intermittent hesitation problem, sometimes mild, sometimes severe. It feels like fuel starvation, there is not backfiring etc, and is mostly present at light throttle. I've changed the fuel pump, but can't find the secondary filter? I do not have faith in the quality of parts fitted to the ignition system, but I'd prefer to rule out the fuel system first.

Cheers, Tim

Well, there is a bunch of little problems under here:

https://i.imgur.com/boQfT0W.jpg

I've replaced the vac advance plastic line as it had been folded in a couple of places. I don't like how the plug wires are run, and quite a few of the hoses for the pollution system are dry rotted. And the oil level is too high.

The fan has also seen better days:

https://i.imgur.com/DIITvX9.jpg

More better looking brake fluid, (the clutch fluid was just as bad so also got changed):

https://i.imgur.com/HypxjrO.jpg

Since changing the vac advance line I have not been able to recreate the hesitation issue, however I can only run it around the block at the moment. And to reward my efforts the Landy has decided the water pump would like to be a sprinkler :/

https://i.imgur.com/IFHt3Zv.jpg

Cheers,